Fashion First

This past weekend was somewhat uneventful for us. On Saturday we tore apart the bed to construct a makeshift couch on the living room floor. We then proceeded to eat cheese and crackers while drinking red wine (all before noon) as we lounged and watched movies. Considering the fact that we did not step foot outside of the apartment once the day before, on Sunday we decided that we needed to go on a hike. We caught the bus for 1,100 won each (roughly a dollar) and settled down for the half hour ride up the mountain.

The bus that took us up the mountain.

 As we picked up people from various stops around town we began to notice that we were severely under dressed for the day's activities. Special neon colored hiking pants, matching jackets, fancy gloves, hats, visors, ski poles, and hiking boots seemed to be the dress of choice, and Aaron and me, in our sweats, worn down runners, and T-shirts, began to attract some not-so-inconspicuous stares.

The clucking hens.

How to look good and "hike".

 I started to worry that we were in for more than we bargained for seeing as how everyone was dressed as if ready to tackle K2. When we finally arrived at our destination I could not help but laugh; the bus ride had taken us a considerable way up the mountain, and the remainder of the path was a paved road. Good thing everyone had their ski/hiking poles ready to handle the rough terrain.

Rough walk.

 Fashion is incredibly important to Koreans, no matter what the activity. People will dress in full golfing outfits in order to play virtual golf inside. Function means nothing if you look good. Aaron and I had a few good chuckles while wondering what the hell the salesman must have told these people in order to convince them to buy a few hundred dollars worth of extreme hiking gear when it is completely unnecessary. The best part about it was that we attracted an innumerable amount of gawking stares from everyone for lacking sweet, neon, gortex outfits.

When we finally did get to leave the paved road (about 2.5 kilometers later) it was wonderful. To be surrounded by mountains (and neon clad Koreans) was an exhilarating feeling that I have missed. Living in a big city, not to mention a big Asian city, has taken some getting used to. There are apartment buildings and monstrous cell phone towers every direction you turn. To get away from the city and breathe the salubrious mountain air did us both some good.

Mountains.

Purty.

Purple flowers are everywhere.

We were both also pleasantly surprised to find that a quite large temple resided on the mountain we were climbing. With all of the fancy technology surrounding us on a daily basis it was really nice to see some of this country's old culture. As cheesy as it sounds there was a feel of tranquility surrounding the temple as monks appeared, going about their everyday lives in the mountains. 

A reminder that we are in Korea.

Temple ceiling.

Temple.

Graveyard.

Cool statue.

Buddha.

Giant gong.

Lanterns.

Aaron being a tourist.

Need to quench your thirst after the 5 minute walk up the paved road?

The trip to mountains surrounding Gwangju was definitely an experience worth having. We plan to embark on a few more expeditions (once we are appropriately dressed, of course). It is really nice to have a great escape so close at hand.