Notes on Daejeon: October 1-2, 2011

October 1-2 (Daejeon):  Since Angie had just come across country to visit me in Ulsan we decided to meet up closer to her neck of the woods to check out some colorful fall foliage and get some of the items, such as a winter coat and some work clothes, that we didn’t bring with us.  Much to our surprise fall in Korea this year has come a little late.  After crossing the country in about 3.5 hrs on the KTX (Korea’s bullet train), Angie and I met up and headed over to Gyeryongsan National Park.  Before embarking on this hike we had heard that there were 2 types of Korean hikers, those that hike in heels and their Sunday best and those that use proper trekking poles, hiking boots and, if coupled, matching track suits. 

         Thinking nothing of the hike we embarked on the hike with the goal to make it to a peak.  The path began leisurely enough, but quickly turned into the stair master from hell.  With narrow, uneven, and often extremely long stretches of very steep steps we climbed, and climbed, and climbed for approximately 1.3 km straight up.  Along the way we laughed at ourselves while Koreans of all ages, shapes and sizes seemed to be sprinting up and down the mountain.  We were not nearly as in shape as we thought. 

           

          We eventually made it to Gwuneumbong Peak.  The views were worth it.  Even though it was hazy I felt that I could almost see all the way across the country.  There may not have been the brilliant fall colors we were expecting but the view from the peak was more than enough compensation.  As we descended the mountain our muscles were letting us know we had worked them hard that day and we were ready for a good, hot, meal.

         Back in the village at the base of the park, we walked around looking for food.  As the sun was setting, we quickly grew more cold than we were prepared for and since we didn’t really understand our hostess we wound up sitting outside freezing our behinds but enjoying a bowl of bibimbap.  While the bibimbap came to us hot, it didn’t last long.  Frozen and tired we ventured back to our hotel with the fullest intentions of showering and heading out to explore the urban side of Daejeon at night.  We didn’t make it. 

The next morning we woke, and our muscles were surprisingly silent.  However, every flight of stairs seemed to spark our muscles to begin protesting.  That day while we nursed our muscles we enjoyed some hot spicy soup and kimbap for breakfast.  Koreans don’t really follow the notion that certain foods can only be consumed at certain meals of the day, I’m definitely all for that.  After breakfast we then did a little shopping in an underground market to acquire some much needed work items.  It was an exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable weekend.  The only downside is that this shopping excursion didn’t yield all the necessities we had hoped and now we will have to do more shopping and for two girls that actually don’t like to shop, that prospect is more daunting than tackling the mountain.  I can’t wait for us to tackle the next mountain.