Back on the ferry, we made a quick trip to the second of the three islands on our itinerary, Dae-maemul-do, or Big Maemul Island. While So-maemul-do, or Small Maemul Island, is a popular getaway for many Koreans and tourists, many haven’t even heard of Dae-maemul-do. We made our camp on the lawn and in the classrooms of an abandoned school-turned-art studio. After the forth shower, we ran out of water and had to rough it. While most of the party went to swim and sun on the pebble beach, I couldn’t handle the beach cockroaches and opted to bake on the lawn.
We’d been told we’d have to feed ourselves on this trip, but in true Charles fashion, along with his sidekick and chef, Samcheon (meaning “uncle” in Korean) we were fed to bursting on roasted pork, pork and kimchi soup and rice. Most people seemed to have brought something to share, and ate extravagantly.
Night fell, and the camp fire lazed, but because of our early start, most of us turned in before midnight, though a small group found their way to the norae (karaoke) tent by the water and sang the night away. In even the smallest, most isolated of locales in Korea, you will find karaoke – it’s a way of life.
The day dawned gray and drizzly and most opted out of the morning hike. But the less-than-optimal weather allowed for mysterious and dramatic, could-swathed landscapes, and the exertion of the climb kept the chill away.
The incoming typhoon did us a favor and held off until we were safely in our mimbok (Korean-style hotel) in the third and last island of the trip, Bijin-do, or Bijin Island. Be had scarcely closed the door before it blew a gale force and unleashed a fury that kept most of us inside for the rest of the day. The storm was so ferocious that I couldn’t even make it from my room on the first floor up to see friends on the second floor.
Eventually, the storm subsided enough for the bravest amongst us to do some skinny dipping in the turbulent ocean. (I held the clothes.)
We thought the worst was over, but we were evacuated off the island the next morning, thus canceling that day’s activities. I toyed with the idea of not getting on the ferry, and being stranded on the island for the next couple days, thereby conveniently missing work. But knowing that simply wouldn’t fly with Bossman Nick, I hoisted my pack on my shoulders and got out of Bijin-do with the rest of the gang.
No comments:
Post a Comment