a story bout hiking korean style

 Gangwon-do, oct. 29-31

Well Koreans hike a little different to what I'm used to. They are really into hiking. Irrespective of their age or condition they are heading to the top. No wonder, considering all the beautiful National Parks they got here. Well we love hiking too, so no wonder we found ourselfes in the middle of Korean hikers. But noone could have expacted what we were about to see..... 

The autum with its magnificent colours lasted for a little longer and therefore we couldn't wait to go hiking again. Kate, Philip, Fibi and me decided to leave Seoul for another weekend to escape from citylife and enjoy the countryside at the east coast and in Seoraksan National Park.

A coffee and an unespected short busride later we found ourselves in Sokcho, seaport in the northeast of Southkorea and close to the border to Northkorea. We strolled around the harbor, watched seagulls soaring through the air and catched some rays at the harbor. As three of us are blond and we were the only foreigners around we were THE attraction for passing Koreans. Which means they would come over to ask questions and tell us things they know about the countries we were all coming from. I kind of like this, it is not annoying at all. It's totally exhilarant that people are interested and friendly, compared to grumpy Austrians at home.

If I would only be into fish, this could have been my paradise. Next to some women selling dried fish, which really looked gross at least for me, were tents all along the warf with fish tanks in the front. One could pick his/her fish of choice and make a, usually, middle-aged lady prepare it before then finally grilling it on a simple tablegrill next to some fisherboats. As the others probably didn't want me to look at them with a hungry face while they would eat their fresh fish, they decided to go to a BBQ place, recommanded by Lonely Planet. And I must say: that was the best decision ever!
A whole top-opening freezer filled with all different kinds of fresh meat, fish and seafood you can imagine was open on a self-service-all-you-can eat basis for just 7000Won.
After that someone must have rolled me to the bus that took us to the National Park entrance were we stayed for the night.

The sun kissed me goodmorning the next day and I was so excited to hike in one of Koreas most beautiful National Parks. My enthusiasm fell slightly when I realised that Seoraksan is also one of the most popular National Parks. It was packed! Everywhere people! Thousands of snack booths were redolent of a theme park rather than of a National Park.

The Ulsan Bawi  trail ends in over 800 steep steel stairs but offers a wonderful view of the mountain and an overview of Sokcho. Legends say that Ulsan Bawi was on his way to the creator of Kumgangsan (or the Diamand Mountains, the most beautiful of all in Korea) as a representer of the city Ulsan but unfortunately arrived to late so there was no space left anymore. Ashamed and in grief he walked back south, fell and decided to stay forever at this place as it was so beautiful.
Well we wanted to show our respect to this impressive formation and followed the masses to the summit.

 

After a while I got used to the people and concentraded on the riots of colours that surrounded me, till someone stood in my way and wouldn't move. The line up the hill had stopped. And we realised that nothing had happend but we actually had to queue to get to the top. I never ever had to queue to get to a mountaintop in my whole life!!! We waited around 90 minutes, walked every once in while and waited again. But in the end waiting was worth it, as the view from the summit was, as promised, fantastic.
Just check out the slideshow on the right and you will agree.

And as a weekendtrip like this should end properly we had Palatschinken (Austrian pancakes) after a comfy busride back the next day.
It's so easy to make my friends happy: just feed them with Nutella and homemade apricot jam (danke Mutti!) Palatschinken and finish the meal with good Austrian schnaps!