Seoul Trekking

Day Five in Seoul.  Heather's friend Emerald guided us on a mountain hike along an old fortress wall. On the way to the trailhead, we passed through a 600-year-old university and found some public exercise equipment placed on a mountainside clearing.  Who needs an indoor, electric elliptical machine when you can do the same thing outside with stunning views?

The actual trail ran very close to the Blue House, the Korean version of the White House.  Because of our proximity to the Blue House, and likely due to South Korea's tense relationship with the nearby North Korea, we were required to show our passports and obtain a pass to hike along the fortress wall.  

The trail rules prohibited leaving the trail path or  taking photos outside designated areas.  Enforcing these rules were Korean military men standing guard all along the trail.  The military men followed us when we ventured into a designated lookout area (we did not dare venture off the trail), and they radioed ahead when we moved along.  It was strange to be so closely monitored by members of the military in a foreign country, even if it guaranteed that we could not get lost on the mountain.

Of the several dozen military men standing guard on the mountain, I only saw one with a visible firearm.  Emerald explained that the armed man only carried rubber bullets because live ammunition is reserved for times of active attack or firearms training.  Although I had already learned that police officers in Seoul do not carry a firearm, I was surprised that these military guards did not carry firearms with live ammunition given the shear number of men guarding the trail and the scrutiny with which they watched us.

About half way through the hike we learned we could take photographs so long as we did not photograph certain military installations and fencing, a liberating piece of information considering the amazing views of the city and surrounding mountains all around us.

The hike ended at an old city gate.  We returned our hiking passes, hopped on a city bus, and traveled to a noodle restaurant near our apartment that Emerald recommended.  I had a very difficult time eating the super long noodles with chopsticks.  Emerald was very kind to notice my frustration and order a fork and spoon for me.  Later, I saw a man eating the noodles by slurping them into his mouth.  Had I known that slurping was acceptable at the dinner table, I might have given the chopsticks a better chance.

An old city gate.

Noodle meal.

Emerald shows off his chopstick skills.

In the evening, Heather, Emerald, and I passed this large statute of King Sejong.  King Sejong is also featured on some of the Korean paper money.  He is well respected because he oversaw the creation of the characters for writing in Hongul, the Korean language.  We also walked to a well-preserved hanok village.  A hanok is a traditional Korean house, and it has curved rooflines similar to the palaces we visited earlier in the week.

King Sejong

On the way to the hanok village.

The hanok village.

The day ended with warm drinks in a nearby cafe.  Another one of Heather's Korean friends joined Heather, Emerald, and I.  Spending the evening at a cafe with Heather's Korean friends was a nice way to experience the Korean culture.