Seoraksan

Ulsanbawi-the rock that brought me to Korea

Once again I find myself a couple weeks behind the times and have failed to be as precise and punctual as possible regarding blogging.  The aforementioned Reuben Haggar has once again enabled me to find passion and desire to publish yet another blog within an unheard of week after my last post.  After work, I was sprinting down the road and/or sidewalk, dodging people and cars like Will Smith in virtually all of his movies, to recount my experience in Seoraksan National Park.  The only downfall of my maniacal running display was that I was not chasing robots, aliens, hippies who steal bone density scanners or drug cartel in Miami.  That, and I'm nowhere near in shape as Smith.

(Get on with this already)
While it seems to have taken that turn (AGAIN), this blog is not about Will Smith .  It is about Seoraksan National Park as the title suggests.  Before I go any further I must tell you a little more about Seoraksan and Pete Freeburg.  Two short years ago, when the idea of moving to Korea was only a fearsome whisper to only a select few in my inner-circle, I began researching about Korea.  Upon doing research I came across some facts and websites that instantly lured me into moving here.  This website, as you have probably guessed it, a website about Seoraksan National Park.  Two years ago I stumbled across the link listed below and it hooked me instantly.  I saw the pictures below and said to myself "I want to go hike that" and then instantly came to the conclusion to "I need to move to Korea".  Thus the proverbial pieces were put in motion.
http://www.pbase.com/image/26382821

A few weeks ago, perhaps a month ago, a friend of mine, Reuben the Incorrigible and I decided enough was enough.  We needed to get to this park if it's the last thing we did this month!

Reuben the Incorrigible (1 of 2)

Reuben the Incorrigible (2 of 2).

Due to Reuben the Incorrigible's esteemable determination, we possessed bus tickets for Saturday morning, October the 9th, two thousand and ten, the year of our Lord.  Sails were set for Seoraksan, near a town called Sokcho in Gangwon-do province.  Aka the other side of Korea on the ocean, about a three hour luxurious bus ride from downtown Seoul.

Sokcho, in my humble opinion, possesses the best of many worlds.  This little city possesses the mountainous beauty of Seoraksan National Park AND the beautiful sea.  If you want to face public execution and ridicule in Korea you can call it the Sea of Japan, otherwise you can get away with calling it the East Sea.

Reuben the Incorrigible and I left Seoul at 7:10 am and arrived in Sokcho at approximately 10:30 am.  After a few erronious blunders on our part, we found the bus to Seoraksan and started our hike around 11:45.  We went on the hike to reach Ulsanbawi, the same peak in which the website which lured me to get hitched and move to Korea in the first place (the one you can find on the website referred above).  Consider this a glorious pilgrimage with no religious undertones.

Prepare for a photo montage of epic proportions.

 Reuben the Incorrigible

This hike was a lot harder than expected and slightly more claustrophobic than expected.  There was a series of stairs on this trail, like the one above, in which the staircase was not more than 4 feet wide and handled throngs of Koreans, Pete Freeburg AND Reuben the Incorrigible.  There was a point if you were tired and wanted to take a break, then you would forcibly cause dozens of Koreans to break as well.  

After Ulsanbawi, Reuben the Incorrigible and I found the sunlight to be running away from us.  After some great converstations down the trail, we decided to go on another trail (getting dangerously close to dark) to see some waterfalls.  The only thing I can offer is another montage.

Brace yourself.

At the end of this hike, Reuben the Incorrigible and I had to almost run back the main park grounds because it was near pitch dark outside.  Luckily we got to the bus on time to get back to Sokcho.  However, we got off the bus way too early and found ourselves upon a very interesting fish market.  While I have no pictures to recount this experience I can just say it was cool.  Reubs and I then walked what seemed like 10 more miles to find a restaurant and finally a jimjil-bong where we could rest our heads (the worst night of sleep I might add).  The following morning we went to the ocean and saw the remains of a sunrise and then got on the bus back to Seoul.  A very productive weekend.  

New Washing Machine

Our humble abode just got an upgrade.  The story goes like this.  Yesterday before school we were doing some laundry.  A certain Peter Freeburg, prior to his departure, observed a raging river scampering across the floor in desperate attempts to flee its duty washing our soiled linen and sought refuge somewhere else.  To no avail, I desecrated the waters feeble attempts with a towel.  The washing machine proved more resilient relieving itself of the contained fluid than I had hoped.

Listen, I didn't want any trouble.  Clearly out manned, out witted and late for school, I decided to abandon all efforts.  I skirted along to school and told Ann (our boss's wife//boss) of my woes in a trembling voice filled with anxiety and fear.

Ann, observing the fears and trepidations in my stammering voice told me she'd take a look at it.  I'm presuming that it's just an old, leaky hose and figured I'd have to figure out how to replace it on my own.  Nay, two hours later Ann said she was going to buy us a new one and it'd be installed the next morning.  Wow, that was fast.  This morning a man came, woken us (me) up from a slumber.  It's always embarrassing to have someone walk in on you when you're sleeping, so I threw on some shorts and shirt and scrambled to make the bed while Kelly opened the door.  15 minutes later he left.  It's a nice machine and even has flowers imprinted on it.  As Ann says "it's cute".

September

Time has run away from us providing certain difficulties to have an elaborate recapitulation of the past month of September.  There indeed have been important events that have occured, most of which may appear seemingly meaningless to the non-Freeburg living in Korea.  My lack of diligence in blogging in September has created a black hole of ambition.  Every time I have sat down to write this blog, the black hole deprived me of all my desire--hence the reason for blogging about September nearly midway through October.  HOWEVER, due to a certain Reuben Haggar's (note picture below) persistent encouragement, I will begin to move forward.

Reuben's attempts to motivate me

I believe that in order for me to accurately recount September, I must chunk it into weekends.  That is, by the way, one of the best ways the brain retains information (through chunking.).

September   4th

On September 4th Kelly and I, along with three other lovely ladies decided to explore some islands near Incheon Int'l Airport.  This particular island is called Sido Island.  It isn't that far from our place in Ilsan, albeit it is near the airport, which is roughly a 45 minute bus ride away. All to say, it's still close considering how long it takes to use the transit systems anyway.

The day turned out to be awesome.  On the 10 minute ferry ride to the island, like most ferries in Korea, we were bombarded by seagulls, a  fowl I have grown to loath growing up on Lake Michigan.  It doesn't help the situation when people buy bags of chips specifically to feed the seagulls.  I indulged.

When we arrived on the island, Ms. Dawna Diamon, Holly Schoephoerster and Lauren Zuckermann met us with newly acquired rental bikes.  They were creative in renting us a tandem bike, which is fun, but this tandem bike had one gear and virtually no breaks.  Not exactly a great combo.

After a few hours biking around the wicked sweet island and poking around for some seashells, we headed home for some deliciously cheap pizza.  A productive Saturday.

Chuesok. September 19-24

A word should be said about the remaining events of September.  There is a holday in September in Korea called Chuesok.  Chuesok in Korea is like Thanksgiving in America.  There is one day allocated to Chuesok (so I think) and there is almost a week off of work and school.  Those who work at international schools have the luxury of a guaranteed 9 day vacation whilst those who work at Hagwons or other private institutions hold their breath for their time off.  We were so lucky as to receive 6 days off whereas other Hagwonians were only allowed 3.

Chuesok, unlike Thanksgiving (from my understanding) is very traditional.  For example they wear these flamboyantly colorful, hot, yet still comfortable outfits called "Hanboks".  Hanboks were apparently the choice of wear ages ago for everyday life, but now only serve to be worn on special occasions such as Chuesok or a wedding.  At a wedding, however, the bride and groom may only wear Hanboks during the reception.

The Friday at SLP, before Chuesok officially began, was dedicated to traditional lessons for Chuesok.  All of the kindergarten students came to school decoratively adorned in their hanboks and other accessories.  Some of the mothers went. all. out.

The boys in my class used this day to be as rambunctious as possible.

Tae Woong getting Punched. In. The.  Face.  Ryan did something everyone wanted to do that morning, including Peter Teacher.  My hat's off to you, Ryan.  Extra stickers.

A lot of the day consisted of playing traditional games and learning how to bow the proper way (there is a big difference in the way boys and girls bow to their elders).  Peter Teacher even had the opportunity to get some bowing in, to no elders however.  There was also tea time in which everyone was able to learn the proper way of receiving and drinking tea.

Getting their bow on 

Drinking tea and eating Songpyeon.  Songpyeon is also a snack of choice during Chuesok.  Songpyeon is very unique and you either love it or hate it.  Songpyeon is usually consumed heavily during Chuesok because it commemorates the first rice harvest of the year.  It has a texture and taste that can only be experienced, not explained.  I ate enough Songpyeon that day for 100 7 year olds, another reason why I need to get back to exercising.

During our time off, Kelly and I were able to enjoy some things around the Seoul area.  One day we went down to Suwon, which is an area south of Seoul and were able to see the great fortress.  There is an ancient fortress in which the entire wall is fully intact.  Within the walls there is a city which is pretty interesting.  I'm completely downplaying it and neglecting to tell more but I don't know that much more about it.  Ask Dawna Diamon.

Bits-O-the wall

Followed by walking a good portion of the great wall of Korea, we went to Seoul Zoo--a zoo which is one of my most favorite zoos.

This zoo, unlike other zoos I have barnstormed through, had an awesome feel to it.  After just completing the second book of Jurassic Park "Lost World", I felt like I was in Costa Rica.  Not really but you get the point.  The zoo was snuggly wrapped in lushly covered mountains.  The exhibits were also large for certain animals.  The lion pit, for example, housed 9 lions (the most I have seen in one zoo) and it was basically a small field.  Como Zoo in MN is almost depressing, but it's also free.

On another beautifully cool day we went back to Bukhansan Nat'l Park.  As mentioned before, this park is relatively close to our place and I wanted to go back at least once more when it was cooler.  Bukhansan is always a great getaway.

....and Kelly falls.

Till we meet again...