Seoraksan

My handsome husband and I were both feeling like we needed to re-group after our trip home and a busy work week, but we couldn't waste a four-day weekend, so we decided to take a quick trip out east to Seoraksan National Park.  We took the train from Seoul Saturday afternoon, and arrived on the east coast that night.  On Sunday, we headed to the park.

We decided to skip a major mountain climb in favor of the valley hiking path; while we might have missed a great workout, we were rewarded with some pretty impressive scenery.

Koreans are notorious for being into "gear", and the mountain gear was in full display at the park.  I thought about pointing out the fact that if I could make it on the trail in my flat-soled furry boots, they probably didn't need crampons and hiking poles, but I refrained.  Perhaps they were planning on doing one of the more strenuous trails later in the day.

Luckily we didn't have to skip the peak views just because we skipped the peak climb--we hopped on the cable car and enjoyed the scenery without the sweat.

We did take an icy side path down the hill a bit to another temple.

And I'll admit, this little stretch of hike was a challenge in my furry boots.

Monday morning we checked out of the hotel and headed out to find some breakfast.  We found a restaurant and ordered, and while we were waiting a man from another table came over and offered us a fried vegetable.  Ok, just being friendly, we thought.  We thanked him.  "Oh, you speak Korean!  Come sit with us!"  Mike tried to protest, "Ah, thank you, but sitting on the ground isn't very comfortable for us."  "That's why you have to practice!"  Answered the guy.  So we joined the two men, who were having beer, cigarettes, and stew for breakfast.  "Do you want some soju?"  "Ah, no thank you."

They turned out to be two local crab fishermen who were taking the morning off and just wanted to talk to some out-of-towners.  We discussed Steven Segal, Abba (we didn't have the heart to tell them they're not American), and the TV show NCIS.  They tutored us in how to eat the side dishes and we listened politely; Mike had about had enough when they made him mix their leftovers into rice for bibimbap.  "You're the younger brother, so it's your job."

After our interesting breakfast, we headed off to Waterpia, a spa/water park that's built on one of the hot springs in the area.  We spent a few hours soaking, then set out for the long-distance bus station.  I wish I could have captured the view of the mountains as we rode out of town--they were truly spectacular.  I snapped a quick photo out of the window, but it doesn't nearly do it justice.  Such a beautiful place.

Toast

Have I told you about toast?  Or toh-suh-tuh as it's called here?  It is not the dry, sometimes burned, breakfast carbohydrate we think of as toast in the states.  It's egg, veggies, and sometimes ham or another meat between two buttered slices of white bread, topped with magic sauce, and sometimes sugar.  Basically, it's delightful.  And at about a dollar fifty, cheap.

A toh-suh-tuh stand opened up on the subway platform where I change lines to get from Seoul to Dongducheon a few months ago, and I've been a frequent customer--it's definitely something I look forward to when I'm hungry but want to get on my way to see my handsome husband.  Now, the toh-suh-tuh lady is very nice, but I wouldn't recognize her if she showed up at the ah-pah-tuh with a freshly made snack.  But when I stepped up to the window yesterday, she was like, "Oh, long time no see!  You used to come often--where have you been?"

Hehe.

Home for the Holidays, and Winter in Seoul

It's COLD here!!!  I worked out tonight in the ah-pah-tun, then ran down to the Kimbap Cheonguk to grab some dumplings for lunch tomorrow.  By the time I got back inside I had ice in my hair!  Needless to say, I am living in my full-length down coat, furry boots, and thick mittens.  I also broke down and bought the $300 parka that goes with the "aquaflauge" uniform--I held out since I don't really like the uniform and was hoping it would go away before I had to pay that much for another piece of blue/gray ugly, but given the low temps here (and they've actually been warmer than last year's!) I haven't regretted the purchase.

Anyway, the cold has me reminiscing about the 72 degree weather we had in Los Angeles.  And about how wonderful it was to spend time with family over the holidays.  I'm so glad we were able to come home!

I didn't carry the camera around as much as I thought I would; I was mostly just enjoying being home and with family and friends.  I did manage to get a few shots at the farm in Sylacauga and at the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts with my handsome husband, my lovely and talented sister-in-law, and the three beautiful and spunky Chang-girl cousins.

First up, farm pics:

Christmas decorations at the farm

It's fun bringing my self-proclaimed "city boy" husband to the farm.

"Mistletoe?  Is that an actual plant?"

It was so good to spend some time in Alabama.

Next, onto Los Angeles.  We had a great trip, again seeing as much family as we could (as well as taking in a Clippers game--my sweet husband is quite excited that after almost two decades of his being a fan, the Clippers are finally good.)  We spent three nights at my sis-in-law's cute new house, and took the Chang girl cousins to the museum:

Lunch was ordered from food trucks outside; we waited on a planter ledge.

What a great trip.