We were thrilled with an adventurous day spent in Seoraksan National Park, designated as a biosphere preservation district by UNESCO. My traveling companions were Mitchell, my roommate from New Mexico, and Valentina, who is from Russia. We welcomed the sun after overcast snowy days. Many families came out to play this weekend day in the mountains. Parents and children enjoyed snowball fights; others made snowmen.
Expedia Travel Guide to Seoraksan
We visited a mountain Buddhist temple built during the Joseon Dynasty in the 17th Century. Miraculously, it survived conflicts with Japan, North Korea and China. We marveled at colorful and ferocious guardians and listened to prayers chanted by grey-clad monks. For a small donation, visitors may leave offerings of rice and drink fresh spring water.
After lunch of seafood pancake and coffee, it was time for a thrilling cable car ride! We visited a memorial to fallen soldiers of The Republic of Korea, who fought valiantly against the Red Army invaders in 1951.
We climbed an ancient mountain of 5,000 feet using a cable trail in deep snow and felt atop of the World with splashing waterfalls and breathtaking views of craggy peaks. We saw nutcrackers, black-billed magpie and white-backed woodpecker foraging in the melting snow. Signs of mammal activity were chipmunks gathering seeds and tracks of musk deer and black bear.
Despite having prosthetic implants, I was able to make the climb, but must admit it was challenging due to elevation, icy trail and cold temps. We welcomed the sun after overcast snowy days!
For dinner, we hopped a city bus and traveled to the nearby coastal city of Sokcho. Thankfully, others helped with directions about the fare and stop!
We walked the colorful harbor twinkling with lights and busy with visitors seeking the perfect meal from the sea. We were amazed by hundreds of tanks permitting diners to select their entree straight from the ocean. Some deep water crabs had bodies bigger than my head! Also for sale were urchins, bass, sea squirts, abalone, oysters, flounder, mackerel, octopus and eel.
We chose three fresh grilled fish and banchan small side dishes of kim-chee, seaweed salad, seaweed soup, bean sprouts, Korean sweet rice, very spicy dried fish, mushrooms, and marinated tofu. Three of us ate like kings for $40 total! We dined as Koreans, sitting on floor mats...wonderful! A cup of brewed coffee and time for rest back at Hyundai Soo accommodations.
Tomorrow is an early start for Men's biathalon!
No comments:
Post a Comment