Go tell it on the mountain

Bukhansan to be exact.

The girlfriend “suggested” in Korean fashion that we go to the mountainside for exercise.  Which is to say it wasn’t really a suggestion at all.  So, off we went.

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Waiting for the bus in front of our apartment building.  After a 20 minute ride or so we were deposited a short walk from the trail head.

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Let’s go!

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The weather was pleasant enough for a hike, but this stream bed was still firmly in the grip of old man winter.

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When we got thirsty, Jee Yeun filled our water bottle from one of the mountain spring outlets.

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It wasn’t a hard hike.  Unless you are fat and out of shape…

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Hey, it is steeper than it looks!  Jee patiently waited for me to catch my breath and catch up…

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I took this pic around the time I was convinced I was getting ready to have a heart attack.  You can kinda sorta see the city through the trees.  Not my best work.

So, as we steadily climbed up, up, and up, I couldn’t help but wonder what awaited us at the end of our trek.  Perhaps a garden of Eden-like park setting, with hammocks, swings and rocking chairs.  Or something restful and relaxing…

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Nope, what do Koreans do after a long exhausting mountain climb?  Why, they exercise of course!  They even had freakin’ volleyball courts.  No wonder most Koreans are so skinny…

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Me, I found sitting on the free weight bench watching Jee Yeun hula hoop to be all the exercise I needed…

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I made it down alive and that small victory seemed worthy enough of celebration…

Jee Yeun has “suggested” we go to the mountain henceforth on a weekly basis.  It looks like I picked a good time to quit smoking…

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