Seoul Train

Again, it’s been a while since I last made a post, but rest assured that Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod would be proud, for I have been keeping fit and having fun. Bert and his sister Gert would also be kosher, for I stayed alert and stayed safe. (To anyone who didn’t watch television at 4:00 in the afternoon in the 90's I apologize for the obscure references).

Two weekends ago I travelled with Dana, Mona and their South African friend Kaye to Seoraksan National Park, to enjoy the autumn foliage and crisp, fresh country air. We journeyed to a place called Osaek Hot Springs, with the intention of enjoying some hiking and relaxing in the natural, sulphuric baths. After enjoying some hiking, we learned that there weren’t any hot springs because of a major flood that hit the area in the summer. The name of the town was a bit deceiving and disheartening... although it wasn't nearly as disappointing as my trip to Lake Titicaca in Peru. And don’t even get me started about Intercourse, Pennsylvania... I suppose it was only fitting that I went to the Virgin Islands next.



The town of Osaek Hot Springs didn't have hot springs so we had to improvise. As the old saying goes, when life hands you a lemon, get in a bath tub with three super fun women.

The next morning we arose early, determined to scale the third highest mountain, Daecheongbong, in South Korea (1708 m). We were told that morning by our very amiable hostel host that we would be unable to climb the mountain. At first we were confused, but we soon discovered that he was questioning our climbing gear – track pants, running shoes and McMaster hoodies. Koreans take their hiking very serious and make it ostensible, nay, Koreans take everything very seriously and make all things ostensible and hiking is no exception. Every single person was dressed to the nines, many to the tens and some even to the elevens (which is the same as giving a 110% to getting dressed). Everyone wore “The North Face” this and “K2" that. All the Koreans had hiking poles, bullet-proof boots, ultra light drinking cups and that’s just to walk the dog in the park. I mean, if a Korean couple ever went on a romantic hiking getaway it wouldn’t surprise me one iota if they used North Face condoms. However, it must be said that the extremely difficult trail was crammed with literally thousands of people, the majority of whom were well into their forties, fifties and sixties. They all trudged to the top, proved that the tortoise really has some advice to offer and made North Americans look really torpid.




This past weekend I participated in an “Amazing Race” in Busan (all proceeds went to a local orphanage. It was altruism and adventure in one, or as I like to call it, adventruism, which is the best kind there is). Busan, population 4 million, is the second largest city in Korea, and is on the other side of the country from Seoul. It’s on the coast and has a beautiful combination of beaches, city, mountains, fishing port and industrial mega-centre. Four of us took the bullet train, which had a cruising speed around 290 km/h, across the country to our destination. It was an impressive ride that was so smooth I could have used the on-board toilets and peed on a dime, if I was so inclined.

On Saturday me and my partner, an English co-teacher from the school, ran all across Busan, performing various tasks, solving problems, taking photos in front of popular tourist attractions and throughly enjoying ourselves. As foreigners to the city we were quite satisfied with finishing 19th out of 42 teams.


Amazing was this race.


One of the challenges: get a random Korean stranger to be the third person in a human pyramid.

Later on that night the town of Busan, quite serendipitously, happened to be having it’s third annual fireworks show. This was definitely the most amazing displaying of blowing things up I have ever witnessed. Imagine George W. Bush saying, “Forget the war in Iraq. Let’s scrap the national defence budget. Instead we’ll show those evildoers how free we are by spending all that extra cash on fireworks. Nothing says American freedom like lighting a firecracker made in China.” If you can fathom that sort of spending then you have an idea of what this show was like. The grand finale made daylight seem like a day in the life of Andrea Bocelli.




Ka-boom!

Accompany me on all these travels was my Korean co-teacher’s stuffed, toy pig. I, with the help and abetment of some friends, captured her coveted swine and took pictures of it, a la the garden gnome, during the week to lighten the mood in the t-lounge (teacher’s lounge) and keep things more congenial. Like the villains in a James Bond flick, I feel compelled to share my diabolical undertaking for it’s as satisfying to share your brilliance as it is to execute it, perhaps even a little more. Enjoy!






Amorously,

Ion