What's the deal with the beach...it's where dirt meets water.

I've never understood the appeal of the beach.  Sand, sticky water, the sunburns, no bathroom to clean up in...I could go on.  The title is taken from a Bill Hicks bit that I immediately identified with.  If it weren't for the fact that it's outdoors and you might see some cool fish I would probably hate the beach.
 
Clearly I am in the minority.

I've never seen anything quite like Haeundae Beach in Busan on the busiest travel weekend of the Korean summer.  To spend time on the beach on this particular weekend you need $7.  This gets you an umbrella and a mat to sit on.  Once you've gotten under your umbrella you feel like you're under a giant low-hanging shade tree that reaches a few football fields in length.  Seriously, look at these pictures and see if you can see an end to it.  I already tried and you can't.  

Take note that this is both the right (above picture) and left (below picture) of the beach.

                                      

Under this canopy were families and couples, but also old women walking around hunched over trying to sell fried chicken.  You tell them your tent number and they'll bring it to you.