Sokcho & Seoraksan National Park

These next couple of posts have been way over due. I've been lazy in posting. I get online and I just watch TV or start chatting to people and keep putting these posts off for another day. Anyhow, I'm going to try to get back into the groove of things. My family has just visited this past week and it was a good week, so much food and walking!!! =) For Buddha's Birthday Weekend I went to Sokcho and Seoraksan with my co-worker Michelle. We got one beautiful sunny day and one very rainy day. The weekend went well regardless though.

Right outside the bus terminal was the map for Sokcho. I was so excited that we were right on the eastern coastline!

The evening view of a bridge and the ocean! I love sweet smell of the ocean.

Lo and behold Sokcho was the filming sight for Autumn Love, one of my first Korean dramas and I was star struck by this guy.

This girl was and still is beautiful. She's all over Korea in ads.

Our dinner...

Look at all that fresh seafood!!!

On the grill ready to be in my stomach. Muahaha.

This formed a heart! So cute.

The damage we did.

The start of the hike at Seoraksan.

Ready to go!

Welcomeeeeeeee.

Entering...

And BAM a huge Buddha to start off our hike.

This was neat. People would buy these roof pieces to write messages on them and I'm assuming it will be the roof of one of the buildings on the mountain.

That mountain in the background looked like it was painted on the sky.

The temple at the bottom of the mountain.

Latern wishes I assume.

Cute porta-potties!

Look at all that greenery!!! It was so nice.

There was some intense rock climbers there.

On the way to a small cave in the mountain.

Looking out the cave.

Ta-da! The cave. This was actually really disappointing. We hiked for 30 min expecting a whole series of caves in the mountain, but we got up there and it was just this praying area that no one could go in.

This was one steep staircase.

Accomplished the Baekdamsa Temple hike.

This was rubber put on the bridges. Not sure if it was meant to help support hikers but it was definitely nice on the feet walking on these things.

Finally reached one of the rest areas in the mountain.

One waterfall we found. I only have one shoe on because I slightly twisted my ankle and was trying to soak it in the cold water.

Next is a series of pictures of the mountain. So beautiful!

We went a little further from Yangpok Shelter and then it was time to head back.

Early dinner on the way down the mountain. We hike for seven hours and were definitely tired as can be. The ranger wasn't lying when he said that it was impossible to hike the WHOLE mountain. We only hiked about a tenth of the mountain. To hike the whole mountain to the other side we probably would have had to camp.

Goodbye mountain. =)

The fish market along the coast. =)

It was so nice being able to eat and just look out into the ocean with the boats.
Port City.

So many things!

The stuffed squid was delicious!!! (on the right)

The cooked squid.

Headed to Sokcho Beach in the evening.

Mmmmm...Makeolli (Korean rice wine) and chips on the beach.

We went looking for the hot springs on Sunday and it was pouring rain!!! We were quite miserable and out clothes got soaked. We finally found it though and it was quite awesome. The best pool/spa was the one outside. Since it was raining the air was cool but the water was hot. =)

Afterwards we still had some time to kill before we had to take the bus back home so we decided to chill at E-Mart (like a humongous Target). There were plenty of samples and quite fun just roaming around. Hahaha.

Jajangmyeon (Black bean noodles) and sweet and sour pork to end the journey and head home. =D