7/28/2011 (late) Namwon Mountain, Jeongryoengchi and Jiri-San

Today would be mountain day... And unfortunately, the last day at Jeonju.

Today's breakfast... Bulgolgi! It was really freakin' good. Some back-story... Apparently, Dr. Lee just came home one day and told his wife that he'd be letting an American stay over for a couple nights. :P Haha... The previous day, she panicked and didn't know what to make for breakfast. So, she went to the bakery and asked the baker what kind of foods foreigners like to eat, and bought whatever he suggested. So, I had yogurt, some croissants, some fruit and cereal (also, some thick-slice toast with special preservatives made by Dr. Lee's friend from the same type of tree that Zacheus in the Bible climbed to see Jesus). But, later, I guess they talked more and she figured out what the homestay business was all about... So she asked me what kind of food I wanted to eat, and I told her how I wanted to come to Korea to learn about Korean things, including the food. So today, she made a big breakfast. It was really tasty... And special.

Dr. Lee and I... Communication was kinda tough, and it was kinda awkward because we're both quiet people... But I am very grateful for him opening up his home to me and I could tell he was doing whatever he could to make me feel welcome. Definitely a good man.

Everybody and their host families...

After a long van ride... Namwon Mountain!

Tourist-y vendors...

They all sold the same stuff... :S

...And the first big rain we've had in Korea. It was really coming down... But, it was also pretty short-lived. Also... to our surprise and delight... we'd be spending the rest of the time with Hyawnoo and Mr. Ahn, our friends from Busan!

This park had a few traditional things, including a building and some other things dedicated to Choonhyang and Nobleman Lee, the Korean 'Romeo and Juliet.'

 I'll let the signs narrate... Remember, you can click the pics to make them bigger if you can't read them.

Those goldfish were HUGE. And there were a ton of them... Ppl were throwing food, and they were going crazy...

Another picture I wasn't supposed to take... Kind of a shrine to Choonhyang. Well, not really a shrine, but a memorial, I guess.

I forgot (ugh) what this was... But, it's a national treasure.

Description for one of the Korean swings...

No guide for this, but I assume this was for Korean instruments?

Cicada shell... They're scattered here and there.

Me trying the huge Korean swing...

It actually really wasn't that fun. You can't propel yourself like you can when you sit down on it. I would have sat on it, but everyone had their muddy shoes on it, so I didn't bother trying.

Korean playground!

I've wanted to do this since I was little... I had some travel brochures from Korea, and I saw pictures of some kids playing on one of these. Finally! Now, THIS was a lot of fun...

Mugunghwa... AKA, 'Rose of Sharon'... Korea's national flower.

Time for lunch-e!

Shabu-shabu...

Tassssssssssssty.

Stuber got a dolshot bibimbap...

Arrival at Jiri-san... FOB pose for the camera.

So pretty up here!

Inside the pastor's house...

Fancy woodwork... Not sure if that's a traditional look, though.

We drove out to Jeongryoengchi... Just to take awesome pictures.

Pedo-bear??

 Clean air... Really breath-taking. I'm also pretty happy with these photos. Worth seeing in high-res (click them!).

This was a candid shot... Hahahahhahaha...

Still candid... Hehe...

...But, I started snickering... Haha... Still, this photo makes me laugh...

Mr. Ahn... Such a funny guy.

Hyawnoo... Was glad to see him again!

We left for Jiri-san after for some fun and dinner... I noticed this, first... A giant spider trying to catch a beetle...

The spider had the beetle by the leg, but it still managed to get away! Lucky.

Not sure how this ended up being a tradition...

 But, it goes something like, 'ok... all adoptees get in the water...'

...And then...

Water battle! With cold Jiri-san mul!

Pastor Park makes the youngins run away...

3v1?

Somehow... Strangers ended up in the fray?

Pastor Park's new recruits...

Pastor Park is soooo happy with himself. Hahaha....

Dr. Kim, the clever one, went way upstream of everyone. :P

Introductions...

Tip-toe...

She thought she could go unnoticed. :P

Group photo with some new friends...

Climbing back up to the road where the restaurants were...

Should need no explanation...

Yeah... Definitely tasted a bit different than fried on a hot plate in a restaurant... Mmmmf.

Talk about a banquet table... This wasn't for us, though.

Getting contact info...

Do-do-do...........

Mmmmmmmmmf.

That was super-tasty... The kimchi here was really different. It was kinda like Jeonju - very vinegar-y. Not 'crisp,' but 'blunt.' The samgyupsal was delicious......

It was dark out and we didn't have any time to take photos, but here's where we stayed for the night. It was the residence of the man in charge of the city... Not exactly 'mayor,' but something like that. The house was pretty traditional seeming, and was pretty nice (except the bathroom). He didn't speak much English, and we didn't get to spend much time with him (it was really just an overnight stay), but he wanted to really let us know that we were Koreans. He said we had the same blood, and that he liked us because we were Korean. He said we should learn about where we were from... It was definitely more of a heart-to-heart conversation than one with words, but I think we understood him well enough.

Also, I got to play guitar with Hyawnoo! Finally... I was pretty disappointed we missed the chance to play together while I was in Busan. It would've been a lot more fun with two guitars, but I was still able to show him a thing or two. He learns fast....... Smart cookie. We stayed up kinda late, though we were exhausted and also had to get up super early (like, 5:30?) the next day... Oh well. :P

Korea is definitely a romantic country..... Really beautiful sights to see.