Bring on the Kimchi!!

Awhile ago I was invited to go hiking up in the mountains! Here are pictures from my experience.

Here are the hiking trails outlined. These are within the National Park.

On the way to the hiking trails we stopped to glance at the Buddhist temples and monuments. It was very interesting to learn about another religion and culture. To see how other people worship and what they value was a great opportunity for me to learn. I am able to understand and respect other beliefs better through experience with them. I can relate to people of this faith better because I have seen a little of what the religion is like.

This is how the ceiling is painted.

These lanterns are in honor of deceased people, those who have problems in their life, or those who have important decisions to make.

Buddha sits in the middle and 2 of his greatest helpers/disciples are on the right and left.

Each one of these crystals in honor of people who have died.

The beautiful paths within the mountains remind me of the woods at home except for no mountains.

The trails were packed with people of all ages. I saw many families hiking together.

This snack that I am eating after our journey consists of rice. It is basically rice on a stick. It's definitely an interesting snack, not much flavor.

After hiking and a snack, we stopped at a gift shop on the way down from the mountain.

Check out the sign below with Konglish

Tour buses bring people from all over to hike in these mountains.

This is a slogan for this beautiful place! Another slogan used often is "Dynamic Busan!" Either way...a great place to visit!

Well... it has been too long since I last wrote an entry. Time flies by and life happens...

Anyways, about Busan...

I traveled there awhile ago with some friends. This city is on the right side/east side of the country. It is located along the coast of the Sea of Japan or as the Koreans say, "The East Sea." For going there in the winter, the weather was actually decently mild. Usually in Korea a strong, bitter wind comes and makes things feel much colder. We didn't experience this on our trip other than the last day. During most of the trip, the sun was shining (except at night of course).

We spent most of our time outside walking around. I visited 2 of the popular beaches. When we arrived in Busan it was evening, so by the time we went to the beach, it was dark. We saw a beautiful view, I put my hand in the sea many times, and we walked along the beach. I found shells and creepy looking seaweed. The bridge in the picture connects two parts of Busan, the second largest city in South Korea. The lights on the bridge changed to all different colors.

The city was very lit up and people were out and about walking around downtown.

When we came to the end of the beach I ran into this guy and his friends...very ugly and someone's dinner...not mine. All over Korea, especially in cities by the sea, you see all sorts of sea life. You can buy it to cook or visit a restaurant and practically pick out your meal. It's similar to Red Lobster but much more FRESH sea life to choose from. Not really what I am used to seeing.

We found a small amusement park near the sea. Here there were animated animals. Just pay money and ride. You control where the animal moves.

When traveling in Korea, the cheapest option is to stay at a jimjibang and sauna. They are located all over Korea and are very popular!! A jimjilbang is a place that has many rooms, varying in temperature and setting. Some rooms are heated to a very hot temperature, others are very cold. Some of the rooms have stones as a floor to sit on, and others have mats on the floor to sit on. You sweat in the rooms which releases many toxins from the body, strengthens the immune system, and makes your skin feel soft and smooth. It is a very relaxing experience.
Jimjilbangs commonly have a sauna included. People can come here 24 hours a day and stay the night if they so choose. For less than 10,000won (about $8.00) a day you can experience the sauna, jimjilbang, and sleep. There are so many awesome aspects to this experience. On the down side for some people, you need to sleep on the floor. You are provided with a mat or two, pillows that are more like a cushion block, and sometimes you receive a blanket. Plus, some of them have a beautiful view!!! We stayed in "Hotel Aqua Palace."

To stay in a hotel on the coast, typically this would cost MUCH more than 10,000won! This is the sunrise.

In the evening, there would be many people resting, playing cards, and sleeping in this big area. This photo was taken in the morning.

The sunrise was difficult to see due to heavy overcast sky; however, it was still a great view!

Now you are probably wondering about my clothing! In all jimjilbangs you are given 2 towels, a shirt and shorts. All the men match and all the ladies match! It is really quite funny! Then you don't have to worry about sweating in your own clothing. You also receive a locker to put all your stuff in. You then are given a wristband with the key attached. You don't need to hold onto everything. It is wonderful!

In this particular place they had water slides and swimming pools!

Here is one example of a jimjilbang.

This particular jimjilbang was 73 degrees Celcius, which is about 164 degrees Fahrenheit!!

These next two rooms have hot rocks, possibly made of marble, which you can lay on, sit on, or walk on. Use a towel to help with the heat as well. There are no people in these rooms right now because it is just before cleaning time.