april weekend south

i like escaping. even if it's only for an hour to walk outside or for an entire weekend to explore south. this weekend was one of those times. we planned it in advance, but it happened when i needed it. we got on a bus in seoul at 11pm and started the drive south to an island in jirisan national park, the oldest in south korea. we arrived at the ferry at 4:30am and spent a few hours resting. the ferry to the island was about an hour long and we spent the time sipping hot coffee, brushing our teeth, stretching our legs, walking around the ferry. once on the island, we were bussed to the opposite end to hike and climb back. it was called the jagged ridge hike for good reason, there were many times i was reminded of angel's landing in zion. you were on a ridge with the ground dropping away from you on either side. it was thrilling, and scary, and so beautiful i was distracted a lot of the time. there were cliffs, stairs, ropes, bridges, chains, and rock faces to scale. it was my favorite hike in korea so far. 

once we got to the other sides, five hours and a bottle of mak at the top (in true korean style), we sat down for pajeon (a kind of green onion or seafood egg pancake). well-deserved after the long climb. we loaded back on the bus and onto the ferry and drove another hour to tongyeong where we were staying the night on the harbor. there were turtle ships there! my area in asan is known for lee soon-shin and his turtle ships in battle, i even got to explore a couple. after showering off the day and night in the bus, we went to dinner at an oyster restaurant and i ate oyster for the first time! raw, steamed, kimchi oyster, baked oyster, so much oyster. i think it was 7 courses later that i finally stopped eating oyster. i'm still not sure what to make of it, oyster. it's pretty good. maybe someday i'll eat it again. i'm not going to go looking for it, though. 

sunday morning began with a stroll around the small town, snacking on honey bread with red bean and iced lattes. then we got on the bus, again. and drove, again. to jinhae for the cherry blossom festival. we started at the train station and then ventured to the stream. both beautiful. both packed with koreans. everything was blooming.

it was a dreamy weekend. spent with friends. adventuring. pushing limits. taking risks. eating oysters. thankful for people who are curious like me, who like to see things for themselves, and who aren't afraid of heights (or if they are, are willing to climb anyways). 

go out on a limb. climb a mountain. do it.