A long overdue bit of view

At long last I have done the one thing I set out to do upon learning I was to be teaching in Gangwon-do.  I went hiking.  For the first time since I've arrive in Korea I have managed to take the time out of one of my few free days to enjoy the many mountains that surround my little town of Hongcheon.  Accompanied by my fellow EPIK Teacher, Luke (another Hongcheon resident), we set off to climb a mountain not far from my little apartment. 
Though it did not take long for the two of us to reach one of the several summits that one can find on the local paths, I cannot say we did so without a considerable amount of huffing and puffing.  Korean trails and mountains are surprisingly steep.  Not only that, but the paths were made of rather loose gravel that did not bother me so much on the climb up... but made the climb down somewhat tricky.  All in all, it was a fantastic way to spend the afternoon, and I expect to be significantly sore from it tomorrow.  Even still I managed to snap some pictures from the mountaintop of my little town.  Pictures which I hope to share here, at long last....

The best panorama I can muster from the mountaintop, and for those who are interested....

Hongcheon is not a big city by any standard.  It's stretched out along the river that runs through town, and on the last sleepy Sunday I had in Hongcheon I walked along most of the river paths in town in a couple of hours.  Even still, I've been told Hongcheon is home to about 80,000 residents.  It certainly isn't a bustling Korean metropolis, but for the next year it's home. 
On the hike up, Luke and I managed to share plenty of stories about things in Korea that "just don't make any sense." Korea is certainly a quirky country, at least in the eyes of this foreigner.  I'm sure I'll have countless stories of odd events and curious customs before I leave here, and though it can be frustrating at times it's never not been a rewarding experience.  I imagine it will continue to be so....