Saturday

This weekend, some of David's friends went camping, so we joined them for the day.  We started out picking up some food to bring along.  I can't get over the parking here.  Everything seems to be legal!  You park wherever you like, and let others just drive around your vehicle.

 You can't see it, but this first car is double parked, and the other cars are just angle parked!  And on the parking is done on the first traffic lane.

 This is an parking lot for an apartment building.  There are not enough spots for all the cars, so you park like this, but you must leave your car in neutral.  If your car is blocked, simply push the offending car away (to block another car), and you can just drive away!

 The drive to the campsite was beautiful.  As we were driving we were completely surrounded by mountains--not the rugged Rocky Mountains--these were completely covered by trees--deciduous and evergreens.    I didn't take pictures, because the pictures would just not do justice to the immensity of the mountains.  Korea is 70% covered with mountains, and as we were driving, we could certainly understand that! 

 The park was by a river.  And since it was in the mountains it was very rocky. 

You could pitch your tent wherever you could find enough clear space--somewhat tricky!  We paid an entrance fee to get into the park, but once in, there was no fee to put up a tent.  There are platforms to put your tent--that ensures a level floor, and keeps you drier if it rains--but the platforms here were $30 per night.

 You pitch your tent where ever you like--close to the river or.....

right on the river!  Lots of people were playing in the water.  The water was only about waist deep.  Koreans don't do a lot of swimming.

 Here David's friends are setting up their tent. (Leon and Puran). 

 And what do guys do when they are in the great outdoors?????

Even though the weather started out beautiful, bright and sunny, suddenly in the late afternoon, the sky turned dark, a cooler wind picked up, and it was obvious that rain would be coming soon.  So since we weren't staying the night, we decided to leave.  We went through quite a rainstorm on our way back--one that the tents probably would not stay dry in. 

We finished the day with another traditonal Korean meal.  This one is deep-fried dumplings ( very good) with a noodle salad--good too, except for the ubiquitous red sauce which makes everything very spicy.  Very few knives are used.  This meal came with scissors.  To cut up the noodles, use scissors.  Works well!

I have been in Korea 1 week now.  I have been overwhelmed with everything that I have seen.  It has been very interesting, and David has done his best to make sure that I experience as much of Korean culture as possible.