OPERATOR ERROR

So my movie was saved all along. I found it while frantically searching. Now I'm troubleshooting errors to get it uploaded.

In the meantime I've sense returned to the mountain several times and the landscape has changed, so much so that I didn't readily recognize the path. The leaves have fallen and turned to brown and the paths are all covered over.

Today as I walked I began to notice the ones that were smashed and crunched, revealing the trail. I really needed it too because I veered off in the wrong direction a few times.

As I continued up I realized how familiar I've become with the surroundings and that adventurous spirit in me wanted to purposely wander off, So I did.





I struck off on an eastward path to see where it would take me. There were a lot more tombs on this side. It made me imagine the scene of loved ones carrying a relative to a final resting place on the mountain side and what the processional must be like.

I also discovered a few tomb markers with crosses on them which erased my thought that only Buddhist were buried up there.

The deal is because South Korea is a Peninsula,and it is surrounded by mountains, there is only so much flat land so they use the mountain land as burial grounds. Cremation is also popular here due to the lack of land.

So as I continued to explore this new path, not knowing where I'd end up, I came across a clearing with a beautiful view of "my mountain". Seeing this mountain gave a good perspective on where I was.

From my balcony window I can see this mountain, (photo above) that I call my mountain, but this vantage point gave me a better view. It has a name but I dare not try to spell it. It sounds like "gay young" I did not take a photograph today as the sky was rather overcast and the mountain was in the shadows. I plan to go on a clear day and get a shot so watch out for it.

As I continued there was nothing particularly unusual. Then I heard a child's voice. Looking up I saw that I was heading down and there was another path across the road. So down I went and back up again. Much of the same. burial grounds and fallen leaves and trees so I turned back.

I was hot and tired but I made my way back to where I turned off. From there I continued my climb. I encountered many people along the way, including the mom of one of my students. I always find it fascinating that I can literally be in the middle of nowhere, and still manage to run into someone that I know. And it also never fails that someone will insist on trying to communicate with me even though neither of us speaks the others language. But somehow we manage, then the silence returns.

At the top there were several people enjoying the local fare that's offered by the ambitious businessman who is there to meet the needs of the weary hiker.

So as I made my way onto the rest stop at the top, an elder hiker comes up the stairs. He began to speak to me in Hangul (Korean) and I smiled. Then he asked in a broken English way, what was my country. I happened to have on a hoodie with the flag on it so I pointed to the flag and then said U.S. He acknowledged and then wanted to know how long I've been in Korea. He offered me a Halls which I gladly took, since I was thirsty and didn't bring water.

I cooled off and began to leave. This elder,now sitting with the others in the eating area, began to speak to me again. Not completely understanding, it seems he wanted to know if I'd tried something that I've seen served there every time I've trekked to the top. Thinking it was soup I asked what it was made of.

He said it was not soup but could not, in English say what it was, so he spoke in Korean to the others but still insisting that I stay. Then one guy said that it was whiskey or Korean liquor and I'm now observing the businessman hand him three containers, one that had anchovies in it. (They eat those like candy)He also handed over two cups of this liquid that looked like milk.

I am graciously saying no and moving away but he is handing me this cup. So I take it to smell, spilling some on my jacket as I detected a scent of something fermented.

I'm done! I said OMG. One guy who was doing sit ups got a good laugh from it all, I said, "give it to that guy" and off I went back down the mountain.

Now I'm walking away smelling this fermented spill and looking at this wet spot on my jacket turn an ashen white as if some baby threw up on me. Disgusting! But innocent I suppose. He just wanted to make my stay interesting I guess.

But I can't imagine those who are drinking and navigating this mountain path. I even saw some people that I'd passed, heading back up again. What is that, exercise??? I suppose, but that mountain is no joke. But I forgot these folks live here and probably walk this thing everyday. The mother and child that I saw on the other side were probably taking a short cut.

Chipmunks, Chestnuts and The Black Chickens

So my friend Esther from the gym asked if I wanted to go hiking in the mountains. Up for the challenge I joyfully responded, yes!

We met the next morn. me with backpack and rations in tow, she with a water bottle.

So what gives I'm thinking. But what comes out is which bus do we take. No bus, she says it's just over here.

To my amazement the mountain is just behind my place. How cool is that, I'm thinking. I also thought why am I just finding this out!. But every thing in it's own time. So what if it's seven months down the road. Now I know.

So we dropped off my unnecessary gear and headed for the trail. It took about an hour or less to get to the top. Lovely views overlooking the city along the way to the top.
Many people out with the same idea.

Sooooooooooo that explains the comings and goings of the many people that I'd notice in the mornings and early afternoon with their multi-pocketed vest on, with hiking shoes, sticks and loose fitting clothing.

There are places to sit and exercise equipemnt to use along the main trail. We stopped at the first one which is honestly 15 minutes into the climb. It's a large covered platform. Really nice wood. I found a perfect stick that I began to use as a staff. It quickly became very useful.

As we continued on we came across some fresh fallen chestnuts, so I had a crack at one of those, it was ok. I think I'd like them better roasted. Then I saw some Chipmunks, or really tiny squirrels making it into some brush to get out of the way of the humans who had invaded their sanctuary and their food court!
The climb began to get really intense and I just had to thank God for my workout classes, weights, squats, step, all that! Once I really got into it, it was great.

Hiking is huge here in this country but then it's surrounded by mountains so I suppose that's a given. Men, women, children, of various ages. They even brought the pets along.

After making it to the top, typical views but nice still, we decided to descend on the opposite side to explore a bit further. There were actually stairs at one point because it was so steep, you could have fallen head first!

Back on the ground there was a guy selling snacks. Oh at the top there was a portable restaurant. Someone has to feed the wearied hikers yes? He had coffee and other simple fare. We didn't bother with that.

The other side was pretty flat. So we turned back after a brief walk through those woods.

Die hard hikers we went back up, since we had no idea where we came out at and we could try to make our way back to the original trail.... yeah right! There are so many different ways to walk on and off that mountain. We finally found one that seemed to point in the right direction so off we went. We stopped by and did a few rounds on the hula hoops that we passed so all was going well. We thought only to then run into what seemed like a dead end and a drop off. So we backtracked and off we went once again. Finally we began to pass by more people so we kept going in that direction realizing we were on our way down.

Came across some black feathered chickens which blew me away. I'd never seen or heard of any before. But I was really annoyed at myself cuz when I dropped off my gear I left my camera. I did however have a cookie left for my rations so I was able to call them....chick, chick, chick. To my surprise they came and were quite calm until a hikers pet came along and chased them off a bit.

So we pushed on. But the chickens caught back up with us, guess they had a short cut,and I gave them the remainder of the cookie. That was way cool.

But still it was not the trail that we took in but it led us back to a familiar area that was still close to my place, just on the opposite side.

I planned to take that trail again and bring along my camera in hopes of seeing those birds.

PS. I've taken the trail with my camera twice since my maiden hike. Check next weeks blog for photos and an update. I even shot a video/movie....lot of forest footage.

I love this hiking thing!