While traveling, I relish every opportunity I have to explore the countryside by bus.

My favorite part is gazing out at the quickly-moving scenery.

This literally can entertain me for hours.

 

I love how colorful the buses in South Korea are
I love how colorful the buses in South Korea are

 

A local woman purchases a bus ticket at the Gun San bus terminal in Iksan, South Korea
A local woman purchases a bus ticket at the Gun San bus terminal in Iksan, South Korea

 

Buses line up in the terminal parking lot before pulling up to the loading zone
Buses line up in the terminal parking lot before pulling up to the loading zone

While filming Lost in Korea, Jesse and I have mostly traveled by bicycle, train and car.

So, when we found ourselves at the Gun San bus terminal in Iksan, South Korea, my face lit up with glee!

 

This is what the Gun San bus terminal in Iksan, South Korea, looks like from the parking lot
This is what the Gun San bus terminal in Iksan, South Korea, looks like from the parking lot

How Bus Stations in Korea Compare With Other Asian Nations

Bus driver seats come in all shapes, sizes, decorations and colors
Bus driver seats come in all shapes, sizes, decorations and colors

For the most part, bus terminals in Asia are all the same.

There’s a waiting area with rows of seats, a ticket counter, snack shops, magazine stalls and a public restroom.

South Korea is no different.

About 10 minutes before the departure time, buses pull up to the loading zone and park in a numbered spot.

. . .

Tickets usually have the spot number, departure time and an assigned seat printed on them, though this varies greatly depending on where you board and what type of bus it is.

For instance, on many rural local buses, you just hop on, sit wherever there’s space and purchase your ticket from a guy who walks up and down the aisle.

 

The inside of a local bus in South Korea

Scenes From the Iksan Bus Terminal in South Korea

Below are a few more photos I snapped while waiting for our South Korean bus.

 

You gotta keep those kids busy on a long bus ride!
You gotta keep those kids busy on a long bus ride!

 

While waiting for our bus, Heyjung, the director, grabbed hold of the camera and had some fun
While waiting for our bus, Heyjung, the director, grabbed hold of the camera and had some fun

 

GET LOST IN KOREA

In 2013, I was hired by National Geographic to film a TV show in South Korea … following my adventures as a travel blogger and photographic storyteller.

The single-episode show offered a mix of humor, tradition, adventure and stunning imagery; as I teamed up with Jesse Day: a Canadian entertainer who lives in Seoul and raps in Korean.

Here are the highlights from filming Get Lost in Korea …