This weekend Mary, Ben, Laura, and I made a day trip to Naejangsan National Park. Naejangsan is one of the most popular parks in Korea, and is described as an amphitheatre in every piece of information a person can find on it. Naejangsan is not a particularly high mountain, but it was a hard hike on the old knees, and it was tremendously windy. I'm talking blow me off the mountain windy!
The four of us decided to brave the wind, raise our middle finger at Mother Nature, and hike the ridge of this seemingly never ending circular mountain. We took a bus from Daejeon to Gwangju, and then a local bus to the mountain. It was quite a long walk from the bus stop to the entrance of the park, but we made it in one piece and were on our way.
At the bottom were beautiful cherry blossom trees, hundreds of flowers on display. We approached a temple and head in to have a look at the temple grounds. We were promptly met by an old monk who was really eager to show us "the best view of Naejangsan". He lead us over to a shelter, and instructed us to lie down on the table one at a time and look at the mountain upside down. Wouldn't you know it, the monk was right. It was a stunning view, plain and simple, there are no words to describe its beauty.
We continued on our way, climbing the steep mountain side, fighting against the wind.
At the bottom were beautiful cherry blossom trees, hundreds of flowers on display. We approached a temple and head in to have a look at the temple grounds. We were promptly met by an old monk who was really eager to show us "the best view of Naejangsan". He lead us over to a shelter, and instructed us to lie down on the table one at a time and look at the mountain upside down. Wouldn't you know it, the monk was right. It was a stunning view, plain and simple, there are no words to describe its beauty.
We continued on our way, climbing the steep mountain side, fighting against the wind.
At the top the view was hazy, but unmistakably rewarding and majestic. Naejangsan truly is an amphitheatre of grand proportions.
Me getting my yoga on!
Ben pondering the world.
We're tree huggers, what can we say.
Beautiful, but ridiculously windy.
Me, Mary, and Ben showing our windy faces.
Our glorious picnic lunch complete with fruit, nuts, seaweed, and cheese!
Sitting on the edge of the very windy mountain. Sorry mum!
Mary and I braving the elements!
Ben climbing a rock and pretending it's difficult...nice face Ben.
Mary showing us the reality of climbing the rock...piece of cake.
Laura, Ben, and I ahead of Mary so she could capture this truly amazing shot.
New friends, new memories.
Watch for falling rocks!
Our replication of the very cute danger sign.
Living never wore one out so much as the effort not to live. ~Anais Nin
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