Thursday, 21 January 2016

Korean drama - day 13: Disaster at Ssanggyesa (6.12.11)



Pororo, the Little Penguin!
(image is a link from
socoolkorea.com)
My god daughter, Xiner, 3-year-old birthday was just around the corner.  Thought of sending her a present and since I was in Korea, why not getting her something special from here?!  Shopped around the department store and was very satisfied with what I found, the famous Korean cartoon character, Pororo the Little Penguin soft toy!  Surprisingly, there were no birthday cards sold in shopping centre!!!  And I could not believe it when the sales woman told me that the wrapping would cost W15000!!

So, I searched for the post office and had to wrap my present there. Met three nice students who walked me there instead when I asked for direction. They were studying dental in their 2nd year and were on their way to the blood donation bank!!  Reminded me that it had been a long while since my last donation in Singapore.

After all the trouble to pack the present, I realized I could not remember my friend’s home address!  So, I had to keep the present with the staff and walked around to look for a public phone booth.   But there wasn’t even the telephone line to be seen at all.  Just right at this restless moment, nature called from nowhere!  Now, I had to find a toilet instead!  Finally settled my business and had to walk so far away to make that important phone call! 
Lovely restaurant!

After the “Mission Impossible” was completed, I tried to return to the hostel by foot as directed but somehow got lost and came to a metro station 2 stops away instead.  Took it happily and reached around 12:50pm.  Immediately got my backpack and headed to Sasang.  It was just a short 18 minutes train ride.  But when I got to the station, the next bus to Ssanggyesa was only at 4pm!!  Found out from web that there were only two shifts a day.  Cracking my head if I should go to Hadong instead because it would probably be easier to get accommodation there, compared to the small town of Ssanggyesa.  Besides, I could also get back to Hadong easier the day after, if I take a different trail.  So, I decided to make a little change of plan and switched my bus ticket to Handong instead.  I could even get the cash balance in return for the shorter trip!  However, after reading more on the Internet, I realized  I might not have enough time to hike up if I start from Hadong!  
My lunch was a great feast!
Delicious Apple salad
during lunch

Anyway, that was not a concern for now, but my empty stomach was!  I did a quick recce and found this decent restaurant.  Had a wonderful lunch with so many side dishes and a great pork assam-like soup for only W5000!!

The trip to Hadong took about 2 hours.  But alas, the next bus to Ssanggyesa was too late at 6:50pm! The staff suggested going to Hake at 5:20pm and then transfer to Ssanggyesa.  She helped me to check the bus at Hake was 6:20pm.  She said it was a 20 minutes ride from Hadong to Hake and then another 20 minutes to Ssanggyesa!  I was a little confused then but could only heed on the advice.  At the Hadong terminal, I managed to squeeze in a call to Shikoku Japan, during the waiting time, to wish my friend Hajime happy birthday!

Indeed, I reached Hake exactly 20 minutes later.  It was getting dark already.  The next bus was at 6:20pm.  Thinking I had 40 minutes to spare, I thought of going for dinner and that was probably the biggest mistake of my journey!!  When I was on the way to Hadong, I already realized my cash was running out!  It would probably just enough for me to reach the next big town at Mokpo in next three days. I walked around the restaurants nearby and found one with pictures. It looked like fish!! I thought “Perfect!”  I had not have fish for ages and almost forgotten how it tastes. So I went in and showed the owner what I wanted.  The side dishes were served.  There were like 6 or 7 small servings that the whole table was occupied.  I gladly enjoyed the starters but after 15 minutes had gone, my main dish was not served yet.  I started to panic a little and when it finally came, my nightmare began!! I handed the owner W10000 but she said something that seemed to ask for more. I gave another piece of the note, but she still hinted it wasn’t enough!  Then, she pointed W25000 on the price list and I almost fainted! 

My most expensive dinner
of the trip!
The fish was really delicious but sadly my mind was not eating at all although the food was going down to my stomach. I gulped down all the fish meat that I could for the last 10min or so and rushed to catch my bus with 5minutes left!!  Couldn’t even finish my main course, what’s more my bowl of rice and the side dishes!! The vegetables side dishes were really nice as well.  Everyone was looking at me with surprise while I could only embarrassingly utter the Korean word for “bus” a few times. The owner was feeling sorry for me too and even apologized to me in English!!

I walked back to the bus stop thinking how would I survive in the mountains for three days, including 3 accommodations rental and 6 meals!!

I thought the bus had gone when I saw the clock at the bus stop. I asked the counter lady, and she was very nice to tell a guy in national service uniform to inform me when the bus arrives.  Soon, the bus came. The young guy and I were the only passengers.  He said something to the driver to inform me where to alight.  I thanked him a lot when he got off.  After 10 minutes, the bus driver announced that we were at Ssanggyesa. Once I alighted at the destination, my nightmare got worst!! There was no sign of accommodation in sight and was already dark!!!  When I was at Hake, I could at least still see a few motels!! I walked around and found a local convenient store. There were 4 kids still playing on the street. I gestured to them the sleep hand sign.  They said no motels here but only minbak. They helped me to ask the store owner. Initially, I thought she offered me her place!! Then, the owner seemed to make a call to a nearby minbak she had been trying hard to tell me. I kept asking for the rate but no one seemed to understand my Korean. I was very tempted to go back to Hake but not sure if there were still buses! I tried to ask the store owner but it looked as if the people here speak a different kind of Korean!  Then, the minbak owner came to fetch me!! I thought I was in luck!! The place was only a short walk away actually! She showed me to the room and when I tried to pay, she wanted W40000!!! I thought she clearly offered W30000 in the car!! I got into a pirate ship!! We were basically chicken and duck trying to communicate with each other!! I wanted to leave but not sure where else I can go!! What if there was no more bus to Hake?! What if the motels there charge the same or even more?!  At this hour, I really didn't see any other minbaks around or had the time luxury to search for any too. Left with little options, my instinct reaction was to stay put. Ok, that was probably the lazy way. 

So, I tried to explain to the owner that I had only W50000 and needed W10000 to stay at the mountain and another W10000 to survive with food!  Finally someone understood my “Korean”!  She seemed to sympathize my plight and agreed to take W30000 as the down payment and the balance when I'm back two days later on the 8th December.  She almost refused to let me leave my big bag in the room while I’m away.  Or perhaps, that was how I interpreted our chicken and duck conversation.  I wouldn’t mind to bring it along too in case I need to detour or changed my plan.  But, it would be almost nut to carry this weight up to the mountain!  I was already one when I hiked with a 20kg burden on my back during the Shikoku 108 Temples Pilgrimage (Check out my adventure in this blog too!  She was the mother who gave birth to this blog site!)

I was like discussing for more than half an hour with the owner, trying to find out where was the ATM and if there were buses back to Hake.  However, her answers were always seemed to be negative.

Seriously I thought she was slicing me like a little lamb!! The internet also did mention that the minbak was usually W20000 and I remembered she mentioned W30000 in the car although I could have understood her wrongly since my Korean translation app on the phone could only “speak” but not “listen”!

I guessed that was the problem of arriving after dark. I learned two great lessons today!  Firstly, ask for the price before you order your food (although I had no complains about the dish I ordered because the food was really worth the money with so many side dishes as well!  It was just the wrong timing to enjoy such expensive meal).  Secondly, don't arrive late to look for accommodation!
All I left for breakfast
and lunch!

If I could have my way again, I think it would have been a better choice to enjoy the wonderful dinner and stay at Hake instead. Although I would probably have to start my hike later the next day!

So my real adventure shall begin tomorrow. I hope the W7000 price tag for the shelter up at the mountain was shown correctly in the Korea National Park website.  If so, I would have W5000 for another meal and some coins for real emergency transport need.

It was already 10pm!  I was still brooding over the bad decisions made today.  Quickly went to bed before I get hungry. Besides, I would need to wake up at 4 or so in order to start my hike at 5am tomorrow morning!

Korean drama - day 12: The night at Busan (5.12.11)

Another lazy morning! Woke up around 11.  Got ready and met up with Vanessa at Starbucks again near the beach for a short break.  I did some planning and decided to go Busan. Booked the only available shelter at the top of Jirisan National Park mountain on 7th Dec. The plan was to hike from Ssanggyesa starting point, hopefully on time to see the sunset and then stay at the top to catch the sunrise the next day!  I was already getting very excited!
Vanessa left home around 12:30pm to prepare for classes. I thanked her very much for keeping me three days at her place!  I met Vanessa when I was backpacking at Taiwan for a year (checkout my Taiwan trip which I slept most the 1-month adventure in my tent!)

I stayed around till 1 something. Took 401 back to the bus terminal. Definitely not many mcD around the town but Lotteria instead. I’m not a fast food lover actually but yet I was always finding for fast food!  Perhaps, I find the fast food overseas was much better.  There were buses every 7minutes! So I had nothing to rush for and had my lunch at Lotteria.  The bus departed at 3:35pm and exactly an hour later, we reached Busan!  I called up a guest house earlier to make reservation.  So, my first stop was to check-in!  If I would to live in Korea, Busan would definitely be my option instead of the vibrant Seoul.  It’s a second biggest city yet not as congested as Seoul.

At the terminal, I saw a tourist centre and surprisingly, they didn't have English speaking helpers but Chinese instead!

Pagoda at the 24h temple
The moon was bright
that night
Found out the earliest bus to Ssanggyesa was 7am to be taken at a different bus terminal, Seobu terminal at Sasang metro station, which was thankfully nearer to the Blue Backpacker guest house at Seomyeon, line 2.  There was a line 1 Nopodong just next to the terminal which goes to Seomyeon too.  The map on the website was very clear.
I took the subway and reached the guesthouse around 5:30pm. Did my laundry and met a lot of new friends from Hong Kong, Japan, France and Koreans too.  We went to dinner together and later had drinks and chat at the hostel.  Jordan was from France. We walked 492km in three weeks from Tokyo to Kyoto.
Guess what's this?!
A dental clinic!!
The surrounding area at the temple
Around 11:30pm, we decided to visit a 24-hours temple around town!  Heard of many 24 hours outlet but this was the first time I heard of 24-hours temple!  Very interesting indeed and the whole big group of us, about 6 to 8 of us, walked to Samgwangsa Temple together.  We passed by the casino, Seven Luck and a shopping mall which was just about to close at such late hours!  I saw some patrons were still trying to leave the building.  The 1-hour walk somehow was a little taxing on my legs.  Perhaps, I was getting sleepy too. There were still many people praying at the temple.  We explored around and I noticed there was some ceremony going on too in one of the hall with many people around!
The 24h temple's Main Hall
 
After some photo taking, we didn’t stay at the temple for long.  There were many taxis waiting outside the temple.  Walking back was definitely a no-no for me.  I bet the rest would want their sleep to be delayed for an hour too!  Indeed, we took only 10 minutes cab ride to get back to our hostel for only W4200!!  We could have taken the taxi in the first place, but anyway, it was a great walk chit-chatting with new friends.



Korean drama - day 11: Lazy Day at Ulsan (4.12.11)


Silkworms!!!!



Vanessa's nice cosy place

"Lazy day"...  That was the only two words I had jotted down in my note!  And after 4 years 1 month and 10 days, I am really asking for trouble to recall what I have really done on that day!  I can’t even remember what I did in details yesterday!
 
Looking through the pictures I took, I probably spent most of the day in a café doing the most important thing.... nothing!




Ginseng in the supermarket!

Having my usual fav!

Went to the supermarket and was surprised that they sell ginseng there!  Then, I realized I didn’t even know the name of many of my favourite vegetables in English.  Hence, I kept taking photos of each of them as if I were a staff there taking stocks! 



Passed by some stalls which sell silkworms… lots of them!  Thankfully they were already dead!  And had my favourite Chambong for lunch!
 


Bear with me again!  My first time
seeing such a thing then as well!
Pardon me please! My first time
seeing such a thing then!

Next two pictures are probably the two most “interesting” findings of the day!






Thursday, 7 January 2016

Korean drama - day 10: Meeting English teachers and English teachers at Ulsan (3.12.11)


Gu Num fully covered in his
Rolls-Royce!
 
Afternoon chill at a cafe..
We had a good rest and woke up around 11 plus!  After that, Vanessa brought me to the beach and had some coffee at a Starbuck while enjoying the sea view!



Ulsan's beach
Took a bus to meet wendy, and her english friend, Ruth and little baby, Gu Num! Casey who teached at Seoul came later to join us.  We hang around a café and chit chat for the rest of the afternoon.


Korea was a heaven for hikers with many hiking stuffs around of all kinds of brands.  Anyway, today I noticed there were Northface outlet almost everywhere!


Vanessa, the Brachiosaurus!
Ruth playing with Gu Num
Vanessa shared that the utilities bill here were very cheap!  Electricity was about W10000 for two months while water bill would only be W7000 bi-monthly.  Gas was less than W10000 a month as well.  
 

Ulsan had the largest shipyard and carmaking for Hyundai.  Almost everyone works for the company in this city!  In fact, I could hardly see any other cars on the road besides Hyundai!


We went to town for dinner!  And yes, what else was better than the Korean BBQ?!  We saw some foreigners earlier and Casey was wondering if she knows them and true enough we meet them later at the restaurant! They were friends of Deana and Matt.  It was a big group of us.  The dinner was splendid! I was introduced to an interesting Korean Soju game.  After they finished a bottle of the Soju, the Koreans would normally take turn to hit the dangling metal of the bottle cap.  The last person who broke it off would have to drink more! I think most of the time in the game, I was trying to break it instead of the otherwise!

Korean drama - day 9: Visiting a friend at Ulsan (2.12.11)

Rare English Signage
since out of Seoul


The bed was really nice. Woke up at 7:30am. Got ready everything and thought of getting a nice breakfast. Seems like the Koreans don't eat out much in the morning. Even the fast food Lotteria was not opened yet! I was left with GS25 again.


Books vending machine!

It was a mistake to get the instant noodle. Not really a fan at all. Felt like sipping scope and scope of junk into my stomach. Walked to the cafe last night to access the wifi for a while before nature called. Noticed my poo poo was kimchi-red!!  Guessed too much of the local must-have!  Didn’t really fancy kimchi back home but the kimchi here was so fresh and delicious! 
Did my final round of checking in the room.  Wouldn’t want to leave another needful stuff behind.  Instead, I realized there was indeed free wifi access in the comfy of the room!! 


The menu.... and
.... the real stuff.  
Doesn't quite look alike?

Got my 9:15am ticket to Yeonggu.  We stopped half way at Pyeongsa Service Area for a 10 minutes break.  Had some chicken nuggets to pass time.  An hour later, I reached Yeonggu and got my ticket to Ulsan.
It seemed that the train stations in Korea were usually out of the town while the bus stations were located more city centre.


Having a snack at the rest area

Reached Ulsan around 2:30pm.  Kept my luggage in a couple of lockers for lighter movement.  In order to retrieve my smaller backpack, I had to literally take out everything from the large backpack!  Walked around the area looking for wifi and a nice seat with power plug preferably, and bingo!  Found one perfectly at the basement of a department store, Multi Plaza, nearby the bus terminal.

Highway Rest Area.

Spent almost three hours there before heading to meet my friend, Vanessa, at her school. Her direction was perfect and knowing the name of the stop just before the one I need to alight was the most critical!

Wonderful Korean BBQ dinner at night!

I could have come earlier to avoid the after-office crowd. The bus was so packed, it reminded me of the trip from Singapore to JB which I took every Friday night when I was just started work in Singapore.
Finding the bus stop was a piece of cake. I waited almost half an hour and when it finally arrived, the bus driver gave the "no no" hand shake sign. I started to panic a little.  My notes didn’t explain what happened next!  I reckoned I still managed to find my way to meet my friend without much problem.

Met Wendy, a local Korean, and had a really nice BBQ dinner for only W5000 each!!  Backed home to unload my stuffs and off we went bar hoping around with Vanessa’s friends.  They were all English teachers from America!!

We came back around 3am and dropped dead tired!