For the Buddha's Birthday and Children's Day long weekend (May 3-6), Team JMS decided we were in need of a vacation. Like a vacation together. We originally tried to plan a trip to Japan, but in February all the planes and ferries were sold out. Yes, in FEBRUARY. Koreans don't get many long weekends and in fact, this is the longest holiday they have in 2014. FOUR DAYS. That's it. So everyone books their vacations early.
As an alternative, we decided to stick around and tour a place we've both wanted to go, the seaside town of Sokcho and the nearby national park, Seoraksan. Seorak is probably the most famous mountain to hike in Korea after Hallasan (see Jeju post).
We had four days, two spent hiking in the park and two spent in Sokcho or on the beach. The weather was incredible. The most perfect spring weather one could ask for. A friend of mine recommended a pension with an ocean view that she'd stayed at before so we booked it and what a view it was! So nice to wake up to the sunrise blasting in the window. It was a very relaxing and refreshing trip.
Day 1 - Walking on the Beach
Saturday was spent walking along the beach, relaxing, and eating food. We even stopped by the heart tree on the pier for some photo ops.
View from our balcony
Day 2 - Hiking up to Geumganggul Cave (Biseondae course)
Our first day in the national park was super busy. We went in the late morning and it was packed. I'm talking circus or amusement park packed. We managed to get through the crowds and hike past Biseondae rock and up to Geumganggul Cave. Lots of stairs were involved in getting to the small cave in the rock face, but it was a very nice view.
Excited to be in Seoraksan National Park!
A beautiful stream The cave! Yes, it's on the side of a mountain face.
Inside the cave, looking out.
Day 3 - Tandem Biking Around Sokcho
On Monday, we rented a tandem bicycle and rode around town. It was nice to have the freedom to create our own itinerary. Armed with a local map of tourist attractions and things to do, we headed out to the Jungang Market for our first experience of a real Korean market. JM even got his first 'ajumma elbow'. We had to pick up a box of Sokcho's most famous fried chicken, called Dakgangjeong, for which we waited in line about 40 minutes! It was crazy popular.
Making chicken
Insane line up waiting for chicken.
Finally! It arrived.
Next, we headed out to Yeongnangho Lake, a quiet lagoon just north of town with a lovely path around it. We stopped at an archery experience and learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, then stopped at Bombawi, a rock that apparently looks like a crouching tiger. Here we ate our fried chicken for lunch with a beautiful view of the mountains and lake.
Our view for lunch. Notice the mountains!
Shadow play!
After eating, we headed back to Sokcho and passed the Seokbong Ceramic Museum. Even though it was closing soon, they let us come in and see all the beautiful art.
Finally, we returned our bike and grabbed some local tofu soup, sundubu, for dinner. All in all it was a fantastic day.
Day 4 - Our last day was also our departure day, so we had to be efficient with our time. Waking up to the most beautiful sunrise, team JMS headed out to Seoraksan park early (like 6:30am early). We wanted to get a head start on the Ulsanbawi trail. This is one of the most famous hiking trails and it was sure to get busy. That early in the morning, however, we only saw a few other people. It was really nice to have moments in the nature alone. The weather was chilly and windy, so the waygooks in shorts looked a little out of place, but we managed. The view from the top was worth it. You felt like you were on top of the world! In true Korean fashion, we had 4G at the top and decided to Skype some family members.
Heundeulbawi - the oddly placed rock that no one can push over.
Our first real view of Ulsanbawi - yup, we went all the way to the top!
View from the top. It was a beautiful day - you could see all the way to the ocean!
After returning to our pension, we showered and hit the beach for an hour before our bus ride home. Sokcho was a beautiful town that we highly recommend. It was probably the most perfect weekend we've ever had in Korea.
The trip that was months in the planning ended up being something a little more local than originally anticipated. My mom came to visit for her 50th birthday, and since JM and I had 5 days off (yes, Chuseok holiday fell right on my mom's birthday!) we had planned to do something exciting. Since 20 million people displace themselves from Seoul to get to the hometowns of their ancestors, traveling around this holiday is insanity. Think Christmas, times 100.
I had been fortunate enough to snag us some seats on the KTX to Busan, a coastal town with nice beaches, culture, and mountains to climb. It suited us as the perfect local place to go and get out of Cheonan. I also found a great online deal for the Novotel Ambassador hotel, right on Haeundae beach. We had ocean view rooms, king size beds, and gorgeous weather.
View from the rooms!
Thursday we relaxed on the beach. We wanted to have a bummy beach day, so we took a picnic with cheese, meat, crackers and fruit and lounged the afternoon away. The waves were so much fun to play in. They were huge and you didn't have to wait long to get knocked over and tons of sand in your bathing suit. Unfortunately, late in the season the ocean gets some "bugs" as Korean call them and they are a little picky, sort of like small jelly fish stings. Luckily, they didn't affect us too badly and we body surfed in the strong current.
Enjoying the waves!
Friday was my mom's birthday and she really wanted to go for a hike. So we woke up, ate cupcakes for breakfast (Sarah and I surprised my mom with cupcakes we baked before the train - we still don't know how she didn't smell them), and headed off to Jangsan, a mountain that was within walking distance from the hotel. We took the longest, most convoluted way to the top possible, but the hike was really pleasant. Not over crowded like most Korean mountains, or too steep, and there was a guy selling popsicles at the top! I've never been so happy to see a man with a melon popsicle.
Mom went for a morning walk on the beach
Sarah making cupcakes - well .. eating the batter
Sarah and JM - hula competition! This was in a small exercise park at the start of the hike.
Back stretch! We also had quite a few rock slides to climb over.
Popsicles at the top!
That night we went out for a Brazilian barbeque dinner, some Baskin Robbins ice cream, and to top it off, a norebang jam session. For those who don't know, norebang is the Korean karaoke. We rented a private room and had our choice of what songs to sing. I think my mom enjoyed her 50th celebration!
The things you can get your mom to do if you promise her ice cream ... he he.
Saturday was a bit of a bust. We went to a temple that was recommended on TripAdvisor as a must see, and sadly, it was not. Much too crowded and touristy, exactly the type of attraction I hate to be caught at as a claustrophobe. But we made up for it Sunday morning with another beach day and then some Busan culture in the afternoon. All in all, a great trip!
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