Seoraksan National Park

East Korean Sea (also known as Sea of Japan by others) and Daechongbong Peak

If you like hiking, this national park is a must see in South Korea. Just outside Sokcho and near the sea, it is a UNESCO  protection site and  is home to numerous types of plants, animals and hiking trails of all levels.  It’s huge, about 174 square kilometres, so you can spend a few days hiking the different trails. You might even spot an Asian black bear but it’s safe since the Koreans have tagged them with microchips and know where they’re heading. 

I hiked up to the Ulsanbawi Rock, the Geumganggui cave, Biseondae Rock and the  Sinheungsa temple. There are a lot of irregular stone steps and stairs, one path had 600 metres of them  another 500 plus metres. Going up is tiring but  not too difficult if you’re fit, but going downhill, specially if it’s damp, requires a lot more concentration and care. Wear hiking shoes and bring poles.  It’s not easy, if you don’t hike or exercise often, but it’s worth it  

Foodwise, my guide William took me to two new places after the full hiking days.  One to eat gukpab, which is a pork soup dish and to another to have seafood noodle soup and Korean fried pancake with seafood. They come with the  usual kimchis and the other side dishes, of course. I’ve eaten so much kimchi I may be exhaling kimchi fumes! Breakfast even features kimchi soup and rice.  Speaking about breakfast,  these hotel breakfasts are like food courts, everything imaginable is on offer!  Interesting fact, the Koreans are much bigger coffee drinkers than tea drinkers  

Those scissors feature again!

Also, I’ve witnessed the most amazing sunrises from my hotel room in Sokcho. Beautiful.

Tomorrow I’m back in Seoul to meet my good friend Grace.