little green field book

Posted on August 27, 2016

List of Souvenirs | Seoraksan National Park

I think I’m getting a little bit better about not hoarding every single thing I see, but also, Korean’s are pretty bad at merchandising souvenirs. Or maybe, Koreans have a different idea of a souvenir? The only souvenir shop (at least by my expectations) we found was at the top of the cable car. From afar, the shop looked as if it sold maybe just scarves and jewelry, but upon closer inspection I found a magnet, a postcard (as in the only postcard I saw in the entire park), and a DIY hanging wooden thing emblazoned with “Sorak.” Otherwise, the only places we saw that remotely resembled a gift shop were those that sold Buddhist items near the temple. The unfortunate thing is that there were quite a few really cute logos, graphics, and illustrations of Seoraksan that we saw used throughout the park on maps, signs, and billboards, but sadly not on tchotchkes.

1. Map of Seoraksan National Park
2. Souvenir portrait taken at the Visitor Center. They had a huge photo booth section where you stood in front of a green screen, selected a background, paid ~$1, and then out came your photo. It also looked like you could dress up as a park ranger (though we never actually saw any uniformed park rangers).
3. parking passes
4. Ulsanbawi magnet

5. Admission tickets. I think it cost ~$3/pp, per day, to enter the park
6. Cable car post card. I’m confused why they didn’t sell landscape postcards, considering how beautiful Seoraksan is. Maybe I missed them?
7. Hanging wooden cable car thing that we intend to use as an ornament. Coloring wooden trinkets is a popular DIY activity in Korea and the saleslady informed us that we could decorate/color this on our own. What I’m confused about is what do Koreans normally do with these things? I don’t think it was intended as an ornament.

FOOD KOREA

Sokcho Eats | Mulhoe (물회) – Cold Spicy Seafood Soup

Posted on August 26, 2016

Most of the time when I hear about other foreigners’ experiences with “weird,” “strange” or “bizarre” Korean food” I sort of roll my eyes. Bibimbop, lettuce wrapped beef, and green onion pancakes (pajeon) are about as innocuous as it gets…plus…you can easily find those menu items in the States. It would be kind of like patting yourself on the back for going to Mexico and eating tamales or chicken molé.

On the other hand, if I saw a foreigner chowing down on some mulhoe (물회) – a local Sockcho specialty of cold and spicy seafood soup served with a side of cold noodles, I would probably raise my eyebrows with a bit of respect. I realize that for many people, eating Korean BBQ is probably going way outside their comfort zone, so baby steps, I guess. Mulhoe, on the other hand, falls way, WAY outside the Korean BBQ comfort zone, requiring a certain level of adventure (or maybe just plain ol’ curiosity). Even among Koreans it’s a dish that is either loved or hated. Continue Reading

HIKING Korean National Parks OUTDOORS

Seoraksan National Park | Cable Car + Hike to Gwongeumseong Fortress

Posted on August 25, 2016

If you can’t tell by the shoes I’m wearing, we weren’t really anticipating hiking after our cable car ride to the top of Gwongeumseong Fortress. We had just finished hiking Seoraksan’s popular Ulsanbawi Course, and after a quick break to change into shorts, eat a late lunch, and gulp down ice cold drinks, we decided that we still had time for another excursion. The cable car to sounded easy enough, and unlike may other trams we have taken in the past (Vancouver, I’m looking at you), didn’t cost us an arm and a leg.

HIKING Korean National Parks

Seoraksan National Park | Hiking the Ulsanbawi Trail (울산바위)

Posted on August 20, 2016

Like all great hikes in Korea, the Ulsanbawi Rock Course in Seoraksan National Park includes a Buddha statue, a couple of temples, looming granite mountains, a babbling brook, and more than its fair share of steep staircases. At just under five miles round trip (7.6km), this quintessential Seoraksan hike seemed like a relatively short and not-too-difficult hike.

But then, isn’t that what we think at the beginning of every hike?

KOREA

Sokcho | Haru GuestHouse

Posted on August 18, 2016

We debated for a long time whether or not we should camp out while visiting Seoraksan National Park, but since we planned everything the night before leaving, we decided to make things easy on ourselves and book a room in a guest house. While there were quite a few lodging options closer to the park entrance, the ones we found online (in particular the huge hotel with a strange British theme) were pricey, and way more room than what we needed.

Instead we opted for Haru GuestHouse in Sokcho, about a 15 minute or so drive from the park entrance. A guest house falls somewhere between a hostel, a boutique hotel, and a bed and breakfast, and caters to younger, budget-minded clientele. Many of the guest houses we have seen in Korea have a flair for modern interior design and offer a combination of dorm rooms (with bunks), double rooms and family rooms. While the rooms tend to be on the smaller side, there are plenty of common areas for dining, lounging, and watching TV. It’s something like a combination of cafe, lounge, and hotel, all wrapped into one.

FOOD KOREA

Sokcho at Night + 88 Saengseon Gui (88 생선구이)

Posted on August 17, 2016

Up until the end of the Korean War, Sokcho was a part of North Korea. When the war ended, the borders were redrawn, families were split, and Sokcho officially became part of South Korea. Despite the barbed wire-lined beaches and bright searchlights combing for defectors over the ocean, Sokcho felt like a quaint, traditional, fishing village – they type of place where shops close early and out-of-towners are regarded cautiously.

After our long drive to Seoraksan National Park and an afternoon hike to Biryong Falls, we drove about 15 minutes or so to the quiet beach town of Sokcho, our home for the next couple of nights. For dinner we decided on a grilled fish restaurant within walking distance of our guesthouse. From our hotel we walked along the beach, past rows of vendors selling stuffed squid, each of them beckoning for us to sit down and eat. In front of each food stall, squid swam in large, rectangular, blue plastic water-filled tubs while out in the back, plastic tables and chairs were set up in a make-shift outdoor dining room. Had we not already had a restaurant in mind, we would have definitely sat down for a bite to eat.

HIKING Korean National Parks

Seoraksan National Park | Hiking the Biryong Falls Trail (비룡폭포)

Posted on August 16, 2016

When our original 4th of July plans were canceled due to weather, we scrambled to find a last minute getaway. The problem: it was the beginning of rainy season and the weather report for pretty much all of Korea indicated high wind and torrential rain. Everywhere except the Northeast corner of Korea, home to Seoraksan, one of Korea’s most beautiful national parks.

Seoraksan National Park has been on our to-do list for a long time, however, we have put off visiting because we wanted to hike along one of the ridge trails and stay overnight at a mountaintop shelter. The level of time, planning, and motivation required to visit often meant that whenever the opportunity arose, we chose other, closer, less involved, locations that didn’t require long drives and multiple days of backpacking. That Seoraksan National Park was the only place in all of Korea with blue skies and sunshine felt like some sort of cosmic sign.

We didn’t end up backpacking, but instead considered our extended weekend trip something of a trial run, a way to get a feel for the park and determine if it was a place we saw ourselves returning for more intensive hikes. After a day of driving we arrived mid-afternoon, stopped at the visitor center to take cheesy photos, changed into our hiking shoes, and set off on one of the easier valley trails to Biryong Falls.

DAEGU

Daegu | Slip’n Slide at Slide the City Korea

Posted on August 12, 2016

Remember Slip’n Slides from way back when? A couple weekends ago we brought our inner tubes to a huge, adult-sized Slip’n Slide set up by Slide the City Korea during Daegu’s popular Chimac Festival. The slide was set up on a curvy and hilly section of Duryu Park with trees and mountains as the backdrop. As with most everything we have experienced in Korea, we had no idea what to expect, but given the heat, we were more than willing to give it a try.

Plus, anything that involves being a kid again usually results in having a fun time.

DAEGU

Korean Life | Rainy Season

Posted on August 9, 2016

taken from our living room window

Practically every day for the past couple of weeks, the stifling summer heat has been interrupted by a more-than-refreshing late afternoon shower. The day usually begins as it normally does – bright, sunny and intense, with, of course, extreme humidity. At times it feels unbearable, especially in a country that likes to limit its use of air conditioning. A quick five minute walk outdoors typically results in clothes that are dripping wet.

Just when I think I can’t tolerate it any more, the skies grow dark and ominous while the smell of ozone wafts through the air. From the distance, a large crack of thunder can be heard, followed by crooked bolts of pink lightning. And then the heavens open up for a brief 10-15 minutes providing a bit of gratifying relief from the sweltering heat. These thunderstorms remind me of Texas summers (except without the tornado warnings), and are a welcome, and unexpected, connection to home.

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Souvenirs of | Seoraksan National Park

List of Souvenirs | Seoraksan National Park

Sokcho Eats | Mulhoe (물회) – Cold Spicy Seafood Soup

Seoraksan National Park | Cable Car + Hike to Gwongeumseong Fortress

Seoraksan National Park | Hiking the Ulsanbawi Trail (울산바위)

Sokcho | Haru GuestHouse

Sokcho at Night + 88 Saengseon Gui (88 생선구이)

Seoraksan National Park | Hiking the Biryong Falls Trail (비룡폭포)

Daegu | Slip’n Slide at Slide the City Korea

Korean Life | Rainy Season

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List of Souvenirs | Seoraksan National Park