This month we went on a trip with a group called Adventure Korea. They plan weekend trips for foreigners to travel around Korea. There is literally something every weekend and so we took our first trip with them in mid-Oct. We headed about 4 hours away to a Ginseng festival where we were able to see the "many" benefits of eating, drinking and ingesting ginseng. We had a ginseng peeling contest, tried fried ginseng, stuffed our feet in ginseng powder to improve circulation, made ginseng wine and harvested our own to take with us. It was a fun cultural experience and we learned that ginseng takes 4-6 years to be ready to harvest. After our tour of the festival we stayed the night in a traditional Korean village. We fit 4 of us in a hobbit home complete with a little door we had to crawl into and walked around exploring the beautiful trees and scenery. Wasn't much to do after dark so we had some serious card tournaments and went to bed early.
The next day we were going to hike Sobaeksan mountain. Now if you know anything about Korean hikers, you know they are intense. They've got the gear, hats, backpacks, Northface jackets, hiking sticks etc. They ain't messing around. So we knew we were in for a climb. I did not know however, how difficult it would really be. We got dropped off by the bus and had to climb up a steep curvy road to our starting destination. I was already out of breath and the hike hadn't even started! Yikes!
We began hiking and were able to go at our own pace, Kayleigh's was speedy and mine was not so speedy. She was actually one of the first people to reach the peak. Big surprise...sigh. The hike was a grueling 4 and a half hours and extremely steep. There were probably about 200 stairs too. I felt like I was Frodo making my way to Mordor. There was a section that we had to use handrails to pull ourselves up and I thought I'd never make it. But I was determined to do the best I could and even though, I knew I could turn back at any point, I managed to make it to the top! I was exhausted and hurting but proud that I had made it. The view was beautiful and I enjoyed seeing all the fall colors. It was some good alone time for me and God. I just keep repeating Phil. 4:13 "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"
We finished the hike and ate lunch and shortly after headed back to Seoul where we'd get a bus back to Gongju. On the way back, Kayleigh and I decided to brave the public baths. It was quite an experience which I won't go into detail but I will admit, it felt great to sit and soak my hurting muscles. Now we're true Koreans! :) Hope you enjoy some of the pictures. Fall is in full swing!
Excellent missive and images, Michelle. I arrived in Gongjiu three weeks ago after teaching public elemetary in the country-side outsde of Busan.
ReplyDeleteNow in my second year here - one year b/f ion Valencia, Spain teaching business English.
I worked at Northwestern Univeristy (Admissions & Student Serice) before that.
I am fortunate, like you, to have a (for me - new) friend named Wesley (who has an emperative to get his black-belt in tae-kwon-do (this month) (and now Judo) , to explore with, we hiked Gyeronsan Mountain and the Gongsanseong Fortress over the last two Sundays.
Wesley's tour is almost up (in March), would like to get him out to Gangwondo or more treking in the area. You up for that? Love your Korea Adventures tag!
Thanks again for posting..found you on a google alert..and hope to see you around town..I can be reached on teflproteacher@gmail.com
Where do you teach..are you happy? ~ impt question. but sounds likes you are - despite the struggle up the hill..yeah, it's brutal :).
Take care, ~ Patrick