Anyeong Haseyo, pt 5

The day before we went to Suwon, I took a solo trip to Ganghwado Island. There’s an old temple there from when the region was under the threat of the Mongels and some huge rocks called dolems that were placed in various locations around the island by ancient people living there. I didn’t see the dolems because I was lost for a long time and found where they were too late to catch a bus. The town was surrounded by farms, while little old ladies brought their crops into town to sell them on the street. When they stand, their torsos are parallel to the ground from decades of breaking their backs in gardens and fields. If I lived here, I’d hope to never be okay with seeing that.

Walking at night in certain parts of Seoul means trying not to step in puddles of vomit. Koreans are some of the drunkest people I’ve ever seen. Sometimes grown men here hold hands, but not necessarily in a romantic sort of way. Originally I thought this a cultural thing. Now I believe that they hold hands because one or both of them is too drunk to walk. Korean men drink copious amounts of soju with dinner. Soju is a type of rice liquor, and Koreans are often the first to admit that it isn’t very good, but they don’t care because they’re just trying to get hammered.

This weekend was spent in Seoraksan National Park, which is a 3 and a half hour bus ride from Seoul to the east coast. The park is criss-crossed with hiking trails going up and down mountains. We walked 12 miles of those trails. I couldn’t keep the flies and gnats off my head for the final two because I’m sure I resembled a corpse. I was proud of myself yesterday, but today my body has humbled me. My legs are on strike.

None of these pictures are going to do this place justice.

Hotel room

Seoraksan entrance

Trail 1 ended with 808 steps to the top.

Eye-level helicopters

I might look much more exhausted, but at least I didn't buy a stupid hat.

The last picture was taken from here

Kevin and Johnny

No rail slides

Graffiti, Buddhist-style

Trail 2: mountaintop cave

Inside cave

Outside cave

Trail 3: waterfalls

Water, falling