MissViaggio in Daegu
22 September 2019
To get from Taipei to Jeju Island I had to make a stopover in Daegu. And thanks to Typhoon Tapah rattling the flight schedules I had more than enough time to explore the city famous for fashion and fabrics.
Day 6 - Troublesome Typhoon
Sunday morning, 7 o'clock. We landed an hour ago and I am still at the airport trying to find out whether Typhoon Tapah will thwart my plans to fly to Jeju Island today. The destination board is not very helpful, so I approach one of the airport staff and ask if she happens to have any information about my flight to Jeju Island later that day. Apparently, yes. She assures me that my plane will depart as planned meaning that I now have more than ten hours to discover Daegu. But first, I have to get rid of my luggage (which would have been easier if Daegu Airport had lockers to store it). The guy at the information desk recommends that I try the CU, a Korean convenience store chain. Will do! The cashier is not very eager to please me though, for a bit of cash she finally puts my name on a small pad, then sticks a post-it on my suitcase and rolls it away (I don't know where but anyhow that's something!).
8:00 am - Finding my Way in Daegu
European visitors are given a hard time to find their way in Daegu. Almost everything is written in Korean letters and hardly anyone speaks English which will bring me to the hilt as the day progresses. But first, I get on the right bus and the right train and soon enough find myself walking through a deserted city in pouring rain (P.S. I refused to bring an umbrella. Haha!).
My first stop is Gyeongsang Catholic Church (also known as the Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral), which was built in 1902 as the first western-style building in Daegu. Inside it looks very modest and not nearly as splendidly decorated as I am used to from catholic churches back home. The bells ring while only elderly people arrive in time for mass. The Church seems to have the same problem here as in Europe - it is not particularly attractive to young people.
09:16 am - In Need of a dry Place
Even in steady rain, Gyeongsang Gamyeong Park is a pearl and an important historic site because there are some well-preserved buildings that once housed the provincial government of Gyeongsang-do. The only problem that keeps me from enjoying the site and walking further through the park? My softshell jacket, which is soaking wet.
11:00 am - at the Aquarium
Thanks to TripAdvisor, I find the perfect spot to dry off: Alive Aquarium Daegu. I haven't been to an aquarium for like 15 years and though the animals are adorable, I can't help but feel that all terrariums and all tanks are way too small and the habitats are unnaturally planted (with plastic).
The little visitors do not care about animal welfare. They hardly have enough time to slap their small hands against the windows before they are dragged to the next photo spot where they have to pose for their hysterical parents. That's probably the way it is here. During the mermaid show in the large pool with sharks, manta rays, and lots of fish, it's only the adults who shout “ooohhhh” and “aahhhh”. The children are silent and fascinated. Uff, exhausting.
Information
Address: 9th floor, Shinsegae Department Store Daegu, 149 Dongbu-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City
Admission: Adults pay 27,000 won.
14:00 am - Lost in Daegu
The greatest challenge of the day is finding the right bus stop back to the Airport. I'm looking everywhere in and around Dongdaegu (in the mall, inside and outside the bus and train terminal) and I ask several locals - nothing. I'm about to freak out as young woman asks me whether I want to donate 5000 won for single moms. For a second I hesitate, then I have an idea: If she is able to help me find the stop, than I will give her some money. And lo and behold, it works out.
Back at the airport, I watch some series of "Friends" and then at halb past five the plane is finally ready for boarding. What a relief! Jeju Island, I am coming!
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