Hallasan mountain

Our last day in Jeju, we decided to hike the highest mountain/volcano in Korea.  We had to wake up super early in order to both hike the entire mountain and make our plane.  We didn't take our time as we were a little concerned about our timing.
The whole thing took us around 7 hours.  The hardest part was coming down, at least for me.  It killed our knees. Going up wasn't a cinch, but I'm always afraid of falling on my way down, and I generally walk like a grandma. Heres the video.  It was a fun, challenging experience, but I'm glad its over.

Hallasan video

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.

Hiking in Yongmun

A couple of weekend ago, we went hiking at a local mountain near our school. Yongmun means Dragon's Gate. It was a huge touristy thing. It was just down the road and we had no idea! I wasn't expecting to take so many pictures so I wore my frumpy sweatshirt which I now regret looking back at the pictures, but one can't always wear heels :) (like I ever wear heels)

The dragon gate.

One of the most treasured aspects of Yongmun mountain is it's Ginkgo tree. They have the largest in Asia. It didn't look so spectacularly grandiose to me, but maybe they just don't get very large in general. The way you can tell a ginkgo tree from any other tree is the shape of their leaves look like fans. Very Asian. The stereotypical image I get in my head when thinking of Asians are geishas fanning themselves. How ironic that this tree choose to imitate my stereotypical, and ignorant image of them.

The boys walking up to the temple.

On this hike was also a Buddhist temple. I had no idea! But look at these guys enthusiasm. They are ecstatic about the discovery of a Buddhist temple!

One of the most popular snacks in Korea are something they call rice cakes. Everything in Korea, (and my guess is that this is true of all of Asia), everything stems from rice. Rice is life. Seriously, I had no clue that rice was so easily melded into other treats. Not that I particularly love any of them but in case you don't have enough rice with rice being the main portion of every meal, feel free to also add the rice noodles, rice cakes etc.
Rice cake? Cake made from rice? "Chincha" (translation: really) They are often vibrant colors and adorned with nuts and other sprinkles that look delicious. When I was first introduced, I thought they looked like an Asian crumpet of sorts. My mouth watered as I inspected this Korean delicacy. However my taste buds were in for an unpleasant surprise. The rice cake tasted like rice and air. Really, the taste of nothingness, which seems to be a common complaint of mine in Korea. On occasion, you can find a sweet rice cake, but they are rare.
The picture above is an example of how it is made. It was incredibly sticky, and very fun to bang.

It took me about 15 tries to get a picture of this tree. Sometimes using a SLR camera is incredibly frustrating. The camera absolutely refuses to read my mind. No matter how many telepathy classes we attend, that camera is just dense.

There seem to always be statues to pose with in Korea.

Don't be deceived by these rock piles. They are built my aliens, just like the mammoth rocks at Easter Island, and the Pyramids in Egypt. These rock mounds take just as much patience to construct as the Eiffel tower. Or maybe I just have depleted my patience so thoroughly that I don't even have the patience to finish this sente...

But these rock piles were everywhere. I think they have something to do with meditation and/or prayer in Buddhism, but I don't know for sure because there were no markers near them. Even if for some reason, Korea decided to pay money to place markers near them, it wouldn't be in my language. So I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine. If you do know, my ears are wide open.

Did you know that there are Fall flowers? Because I come from a city lacking in seasons other than Severely Hot/ and moderately hot, I have never really experienced true seasons. The fall colors are a sight, but for me, the red leaves signify a warning. "Beware, cold weather awaits. Begin hibernation procedures." So I have a little more difficulty enjoying fall being a paranoid mongoose always on the look out for its archenemy.

Look, a bee. I'm so easily amused!

We found a bridge to play on. It didn't really go anywhere though.
We love taking pictures of the dragonflies. They are our friends. They eat mosquitoes!

Three day weekend video

This video is of our three day weekend, but really only captures part of our hike and the snow on the following morning. I'm sorry this video is a little shaky. It is hard to hold a camera still while hiking. Here is the link- in case it cuts off half of the screen like it does on my computer.



*** Update: Who are you People***

Since my post on spammers and their strange comments. I have received some even stranger ones I thought I might share with you. We can laugh together at the absurdity!

Comment : I confirm. I agree with told all above. Let's discuss this question. Here or in PM. - this was once again made on the guille suit post.

Answer: I am not sure what you agree with but I am glad that you are so agreeable. However since you are probably a computer, I don't know how well our conversation will go.


Comment on on my post about stupid spammers (irony anyone?): Nice fill someone in on and this mail helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information. (I have received this comment several times on random posts that aren't informative at all and it is always anonymous. Unless someone who doesn't speak English well is really using non-informative posts to write their college essays, I am pretty sure they are spammers.)

Answer: Interesting choice for a college assignment. What part of my ranting about stupid spammers was helpful to you?

Comment on the three day weekend post:

can anyone tell me which is the best counter strike guide ? :)...i found this one :

(link)

What do you believe wits it ?

Thanx in advance

Sorry for my bad english :s

Answer: Dear bad English:s,
I don't know what counter strike guide is? What is your question about it? What is "wits it"? Can I counter strike you? Who are you people!!??? Why do you even exist?