The plan was to visit 3 sites over the break; Day one, Samcheok Penis Park. Day two, Hwanseongul 환선굴 Cave. Day three Seoraksan Mountain. So lets start at the beginning.
Day One
Samcheok Penis Park
What's there to say, it's a park full of penis statues. However, if anyone is interested in why...
According to the legend, a young woman (virgin) was once left by her husband on a rock in the sea to harvest seaweed while he worked, the man was later unable to retrieve her because of a storm, and the woman drowned. After that, the village people were not able to catch fish. Some said that it was because of the dead woman haunting the sea. The villagers decided that the reason she was haunting the sea, was because she was not a happy bunny having died a virgin. So, to soothe her spirit, the village people (not Y.M.C.A) made wooden carvings of penis's and held religious ceremonies on her behalf. Villagers were encouraged to - relieve themselves - into the sea as an offering. After a while, the fish slowly returned and the villagers were able to live comfortably again. The place where the woman died was named Aebawi Rock and the building where the religious ceremony is held twice a year was named Haesindang. The ceremony is still honored today as a traditional folk event.
Samcheok Penis Park
Day Two
환선굴 Hwanseongul cave
The following day we ventured out to the largest cave in South Korea. Although it's very beautiful, it was a little bit ruined by the amount of people, walk ways and lights. Perhaps it was our experience of caving in Thailand that has given us such high expectations, but it just wan't all that great for us. For me it was the short walk to the cave that I enjoyed the most and was able to get some nice pics.
Hwanseongul Cave
Day Three
Seoraksan Mountain
The final day we hiked up Seoraksan, the tallest mountain on mainland Korea. Unfortunately not all paths were open, so we couldn't climb to the highest peak, but what we did do was high enough. Hiking in Korea is very different to back home. In Korea, it seems they build stairs up to the peaks, which while it makes it easier for more people to climb, it also makes it easier for people to climb! So many people are hiking up the mountain it turns from what should be a relaxing day out with nature, into a mammoth stair climb with a thousand other people pushing past you, hocking up the all kinds of wrong before spitting it on the stairs ahead...However, it was a good day out and the views are spectacular. Well worth the trip despite it being over populated. One I would have regretted not doing.
On the way home we stopped of at a military park, where they had paintball etc. They also had a thing called a skyfall. I've not seen or heard of one before, but basically they just lift you into the air and drop you, free falling, into a net. Sounded like fun so I gave it a go.
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