Did I mention the spiders?

We went on a walk a few weeks back on what is now (when it isn't below freezing) our running path.  Exiting the red brick colonial Virgina style school, we walked along the paved road five minutes, following the river/stream.  (I don't know what it is technically, but the water is only ankle deep).  Taking a turn across a bridge we passed farm homes.  We live in the country, far away from city life and yet, Koreans tie their dogs to yard long leashes.  This is the country.  This is where dogs should be free to roam free, eat bugs, run after squirrels but they are constrained.  Maybe Koreans feel that if they as a people are constrained, their dogs should be constrained as well.  I can't fathom what the reason is though. Why would someone own a dog, only to tie them up to a doghouse.  How can a pet be enjoyed that way?

 

As you can see, we are surrounded by mountains.  It is magnificent.  The view trumphs Seoul's gray lifeless, box buildings any day.  One of the farms was growing chilies.  At the end of the running path is a killer hill.  I never make it up all the way without walking some.  Even walking up the 90 degree angle leaves me heaving.  On our way back into the village we found some critters we couldn't help but take pictures of.  Praying mantises in Korea are huge, or maybe they are normal sized and praying mantises and I have had much acquaintance in the past. Either way, they are so interesting.  This praying mantis as seen below, was curious, either that or just dumb.  Do you see how he looks directly at the camera?

"That's right, I'm just chillin on the road.  Should I look at the camera or look uninterested?"

A while ago, I did a post about MASSIVE INSECTS  in Korea and I mentioned a spider, but didn't provide a picture.  Well here is a picture of a different spider, a much meaner looking critter.  I mean seriously, whos to say that critter isn't straight from a science fiction novel.  Toxic chemicals obviously transformed this ginormous spider into what it is today and I wouldn't be surprised to see a human-sized mutant form of this bug crawling around ready to fight the teenage mutant ninja praying mantises.  That should be a fight to remember.

We were trying to give perspective at his size, but were too frightened to get too close.

This web was an intricate weave of at least five webs, with several different kinds of spider all living harmoniously together.  It was like a spider commune.