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Japan8 October 18


China4 April 18


Japan7 October 17


Taiwan4 March 17


Japan6 October 16


Europe May 16


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Even More Trips

HongJapWan March 2014
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Taiwan March 2011
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Japan May 2010
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London September 2009
SE Asia December 2005

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Page 1

Day 0 - Sunday, 19 May 2019

Retrospective

Here is a montage of all the best photos from the Korkong trip. I like to do this after I come back from my holiday so that the first photo people see is not just a photo of the airport bus or the airport or some kind of boring airport food.

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Enjoy 25 x postage stamp sized photos that appear elsewhere beyond this point in full hi resolution!

Enjoy 25 x postage stamp sized photos that appear elsewhere beyond this point in full hi resolution!


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Day 1 - Saturday, 30 March 2019

The 3 worst photos of this trip

Getting to Melbourne airport and enjoying 'The House' Virgin / Etihad lounge

AS IS TRADITION, here are 3 really boring really bad photographs. Photographs of tables without anyone sitting at them, a bland looking out of focus breakfast shot, and a huge vast expanse of concrete.
Today I am going to Seoul in South Korea via Hong Kong in China.
Actually I am not going to South Korea until tomorrow, I have a 5 hour stopover in Hong Kong which will take the time into tomorrow before I leave Hong Kong and arrive in Seoul Incheon at 4am local time, all on no sleep. Fun times ahead.

At least this time I did not bother with the photo of the bus seat and a photo of my ticket?

Anyway, I had a bit of a cold earlier this week, that went away after 2 days, so I am approximately 108.5% sure that will come back with a vengeance after spending at least 15 hours wedged into a series of pressurized metal tubes. Enjoy the z in pressurized, I cant figure out how to change the spell checker dictionary in my code editor program to English English, but I digress....already....
Previous followers (my alternate personalities) will no doubt recall that I enjoy going into great detail about every kind of mucus, including the kind which comes out of me as well as the mucus others enjoy sharing with me. I should change the name of this site to THE MUCUS BLOG. Therefore, to make this more exciting I tried to coordinate getting a cold to coincide with my flight, but it has gone away, disappointing really.

Thats probably enough nonsense for now, I will be back with more filler rants during my 5 or so hours of wandering Hong Kong airport.

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The aforementioned Virgin lounge which is actually the Etihad lounge which is actually called 'The House' and they try to hide the fact that Virgin el

The aforementioned Virgin lounge which is actually the Etihad lounge which is actually called 'The House' and they try to hide the fact that Virgin elite status dorks get access because presumably they have to pay Etihad an exorbitant sum of money for anyone that figures out the riddle and pushes their way in demanding 'free' breakfast.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - OMG its an omelette. You can order off the menu or go to the buffet. Since there were about 20 guys standing around with nothing to do, I ordered off

OMG its an omelette. You can order off the menu or go to the buffet. Since there were about 20 guys standing around with nothing to do, I ordered off the menu. They appeared to be annoyed that I did. Also the coffee was ok but the sugar situation was amusing. Instead of granulated powdery plain sugar they had artisan lumps of some kind of non dissolving glass like substance that added a rich earthy aroma of sugar well past its used by date.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - 'The House' does have a good view of the runways, but most of the aircraft are behind me. I pretended to be an air traffic controller for a while, loo

'The House' does have a good view of the runways, but most of the aircraft are behind me. I pretended to be an air traffic controller for a while, looking at flightradar24.


The 3 next worst photos

Wandering around Hong Kong airport after flying there on a Virgin A330

Terrible photos are my thing. So heres 3 more! I now take terrible photos in groups of 3 to assure that symmetry is never achieved.

My flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong on a Virgin Airbus A330 was uneventful. It was completely full, but there seemed to be no one near me dying, soiling themselves, gargling mucus or trying to set a new loudest scream record.
The flight was a bit early, but still nearly 9 hours. To pass the time I watched 'The Right Stuff' which features a lot of test pilots dying in spectacular plane crashes. It also goes for 3.5 hours, which is mainly why I chose it.

Virgin managed to serve 2 full hot meals on the flight, with 3 choices for each meal, they also gave a full regular screw the lid on and off again bottle of water, environmental terrorism!

The only funny thing I saw happen was funny the first time and dumb the next, a girl lifting her suitcase above her head to put it in the locker dropped it on the head of the guy sitting in the aisle, twice. Now that I think about this, it is a dangerous setup. The lockers in the middle are directly above the heads of people in rows d and g, those bags will not fall in the aisle, they will fall on your neck / head.

The only other thing of note was when it was time to get off, a woman 2 rows in front of me was refusing to go, despite her husband / boyfriend / captor insisting loudly that she should. Her reason? She wanted to watch the end of her movie, 'it only has ten minutes to go!'.

I have over 5 hours to kill in Hong Kong airport, about 10km of steps to get to reach my still never missed daily goal of 25,000 steps, and a shower waiting for me in the lounge. I am flying to Seoul on Hong Kong Airlines, who I have not flown with before, they have 2 lounges in the airport with a made to order noodle bar and made to order pizza. Maybe after my two hot meals on the plane I shall have both?
Maybe I will just post 3 boring photos of Hong Kong airport?

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - That is not my plane. It is a Qantas jet, but I took the photo because of those mountains, calling me, shrouded in cloud currently. I will be back in

That is not my plane. It is a Qantas jet, but I took the photo because of those mountains, calling me, shrouded in cloud currently. I will be back in 2 weeks time to climb those mountains.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I like Hong Kong airport. You really have to walk a very long way. That suits me fine. I walked to all corners of the main terminal... and then....

I like Hong Kong airport. You really have to walk a very long way. That suits me fine. I walked to all corners of the main terminal... and then....


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - My flight is leaving from the satellite terminal, which has blue lighting. It is also large and I can do some more walking, with my heavy backpack. Th

My flight is leaving from the satellite terminal, which has blue lighting. It is also large and I can do some more walking, with my heavy backpack. Then I can have a shower. Walking and showering, holiday highlights! I sure cant do that at home.


There are currently 4 comments - click to add

tester on 2021-01-06 said:

testing


tester on 2021-01-05 said:

testing


mother on 2019-03-31 said:

airport photos - always interesting. I think you just put them there to make us jealous. What do I have to do to get a membership to one of those lounges? Big birthday coming up this year!!!!!


David on 2019-03-29 said:

Those really are the worst 3 photos ever. The first one is a weird blue colour, the middle one is out of focus and for the last one I sampled the white on the qantas jet to set white balance and ended up with a faded Polaroid look.


Day 2 - Sunday, 31 March 2019

Train to city too tired two photos

Flying to Incheon airport on Hong Kong Airlines

Despite no sleep, I have amazingly managed to stick to, too and two in the title of this boring update.
Right now I am on the AREX train into Seoul from Incheon airport. Incheon is an entirely different city but thats where they decided to stick the main airport, so that it was as close as possible to the North Korean border for missile range.

My flight was too fast! It was scheduled to last 4.5 hours and only lasted 3.5, the English pilot mentioned that he was impressed with the tailwind. There was no meal since it departed just before midnight, but instead they handed out snack bags, which contained a full size mars bar, a full size muffin and a huge rice crispy square thing and a can of regular coke. I handed mine back.
The flight was too short to even pretend to get any sleep, so I am on no sleep at all, not even a 5 minute catch yourself almost falling asleep then frightening yourself awake sleep.
It is also timed very poorly, I now will most likely have to wait until 3pm to check into my hotel despite arriving at about 3:30AM. So another 12 hours before I can shower again, I mark the passing of time with showers.

I am sure this is making no sense by now I am typing on the moving train in the dark, but let me go on regardless, undeterred, I laugh in the face of making sense and just let my fingers move on their own, each of them has a tiny little brain that seems to be making the keys click.

Getting cash out of a machine at Incheon airport was a challenge, not because my card was rejected, but because the machine was running really really slowly. The transaction took 20 minutes, and it was a glitch fest of watching the screen redraw pixel by pixel and listening to the robot voice sound like it was getting very sleepy. I think it was running windows 98, they do that here to ensure everyone still uses the superior Microsoft internet explorer 6 with activex controls to skim your card details and send to the religious / government leaders to determine if you are of pure morals.
The most concerning part was when it went to count the money to give me the door the cash comes out opened and closed 3 times slowly before it decided to hand over the cash.

Once I was cashed up it was time to kill time before it was time to get the train which always runs on time.
The airport was really busy at this early hour, but ALMOST every coffee shop was closed....ridiculous! Thousands of people on the arrivals and departure levels were doing as I was, wondering why the hell you cant buy a coffee at a super busy airport at 4:30AM. Eventually I found a Krispy Kreme that had run out of doughnuts but was serving coffee, I found it in the basement in what I think was the employee food court area. After negotiating my size and milk options I was provided with a hot beverage somewhat resembling coffee that was neither the size I pointed at or the milk I pointed at. Oh well, I suspect today will be a day of many coffees, or else I might just stop working altogether. Ask yourself now why altogether does not have two L's?

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - ITS ME! And I dont look as tired as I feel. I am balding I fear, and going grey (should that be gray or grey?), this is exacerbated by aircraft air co

ITS ME! And I dont look as tired as I feel. I am balding I fear, and going grey (should that be gray or grey?), this is exacerbated by aircraft air conditioning. I always notice whenever I get off a long flight it feels like I have spider silk for hair, and not much of it. Thats enough hair talk.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I cant just post a photo of my big stupid head, so heres some flowers and lights in the airport arrivals hall. Basically this is where I sat to sip my

I cant just post a photo of my big stupid head, so heres some flowers and lights in the airport arrivals hall. Basically this is where I sat to sip my coffee, so this is the photo I took. Thrilling stuff!


Everything is grey

Myeongdong at dawn and a trip to the Lotte tower

Finally, some photos of things that are not airports or aircraft. Please consider when reading this that I am now entering..... my 49th sleep free hour, let see how this goes!

If you were paying attention, the flight times and hotel check in times had lined up against me to make sure that I was not going to be able to get any sleep of any kind, that is still the case. I am full of coffee. I am gloriously delirious. Yet still I type.

After dropping may bags at the hotel at whatever time that was, it was time to pace around and wait for a cafe to open, the earliest opening one I could find didnt open until 8am.
It was cold. So very cold. And grey! No leaves on anything. No cherry blossoms, yet, actually there were a few, at a lake, a grey lake. I took a train to the Lotte tower and shopping centre, had more coffee, glared at people.
On my way back I missed my train stop which wasted time which was good.
Then my phone went flat which was unexpected, something here is eating my battery more than in Australia, despite my phone being Korean. Actually I think my phone was stolen in Korea, re-birthed in Dubai and sold to me by a Chinese woman on a street corner, so maybe now that its found its way back home its really excited.

Surely this is making little or no sense by now, and yet theres still more sleepless hours to go, my goal is 8pm local time, its 5:30pm here now, I must find my dinner, and shower again.
I already had 2 showers in my excellent hotel room. More on that later, more hotel and shower pics. More semi incoherent ramblings.

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - SO GREY! My hotel is in the main area called Myeongdong, home to various animal by-products that are ground up and applied to Korean girls faces.

SO GREY! My hotel is in the main area called Myeongdong, home to various animal by-products that are ground up and applied to Korean girls faces.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - There is the tower. I have been up there a couple of times. I will probably go again, not today though, too cold. Also they have knocked a lot of stuf

There is the tower. I have been up there a couple of times. I will probably go again, not today though, too cold. Also they have knocked a lot of stuff down since I was last here, but not much seems to have been built to replace it yet.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I sat and chatted with the giant teddy bear for a while, until he started to ignore me. So I punched him.

I sat and chatted with the giant teddy bear for a while, until he started to ignore me. So I punched him.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Being the fashion area, theres numerous ways to make your eyes look less Korean. Here you can stick contact lenses over your eyes to add fireworks, sw

Being the fashion area, theres numerous ways to make your eyes look less Korean. Here you can stick contact lenses over your eyes to add fireworks, swirling galaxies, angry ocean. Then you cant see out of your own eyes and people looking at your eyes thing you have a terrible eye infection. Win-Win!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - A nice tree getting photo bombed by a church. This is the main church, the map says so. There are mega churches all around the place but this one has

A nice tree getting photo bombed by a church. This is the main church, the map says so. There are mega churches all around the place but this one has the best location. I wandered up the hill but beat a hasty retreat when I saw hundreds of nuns recruiting people on Sunday morning. Lets not forget the Korean president lost her job because she was dealing with religious psychics to make decisions on what to do with the country she was running.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Near the Lotte tower is Lotte world theme park. You can walk all around it without paying money to go in, so I did that. There are a few cherry blosso

Near the Lotte tower is Lotte world theme park. You can walk all around it without paying money to go in, so I did that. There are a few cherry blossoms to look at here.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - A fake mountain has been constructed with a roller coaster running through it. A beautiful brown construction framed by grey skies.

A fake mountain has been constructed with a roller coaster running through it. A beautiful brown construction framed by grey skies.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The Lotte tower! Its huge and impressive. The way it bulges out and gets skinnier makes it look taller than it is. I believe a few windows fell off an

The Lotte tower! Its huge and impressive. The way it bulges out and gets skinnier makes it look taller than it is. I believe a few windows fell off and some cracks developed soon after it was finished!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Inside the Lotte mall is a heap of faux gold and blocked off spiral staircases. It is a large modern mall with lots of good food.

Inside the Lotte mall is a heap of faux gold and blocked off spiral staircases. It is a large modern mall with lots of good food.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Just when you thought we couldnt sink further as a species, here is the latest thing I am seeing a lot of here already. It is a pusher / stroller / pr

Just when you thought we couldnt sink further as a species, here is the latest thing I am seeing a lot of here already. It is a pusher / stroller / pram for young adults. Basically anyone up to the age of 16 can now be wheeled about and force-fed fried snacks. You can then buy various stuffed animals and pile them on top of your adult children then throw them all out when you get home and do it all again tomorrow.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Infinite ice block.

Infinite ice block.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Apparently someone in Melbourne has imported one of these robotic coffee making machines, and charges $10 a cup. People line up for it. Not a good pho

Apparently someone in Melbourne has imported one of these robotic coffee making machines, and charges $10 a cup. People line up for it. Not a good photo but I couldnt figure out how to remove the glass case to eliminate the reflection.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - For my lunch, tofu gimbap. One of the default standard Korean foods. Yes its basically sushi, but fresher and crunchier, less sauce and mayonnaise, mo

For my lunch, tofu gimbap. One of the default standard Korean foods. Yes its basically sushi, but fresher and crunchier, less sauce and mayonnaise, more vegetables.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - After killing for as long as I could, I mean killing as much time as I could out at Lotte world tower amusement park, I returned to Myeongdong, which

After killing for as long as I could, I mean killing as much time as I could out at Lotte world tower amusement park, I returned to Myeongdong, which was now open, and now crowded.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Coming soon to Australia, Oreo Churros. Those adult children have emerged from their cage with wheels to line up and get a bucket full of fried chocol

Coming soon to Australia, Oreo Churros. Those adult children have emerged from their cage with wheels to line up and get a bucket full of fried chocolate and icing.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Annnnd one more photo of busy day time Myeongdong streets. It gets busier at night. Eventually theres a sea of discarded sharp food sticks to wade thr

Annnnd one more photo of busy day time Myeongdong streets. It gets busier at night. Eventually theres a sea of discarded sharp food sticks to wade through. Every morning an army of grandmas sweep them up and start small fires in the street to destroy them all. The smoke blows over to China and causes their pollution issues.


Blue makes it less grey

Wandering around Myeongdong and a trip to the Shinsegae foodcourt

My room has a view. The surprise was the view was of blue sky. I thought the grey skies would be a permanent feature. Wrong. I thought it would be a few days of typing this before I started talking mainly about the weather, also wrong, disappointing. I could talk about how tired I am? Still no sleep. That is also boring so lets move on.

Tonight I stayed local, looked at neon lights, had dinner in a department store and now I am ready for bed.
Korea is nicer looking at night, less grey, very colorful.
Tomorrow is forecast to be cold buy sunny. I think I will go hiking, shocking I know.

After dinner I went to the local 24 hour mini supermarket to buy water, you cant drink the tap water here. Anyway, I think they guy tried to rip me off, for the grand sum of about 50 cents. Before I purchased I was looking closely at the coins I already had because I havent memorised whats what. I didnt have enough coins and paid with a note. When I counted my change and pointed at the amount showing on the screen he immediately gave me the rest of my change, but he would not look me in the face. He was a little too fast at not checking anything and handing me the rest of my change for my liking. Should I go back and strangle the guy? Should I go back and take his photo and shame all of Korea by putting it on the internet for my millions of readers? Should I shut up and go to bed now?

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Brilliant clear blue sky! I celebrated by taking photos of random buildings. This part of Seoul is not where the nice modern buildings are, that is ov

Brilliant clear blue sky! I celebrated by taking photos of random buildings. This part of Seoul is not where the nice modern buildings are, that is over in Gangnam. I will be staying in Gangnam next week after returning from Daejeon, taking photos of shiny buildings. Thats a nice sunstar on the right though!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Just a random street in the direction I was walking.

Just a random street in the direction I was walking.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - This building mural is so blue it makes the street blue. Actually I think my camera made everything blue, I dont know, maybe everything just looks blu

This building mural is so blue it makes the street blue. Actually I think my camera made everything blue, I dont know, maybe everything just looks blue to me now. What I do know is that it says Seoul Animation Center and they painted an unanimated mural. They should have painted an animated one.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Shinsegae is the biggest nicest department store. I knew I would get dinner from there when I saw it, and I did. It spans many buildings, you cannot r

Shinsegae is the biggest nicest department store. I knew I would get dinner from there when I saw it, and I did. It spans many buildings, you cannot really tell how big it is from this angle.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - My dinner was a curry of sorts, with Korean accoutrements. I ordered the house special, which means its the one they have the highest profit margin on

My dinner was a curry of sorts, with Korean accoutrements. I ordered the house special, which means its the one they have the highest profit margin on. It contained tofu, eggplant and macaroni and cheese and a quite spicy curry sauce. Small serve, quite pricey! Thats what you get for eating at Shinsegae. This photo looks like it was taken with a flash. My camera does not have a flash, weird. I hate flash photography. Today my sentences are very short.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - A random lit up building, might be an art gallery.

A random lit up building, might be an art gallery.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - And as a final photo for the evening, the main food cart street in Myeongdong, at night. It gets dark here later than I thought, its still kind of lig

And as a final photo for the evening, the main food cart street in Myeongdong, at night. It gets dark here later than I thought, its still kind of light at 7:00pm. Very unexpected. Now, bed time.


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jenny on 2019-03-31 said:

Lots of interesting photos today. I hope to see more - not just mountains.


David on 2019-03-31 said:

I will be in Hong Kong from 11-14 April and again from 21-24 April. I am going to mainland China in between.
I am running up mountains in Hong Kong every day I am there.


Phil on 2019-03-31 said:

When will you be in HK. ?


adriana on 2019-03-31 said:

Happy walking, or should I say floating dizzily above a moving footpath for the next few hours. Take photos of interesting little quirky things to keep yourself awake. Search for the unusual.


Day 3 - Monday, 1 April 2019

The first of many identical mountains

Hiking Suraksan via Danggogae subway station

YESSSSS!!! Today I get to upload about 1000 almost identical over sharpened over saturated photographs of brown mountains with grey rocks. The goal as ever, is to make the photos as offensive as possible, then add INANE comments about each one. I use all caps every time I type a word that makes me think I am clever.

Todays mountain was called Suraksan. As with many Korean mountains it is quite popular, despite not being in one of the hundreds of national parks. Despite it being Monday (thats 2 uses of 'despite' in subsequent sentences, bad writing!), hundreds of retired folks were out creating new paths to ensure that I would get lost multiple times, and I did. Generally speaking, Korean mountains each have about 57 paths to follow, no signs, dangerous drops, questionable ropes and chains to cling onto, and the occasional black ice patch. Today was no exception. Also because Korean mountains are quite short / low, there is rarely just one prominent peak, and what they refer to as a mountain might be a series of peaks. Every time you get to the top you will realise theres another mountain behind it of roughly the same height, and wonder if you are truly at your destination. This meant that all my careful research on the path to follow was useless, I ended up on completely the wrong side of the mountain and had to walk about 6.5km along a road back to a station, luckily there was a footpath.
The road back went right through the middle of a large military base, most of these look like scout camps but I climbed up on the razor wire and saw about a hundred tanks lined up. Then I noticed a sign in English warning that taking photos will get you shot. I couldn't quite hang onto the fence and take a photo at once, so I am safe from getting shot by a teenage Korean army conscript today.

After returning to the city, it was time for a late coffee, there was only one other customer, a 'Korean' woman. She went and asked the barista / robot coffee maker button pressing human how to get to Myeongdong, in English with an American accent. The barista answered in furious sounding Korean. The woman explained she cant understand Korean. Next thing the clerk was yelling at her in broken English, paraphrasing here... 'YOU KOREAN, YOU SPEAK KOREAN, NOT ENGLISH, IF YOU NOT KNOW SPEAK KOREAN, YOU LEARN KOREAN, ALL KOREANS MUST SPEAK KOREAN!!!'. The American woman looked shocked by this. I told her how to get to where she was going, and never got a thanks from her. I should have yelled at her too. Maybe the rude clerk was right!

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - This is near my hotel. People do not seem to get to work early, still quiet at 8AM, subway was still empty. I wont mention the weather because to do s

This is near my hotel. People do not seem to get to work early, still quiet at 8AM, subway was still empty. I wont mention the weather because to do so is boring, repetitive and redundant and makes me seem as old as I am.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I stayed on the train to the last stop, Danggogae. Korean names are not easy to remember. This area is clearly for poor people, although its still in

I stayed on the train to the last stop, Danggogae. Korean names are not easy to remember. This area is clearly for poor people, although its still in Seoul on the subway. I noticed on my long walk back that they were adding sewers and drainage. Modernity comes to Danggogae!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Walking to the start of the trail from the station meant passing lots of houses busy collecting rubbish and storing it in their yards in case theres e

Walking to the start of the trail from the station meant passing lots of houses busy collecting rubbish and storing it in their yards in case theres ever a shortage of discarded plastic, then we profit! There was rubbish everywhere. I dont think they were collecting it because they are getting paid to recycle it, it would appear to have been here for about 1000 years. Many sets of eyes were watching me closely to make sure I didnt run off with an old plastic bucket with a hole in it. Meanwhile everyones identical looking dog attached to a rusty chain was desperately trying to break the chain to kill me.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I think it is actually too early for cherry blossoms, if thats your thing. Instead there are these yellow and purple flowers everywhere. In this photo

I think it is actually too early for cherry blossoms, if thats your thing. Instead there are these yellow and purple flowers everywhere. In this photo I have managed to capture both, to save on having to post 2 photos. It also features a clump of dead brown leaves, which is the defining feature of Korean mountains in March.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The start of the trail has these notice boards filled with posters for hiking groups? Transport options from the other end of the trail? Insurance? I

The start of the trail has these notice boards filled with posters for hiking groups? Transport options from the other end of the trail? Insurance? I have no idea what all this is here for. I noticed a nearly identical display at the bottom of the other side of the mountain when I got back to a road.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - There are a few temples as you set off. This is the main one. I found it very annoying because the Buddha is offset on the stairs, and the whole build

There are a few temples as you set off. This is the main one. I found it very annoying because the Buddha is offset on the stairs, and the whole building is on a lean and offset from the path. The Soju must have been bad.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Oh look, its another mountain as seen from this mountain. I fear the sky is too blue, I tried to make it less blue.

Oh look, its another mountain as seen from this mountain. I fear the sky is too blue, I tried to make it less blue.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Today featured every kind of mountain trail. I enjoyed the variety. Here is a scramble up some steep rocks section, one of my favorites.

Today featured every kind of mountain trail. I enjoyed the variety. Here is a scramble up some steep rocks section, one of my favorites.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I think I went all the way around to that peak. It was not really very far but lots of it was quite technical with ropes and chains. I never felt the

I think I went all the way around to that peak. It was not really very far but lots of it was quite technical with ropes and chains. I never felt the need to put my gloves on though.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Here is an easier section of the trail. I dont really understand why some parts had barriers like this despite not being dangerous, then other parts h

Here is an easier section of the trail. I dont really understand why some parts had barriers like this despite not being dangerous, then other parts had a frayed rope attached to a questionable branch as you stare over the edge of a 300 foot drop.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - There is Seoul. A bit of it anyway. Over 20 million people live in the greater metro area.

There is Seoul. A bit of it anyway. Over 20 million people live in the greater metro area.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - A bit more Seoul. I have climbed all those mountains on the horizon on previous trips, they are all in the Bukhansan national park, which has a lot of

A bit more Seoul. I have climbed all those mountains on the horizon on previous trips, they are all in the Bukhansan national park, which has a lot of really challenging dangerous trails.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Clearly I was enjoying taking photos of rocks contrasting against pine trees with the city in the background PUNCTUATED by an overly blue sky.

Clearly I was enjoying taking photos of rocks contrasting against pine trees with the city in the background PUNCTUATED by an overly blue sky.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Mountains in every direction, tomorrow perhaps?

Mountains in every direction, tomorrow perhaps?


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I think this is elephant rock. Taipei also has an elephant rock and possibly Hong Kong? Wait thats lion rock. OK so now I have been to Elephant rock i

I think this is elephant rock. Taipei also has an elephant rock and possibly Hong Kong? Wait thats lion rock. OK so now I have been to Elephant rock in Seoul and Taipei and Lion rock in Hong Kong. How many animal rocks have you been to?


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Nice texture in those rocks, great for removing skin when you fall over. Actually the rocks are not the problem, the fine gravel is. I guess the fine

Nice texture in those rocks, great for removing skin when you fall over. Actually the rocks are not the problem, the fine gravel is. I guess the fine gravel used to be rocks, its razor sharp, slippery, and unpleasant feeling on your ass when you slide down a hill.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Perhaps this is photo of the day?

Perhaps this is photo of the day?


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The lines on my face look particularly deep today. I am starting to look like 90 year old Clint Eastwood. Here you can see my running backpack. I have

The lines on my face look particularly deep today. I am starting to look like 90 year old Clint Eastwood. Here you can see my running backpack. I have a new setup for this trip, first I put on my over the shoulder tiny camera pouch for my giant camera. Then I put my running backpack on over that, and put the waist strap through the belt loop on the camera bag thing. This way I look like I need a helmet and an emotional support dog / pig / peacock, but it stops anything from moving about, keeps both hands free and I can run. FUNCTION OVER FORM.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Now its time to get lost and follow a random trail down the wrong side of the mountain! Down to a location with no train!

Now its time to get lost and follow a random trail down the wrong side of the mountain! Down to a location with no train!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - This side has some rocks and green and blue of its own. Just like the other side!

This side has some rocks and green and blue of its own. Just like the other side!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - After successfully negotiating this perilous precipice, I took a photo back from where I had come.

After successfully negotiating this perilous precipice, I took a photo back from where I had come.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I kind of hoped the trail I had selected would loop back around to where I started, at about this point I realised that would not be the case. The onl

I kind of hoped the trail I had selected would loop back around to where I started, at about this point I realised that would not be the case. The only question now, how far would I need to walk along a road to get back to a station? About 6.5km as it turns out.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Once I reached a road, this was the first thing I saw. It was making a terrible buzzing and humming sound and every now and then a puff of smoke would

Once I reached a road, this was the first thing I saw. It was making a terrible buzzing and humming sound and every now and then a puff of smoke would come out of it.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Solar powered creepy plastic light up child. Why though?

Solar powered creepy plastic light up child. Why though?


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The road back to the station through the military base followed this huge open drain / sewer project for miles. To greet the construction workers the

The road back to the station through the military base followed this huge open drain / sewer project for miles. To greet the construction workers the locals have lined the site with many miles of piled up rubbish, ready to push it in as soon as it rains.


3rd times a charm

Walking up N Seoul tower and annoying its many cats

Tonight was the third time I walked up to the base of the Namsan tower to enjoy the view without paying to go up the tower to enjoy a view obscured by glass that costs $20. As always I avoided the cable car and took the steps, saving another $20. Then I ate poor people food for dinner, kimchi stew, for about $5, to which I added more kimchi.

Korea is so kimchi they put kimchi in their kimchi. Opinions are divided on the supposed health benefits of kimchi, obviously Koreans think it is the key to health, wealth, spiritual wellbeing, auspiciousness and the glue which bonds the impenetrable fabric of Juche ideology. There is a real belief that just like sleeping with a fan on, if you do not eat kimchi with every meal then you will surely die. Non koreans find it to be cabbage soaked in brine with added msg.

I find it to be a slightly concerning yet mildly delicious mix of chilli and decomposing vegetable matter.

Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I took an alternate route to the top of the tower, through this place known as Hanok village. I originally thought it said Hanbok village, Hanbok bein

I took an alternate route to the top of the tower, through this place known as Hanok village. I originally thought it said Hanbok village, Hanbok being the traditional Korean dress, their version of the kimono, except it looks more like something the pilgrims might wear when milking a cow. But no, it is Hanok not Hanbok. I googled what Hanok village is, and it said 'A place to take photos for instagram'.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Hanok village does indeed have a lot of places you can take photos for instagram.

Hanok village does indeed have a lot of places you can take photos for instagram.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Last photo of Hanok village, taken from the top of the path, I noticed a lot of wooden cutouts you can stick your head in for photos to make you look

Last photo of Hanok village, taken from the top of the path, I noticed a lot of wooden cutouts you can stick your head in for photos to make you look like a cartoon character wearing a Hanbok, so there you go, you can do Hanbok in Hanok and put both on instagram.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - There is the tower. The light was great at this point, I was excited to go enjoy the sunset. Note the dead grass looking stuff, snow kills everything.

There is the tower. The light was great at this point, I was excited to go enjoy the sunset. Note the dead grass looking stuff, snow kills everything.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Then I was ATTACKED! I am lucky to still be here. This cat pretended to be all nice and happy and friendly, but no, he was vicious and tried to kill m

Then I was ATTACKED! I am lucky to still be here. This cat pretended to be all nice and happy and friendly, but no, he was vicious and tried to kill me. I noticed as I tried to get away a small army of cats had suddenly appeared!


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The yellow flowers are particularly fetching during a golden sunset.

The yellow flowers are particularly fetching during a golden sunset.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I tried to get a sunstar around the cable car by lining it up and hitting the shutter at the right time. I kind of lined it up but did not get the eff

I tried to get a sunstar around the cable car by lining it up and hitting the shutter at the right time. I kind of lined it up but did not get the effect I wanted, I needed a zoom lense.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I think this is just a cafe, which does not explain why they have a giant pink orb alongside the traditional building.

I think this is just a cafe, which does not explain why they have a giant pink orb alongside the traditional building.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The pollution and a bit of cloud on the horizon made for a rather dim sunset, probably making the photo more interesting.

The pollution and a bit of cloud on the horizon made for a rather dim sunset, probably making the photo more interesting.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Look at all those mountains behind the city! I think I have already climbed all of them except one. Possibly the least polluted sky I can ever remembe

Look at all those mountains behind the city! I think I have already climbed all of them except one. Possibly the least polluted sky I can ever remember seeing in Seoul, people have actually been complaining it has been very polluted in the last couple of weeks, I guess it blew away as I blew in.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The love locks are still at the top of the tower hill. I think they all get removed and thrown out once a week. Theres millions of them.

The love locks are still at the top of the tower hill. I think they all get removed and thrown out once a week. Theres millions of them.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - I waited for ages to get a photo of the rubber duck unobscured by selfie sticks. Was it worth it? Obviously yes. My main regret is that I couldn't get

I waited for ages to get a photo of the rubber duck unobscured by selfie sticks. Was it worth it? Obviously yes. My main regret is that I couldn't get one of me with the duck....because I dont have a selfie stick. Anyway, here he is, Mr B.Duck. Whatever that is.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Here is the tower. I find tower shots to be quite boring. But you cant climb up to where the tower is and not take a photo of the tower, so here it is

Here is the tower. I find tower shots to be quite boring. But you cant climb up to where the tower is and not take a photo of the tower, so here it is. Looking all towery, and phallic. I bet I could get an article published as an opinion piece on the ABC (Australian News) website declaring that towers are a phallic symbol of male dominance over women placed in prominent positions in every city as a constant reminder that women must accept their fate as servants to all men.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Bonus tower.

Bonus tower.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Starting to get dark now, and damn cold in the wind, my hands were struggling to operate the camera effectively, but I pushed through the pain.

Starting to get dark now, and damn cold in the wind, my hands were struggling to operate the camera effectively, but I pushed through the pain.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - The last bit of orange glow, this is still a handheld shot.

The last bit of orange glow, this is still a handheld shot.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Here is a long exposure, well medium long anyway, still not quite fully dark.

Here is a long exposure, well medium long anyway, still not quite fully dark.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - There are lots of places to enjoy the view, I got asked 3 times to take peoples photos, each time I ran off with their camera and added it to my colle

There are lots of places to enjoy the view, I got asked 3 times to take peoples photos, each time I ran off with their camera and added it to my collection. Now I have to lug around 4 cameras.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Random colorful rain shelter.

Random colorful rain shelter.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - Another long exposure. Remember thats not the main business district of Seoul, its just one of the suburbs. My fingers had basically stopped working a

Another long exposure. Remember thats not the main business district of Seoul, its just one of the suburbs. My fingers had basically stopped working at this point.


Korea - HK - China - KORKONG! - And here it is, poor person kimchi stew, with all the accompaniments. I chose a place that looked reasonably busy, striking the right balance between

And here it is, poor person kimchi stew, with all the accompaniments. I chose a place that looked reasonably busy, striking the right balance between 'why the hell is no one at all here?' and 'why the hell would a busy place like this want to use up an entire table for my party of one?'. Anyway after I sat down it became clear that the 3 other tables were the children of the owners and waitresses doing their homework. In between serving me they went and sat down and explained to their 3 year olds that their entire life is hinging on the score they get on their test on naming the shapes correctly.


There are currently 4 comments - click to add

bobule on 2019-04-03 said:

great photos again!


adriana on 2019-04-01 said:

They do like their 1960's apartment blocks don't they. Nice clear night shots. Need to keep the camera lined up with the side of buildings though. Some are a bit tilted. Hope your fingers have defrosted. Try some gloves at night perhaps?


David on 2019-04-01 said:

I think all the phallic things are on Jeju island, which was a female led society that imprisoned men.


mother on 2019-04-01 said:

very nice rocks today, though some seem rather phallic - are you sure this mountain is not the sacred mountain of reproduction?


There is now a page 2, with more soulless mountains and more Seoul. For the internet challenged, hit the next link at the top to go there now!

Contents

Day 0 - Sunday, 19 May 2019
  Retrospective
Day 1 - Saturday, 30 March 2019
  The 3 worst photos of this trip
  The 3 next worst photos
Day 2 - Sunday, 31 March 2019
  Train to city too tired two photos
  Everything is grey
  Blue makes it less grey
Day 3 - Monday, 1 April 2019
  The first of many identical mountains
  3rd times a charm
Day 4 - Tuesday, 2 April 2019
  The great new ancient Seoul wall of Korea
  Dong Demon
Day 5 - Wednesday, 3 April 2019
  Great hike with a crap view
  All the usual neon and curry
Day 6 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
  No ticket no passport no talking
  Pancakes?
Day 7 - Friday, 5 April 2019
  Fog shots
  Sunny river city
Day 8 - Saturday, 6 April 2019
  A day of rest and walking
  The real actual city
Day 9 - Sunday, 7 April 2019
  All day clay
  By special request
Day 10 - Monday, 8 April 2019
  First of two loops completed
  Its all a giant slope
Day 11 - Tuesday, 9 April 2019
  Seven and a half years later
  Wet mall
Day 12 - Wednesday, 10 April 2019
  Not slippery when wet
  Palpable Shininess
Day 13 - Thursday, 11 April 2019
  A tale of two airports
  I have found my salvation
Day 14 - Friday, 12 April 2019
  To hell with the rain
  Grimey goodness
Day 15 - Saturday, 13 April 2019
  Surprise no hiking day
  Weird stuff happens
Day 16 - Sunday, 14 April 2019
  Surprise waterless hike
  One sided
Day 17 - Monday, 15 April 2019
  Procedural challenges
  Dark and mysterious
Day 18 - Tuesday, 16 April 2019
  Flood warning
  Shangxiajiu
Day 19 - Wednesday, 17 April 2019
  AAAAA tourist mountain experience
  The river that becomes a delta
Day 20 - Wednesday, 18 April 2019
  The industrial wasteland of Foshan
  The quiet river stroll
Day 21 - Thursday, 19 April 2019
  Trapped in a thunderstorm
  More of the same
Day 22 - Saturday, 20 April 2019
  The darkest of places
  Final Guangzhou dampening
Day 23 - Sunday, 21 April 2019
  Back to daylight
  Photos of the mundane
Day 24 - Monday, 22 April 2019
  A peak up the morning path
  Along the waterfront
Day 25 - Tuesday, 23 April 2019
  The cloudy dragon beach trip
  Pictures from a moving tram
Day 26 - Wednesday, 24 April 2019
  Looking down on the airport
  More pork more neon more harbour
Day 27 - Wednesday, 25 April 2019
  Only one airport photo
  The end