A Little Bit of Namsan

Most towns here have a nearby "mountain" (really a large hill) that is called Namsan.  I've only ever been to Sangju's Namsan, so I couldn't tell you if every Namsan is set up like ours.  In Sangju, Namsan has a track made of the same sort of turf a proper track consists of.  It goes all the way around the mountain, about half way up.  Ours is a little over two miles.  It's a great place for a workout when the weather permits.  The last time Jesse and I went up I took some pictures along the way to create a sort of photo tour.

This is a view from the track.  To get to this level you start your walk off with a steep incline made of concrete, the beginning of a driveway that continues to a sort of rec area and weather center that is stationed on a leveled section a bit higher from the main starting point of the track. 

This is taken from the same viewpoint but with a look at the track.  The trees on the slope to the left are part of a small orchard.  From the older signs (and the bike racks) it looks like bicycles used to be allowed on the track, but the newer, updated signs forbid anything but your two legs.

Stalking the Ajuma.  I believe I've mentioned this species before, easily recognizable by the longer sleeves, floral shirt, gloves, hunched back and over-sized visor.  A fascinating creature in my opinion, they are a fickle sort; you never know if one will smile and give you a piece of candy, patting your hand lovingly or glare at you, slapping your sleeveless arm in disapproval. 

One thing is for certain, and that is that the stereotypical Ajuma will never, under any circumstances, move out of your way.  I've been barreled into, pushed aside, and cut in front of many a time.  The culture here demands that the older you get, the more respect you receive.  In the case of the Ajuma, this is taken to a whole new level where nothing they do is considered rude or unreasonable.  If they shoved me into a subway shaft in their hurry to board they would remain blameless for their actions. 

With all this said, I have run into a couple of sweet ones.  The Ajuma that I think is the landlord for my apartment is adorable and incredibly nice and smiley.  She even steps aside while I'm running down the stairs on my way to school.  Her whole face lights up when she smiles and she always seems to have a broom in her hand.  Her friends that are sometimes around also seem nice, and they tend to grin and giggle at me whenever I pass by and honor them with the customary bow.

This is the exercise equipment that you pass.  There are several stations around the track.  The piece closest to the camera is a machine for your abs; stand on the rotating circle, hold the bar, and swivel side to side.  If you keep your shoulders square you can sort of start to feel it in your obliques...

These poles are stationed around the track as well as the dirt trail that travels over the mountain.  The not only light up the path at night, but occasionally music will be played out of the attached speaker.  I appreciate the nightlight, not so much the music.

Evidence that some wildlife still exists in Korea.  They haven't eaten or outsourced everything! (yet...)

We expected to see Jack and the Giant at any moment.  The picture doesn't do them justice, but these leaves are HUGE!

Aha!  More wildlife!  These pretty dark butterflies were everywhere.

It is also the season for dragonflies.  They are big, beautiful and they are out en masse.  Last night I was sitting on our roof reading and watching the sunset over the hills, and darting several feet above the tree that rises just slightly above our building were about a dozen at the very least.

Jesse had to put his hand behind the insect to get the camera to focus-- it kept focusing on the background.  I used my phone to take all of these pictures since our main reason for our walk was actually exercise; we didn't want to lug around the SLR.

Such cute giant little eyes! And the little guy was so cooperative, I'm literally just a few inches from it and we spent at least five minutes trying to get these pictures.  It buzzed off the branch a few times just to settle immediately back down.

These mounds appear everywhere in Korea, even along an exercise trail.  They are old burial sites, and there are probably half a dozen (that you can see) along the track.

Looking down the stairs from about a third of the way up, you can just make out the track below.  There are many spots where stairs branch off up the hill to take you to the trail that runs along the top of the mountain.  I like the track for a set distance, get-my-exercise-in purposes, but when you get to the top you feel like you're more in the woods.  With a proper dirt trail, it turns the track suit exercise routine into more of a mini hike.  In between the sets of exercise equipment you can pretend your far away from any city.

An example of the sporadically placed equipment along the trail at the top.  Don, if you're reading this, I think of you ever time I see exercise equipment along a hiking trail in the woods!  : )

The view from the exercise equipment in the picture above.  Not too shabby!  By the way, all the tall buildings in these pictures are apartment complexes.

More of the wildlife Korea has to offer.  We also saw a Korean chipmunk, but it wasn't quite as cooperative as the Korean insects.  If you're wondering, the Korean chipmunk looked just like a Skamania County chipmunk.  Cute, quick and just a little stuck-up.  Convergent evolution or did the little guys migrate?

Why wouldn't you hang a giant clock along the trail?

Jesse playing on the "abs machine." 

A peek through the trees at Sanju's many apartment buildings below.  It was pretty hazy that day-- we went in the morning because of the heat and humidity and the low cloud haze hadn't burned off.

Well, that's a bit of Namsan!  It's nice to have it green-- when we first arrived in winter, it looked like no color had ever touched the area.  It was quite dreary, not to mention freezing.  Next time we go all the way around the track section I'll take a few more pictures.  There are some more nice views and great examples of how they grow gardens anywhere there's a patch of spare dirt.  It's interesting to see just how resourceful they are able to get!

: )