My alarm went off at 5:15 am. I woke 100% ready to face the day. I texted M(H) to let her know that I was running to 7-11 for my coffee. Their cold brew that I normally get was buy 2 get one free. So naturally I bought 3. One is in my fridge, the other 2 were necessary before I ever got on the actual bus. M(H) and I met outside my apt, walked to the bus stop, and got on bus 116-1 at about 6am. We took that bus to another bus stop where we got off 116-1 and onto the #31 bus, which then took us the rest of the way to Dongcheon Transfer Station. We got to the station at a little past 7am. The email we got from Banga Tours said to be there at least 10 mins before the 7:30 pick up time. Yes, I know we were super early, but it was a good thing because the bus came at 7:25, we loaded up and off we went. It was literally a bus stop next to the highway so there would be no waiting around for people. The bus had one more stop in Pyeongtaek near the Army base. We picked up the last of our group and headed out. We drove south for about 2 hours before we got close to Naejangsan National Park. The traffic was INSANE, so we got off the bus and walked to the gate. We had to go in the gate together, but once that hurdle was overcome, we had the rest of the day to ourselves.
How can I make you understand how I felt to be walking under beautiful trees, next to a babbling stream, with WAY too many people around?! It was simultaneously the most peaceful I've felt in a while and the most annoyed at the amount of humans in the world. I longed for Shoshone National Forest and the trail up to Popo Agie falls; seeing maybe 20 people on the way up and the way back. The national parks are REALLY busy here in the spring and fall, and I can see why. This country is totally GORGEOUS. The mountains, the lakes, the streams, the trees, the temples, it's all stunning. Unfortunately, there is no way to enjoy them without the aforementioned traffic. There were a ton of people there - and they don't always move to the side when coming up the trails. I also learned that in Korea they move the maps on you. What I mean is: in the states, every version of the map that you see is about the same, the only thing that moves is the 'you are here' dot. Here, they flip the map on you so suddenly where you started looks like it's on the opposite side when you get to a certain point. I don't know who does their maps, or how they learn to read them, but it perturbed me to no end!!
However, all longing for solitude in nature and easily understood maps aside, it was a beautiful trip, totally worth it, and M(H) and I had a great time. Please enjoy the following pictures of the stunning beauty of fall!
The first bunch is from my camera - which sometimes has problems realizing that there is enough light and it doesn't have to compensate by making things dark.
The following were taken with my phone camera when my normal camera decided to be dumb.
We ended up staying about 30 mins longer than originally planned because of the issues we had with the traffic on the way there. After we left, we got stuck in traffic again on the way to Pyeongtaek. M(H) and I tried to figure out where the subway station in Pyeongtaek was so that maybe we could get home sooner. As we were talking, F and B (lovely ladies in the Air Force) overheard and offered to help. F had a car and said she could take us to the metro station in Songtan, as that was near the air force base and where they were headed. We happily accepted, as we were originally looking at 2 hours to get home, and if we got to Songtan, that would cut at LEAST an hour off our getting-home time. It was a nice little bit of home to take a ride with other people from the US talking about driving in Korea, how different it was, life in Korea in the military vs as a teacher... it was just a nice drive. I'm hugely impressed with F's driving abilities and memory. So they got us to Songtan, we took the train to Byeongjeom, got the bus to take us to near our place, and got home at about 11pm. M(H) had turned on her step tracking app and said that we walked about 10 miles in the park. My knees and legs believe that amount.
It was a great weekend of being lazy on Saturday (sleeping and reading The Cabinet of Curiosities - highly recommend that book, btw), being out and about (and social) on Sunday, and getting back to work today. I wasn't able to have my usual phone date with Dad and Carole, but Mo had wifi, so I called her instead. Got to talk with the seester for a while, which was SUPER nice. I misses my seesters.
So this weekend is the apple winery and festival. I'm looking forward to it again. This time we're being picked up at 8:40 in Osan, so the good news is that I won't have to be up at 5:15 again. We're going to a temple first, then the winery. I'm planning on making another apple pie, having craft beer, and a pulled pork sammich. It'll be another long day, but should be a good time.
Much love, hope you enjoyed the pretties. :)
Just gorgeous !
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