August 26, 2012
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Trip in Seoraksan (Korea Day 4)
We had a relatively late start to the morning hike. By late, it means getting up at 7am when the sun is fully up already. Got dressed and then went for the hotel coffee shop sandwich which was packed in case we got hungry somewhere up in the hills. Our plan was to head towards Biseondae, a supposed 2.3km walk to take 40mins. Charlie told us an hour. We took almost two hours.
It started with a paved road for half a km before we hit the first water station. This was a large building selling food and stuff but they have water of all kinds advertised in front like hawker stalls. From here, it was no longer paved but the road still relatively flat and straightforward to walk. Once you hear the river runs, the path gets rocky, and more ups and downs. I thought we’d have problems going down on the way back but it was actually easier than feared. We saw the second stop area where there was food and water for purchase. Further on, waterfalls and finally to the Biseondae bridge. Wife wanted to keep going but I saw the rocky paths getting a bit impossible and there was the way back. It has been more than 2 hours since we set off (including a false start that took us via the backroad to cable car area, costing us almost half hour).
Photos taken, we started moving down, having our sandwiches along the way. At the 2nd stop, we had “ramen” – the only thing we knew what to order. The way back was faster. On to the cable cars.
If I remember correctly, cable car costs were 9000won. A short ride up, squeezed with two dozen other touristas, and we were up. Here, we made our way up to the harrowing Gwongeumseong. Near the top, it’s steepness was quite unbelievable but seeing how young Korean ladies in heels could do it, we went up also. My Nike shoe bottom came out on the descend but I managed to get down okay. It is only when thinking back that I realize how scary it was.
Anyway back to cable car area and realize we could descend (which most of the other tourists didn’t go to) to a secluded temple. After that it was back to hotel before we went out for dinner, advised by Charlie that a good and cheap place which his other customers had given feedback, at the 88 Baked Fish place. Taxi took us there for 10,000won thereabouts, and cost of food was 24,000won. It was next to the river where one could oversee the bridge. Oh, and got a ticket from Charlie that showed the guards we were guests of the hotel to let us back in.
Essentially you get seated, the serving lady will place a bowl of fish and start laying them out in the barbeque pit then close the air sucker over it. Then she will be back at regular intervals to serve the fish to you, but at some point the fish will be overcooked so you start taking them out yourself. I didn’t like the food as I am not a big fan of fish with a lot of small bones (seems like the Koreans eat them whole including the bones, which I cannot) and it left some really REALLY fishy smell on us, clothes and person. I tried washing the smell away from my fingers with soap thrice and it didn’t work, so in the end I just used perfumed body soap and covered the smell instead. Our clothes reeked of fish.
After that we walked the markets a bit and took cab back to hotel.
Link to morning view https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NrMgm4OujN3XFmx6VC8lw7iRKSlIIMLQ7QYEQd041rA
Packing food in case we were left in nowhere-land
The wrong way… this leads back to the start
The right way…
Drizzling but it was quite nice actually coz then it wasn’t hot
Road markers
The first stop area. We had refill of water here.
English signs not needed.
This rock was HUGE!
The path turned rocky
This is more like tourista stop (third rest place)
The poor guy located at this station was asked by a group of old ladies to take their photos, and we took advantage
This was about as far as we went. After this, the road was too rocky, and I wanted to turn back.
Squirrels were happily hanging around, think because there are lots of visitors feeding them
The path that I didn’t want to go on
A guy having his lunch
This is rest stop 2 which we passed earlier.
The menu is not quite self-explanatory
Ramen… (getting used to ordering that by now)
Lady placing bread for squirrels
Sniff sniff and took the bait
Nomz nomz nomz
There was this spider with balls on feet, very thin legs, ball as body. Very camoflaged. It can only be spotted when moving (thus it’s impossible to find it from this picture)
Spot the blue bird
Never got to try anything from here
Cable car
Oh dear… wife is going up.
Alright, we made it to the top…
… now is time to head back down. The descent broke my shoe soles and had to tear it off.
(click for full pic)We headed down the path to the temple (not many people went down)
Just a toilet down there
Walked to near the entrance of the park
15,000 won for this :- we ate half only.
On cab out to town for dinner
Famous eating place (supposedly)
Fish is GONE!
We bought a super large peach from here!
