Ulsan

This past weekend Blair and I went to Ulsan. Ulsan is a seaside city located on the eastern coast of Korea along the East Sea. It’s only a 30 minute train ride from Daegu via the KTX (high-speed train). The city is known for its whaling heritage and as the industrial heart of the country. 

On Saturday, we visited Ulsan’s petroglyphs. Our journey began at the Ulsan Petroglyph Museum. The museum explained the history of the area’s petroglyphs in great detail. After some time in the museum, we made our way to the Bangudae Petroglyphs and saw lots of nice scenery along the way.

Bangudae, meaning turtle.

The engraved rock at the Bangudae Petroglyphs shows pictures of hunters, fishermen, shamans, deer, tigers, cows, whales, and sharks. The engravings are believed to have been made towards the end of the Neolithic or the start of the Bronze Age. Unfortunately, the distance between the viewing area and petroglyphs made it difficult to see the engravings of Bangudae.

Near the Bangudae Petroglyphs.

Next, we made our way to the Petroglyphs of Ulju Cheonjeon-ri which was just a short hike from Bangudae. The Petroglyphs of Ulju Cheonjeon-ri represents the Hwarang System of the Silla period. Thankfully, these petroglyphs were more accessible, making them much easier to see.

The engravings at the Petroglyphs of Ulju Cheonjeon-ri.

After the petroglyphs, we made our way to the city and stumbled upon a local fish market. At the fish market, we wined and dined with the locals. Everyone was very friendly, they offered us some their dinner and plenty of soju (type of rice-vodka). We then decided to grab a bite to eat ourselves. So, Blair bought us some freshly caught octopus and we had it cooked on the spot. We really enjoyed our time at the fish market.

The fish market in Ulsan.

The next morning, we tried to catch the bus to the waterfalls near Ulsan, but we ended up missing it. So Instead, we explored some parts of the city and slowly made our way back to Daegu.

Geoje Island

 This past weekend Blair, her friends, and I went to Geoje Island for our three day holiday weekend. Geoje is South Korea’s second largest island after Jeju, it’s known for its beaches, blue waters, and many shipyards.

We spent most of the day Saturday relaxing on Gujora Beach.

Gujora Beach from the water.

On Sunday, we spent the day sightseeing. We went to the local port early in the morning hoping to catch a cruise ferry to Haegeumgang to see the tall cliffs, but all the cruises were booked for the day. So instead, we decided to make our way to Hakdong Black Pearl Pebble Beach. The journey to Hakdong Beach ended up being a long one, but it was totally worth it. The beach was really unique and quite beautiful.

Views from the island.

Hakdong Black Pearl Pebble Beach.

Land of the Morning Calm

After months of planning and preparation I have finally arrived in Korea. I arrived in Seoul late last Thursday night (just before midnight) after a much delayed flight. As I made my way through Incheon International Airport I was impressed how clean and beautifully designed the airport was. Incheon has consecutively been rated the world's best airport and it’s easy to see why. Incheon’s layout and design is unlike anything I have seen back in the states.

After waiting over twenty minutes at the baggage claim area and watching everyone else from my flight claim their belongings, I knew I was out of luck. I went to the lost and found desk and filed a report. The United representative informed me that my luggage was still in Chicago and they would send it to me once it arrived in Korea. I left the airport with just my carry-on bag and ended up taking the train to Daegu, my final destination and new home for the next year.

I arrived in Daegu around 1 in the morning and was greeted by a fellow coworker of mine who took me to my new apartment. The apartment was a welcoming sight to see after so many hours of traveling. I quickly settled in and fell asleep. A few hours later I awoke for my first day at the St. Louis School. I spent the day (Friday) observing various classes in preparation for my first day of teaching

On Saturday, I wandered the streets of my new neighborhood and city. Daegu is South Korea’s third largest city and it's known for its "fashion and high-tech industries". The city is located in the south-eastern part of Korea and it sits in a basin that is surrounded by mountains.

The view of Daegu from a park near my apartment.

The street outside my apartment.

My apartment.

On Sunday, a coworker of mine invited me to go hiking. Even though I was still jet-lagged, as a hiking enthusiast I could not pass up the offer. The hike was really beautiful and more intense than I was expecting. Since my luggage had yet to arrive in Korea, I was totally unprepared as I trekked up and down four "mini" mountains in my Hurley slip-ons. The resulting pain, however, was totally worth it. The weather was perfect and the views were amazing. It's nice living in a city surrounded by so many mountains, I'm looking forward to many more hiking adventures throughout the year. 

The view of Daegu at the beginning of the hike.

Only in Korea will you find exercise equipment along a hiking trail.

One last hike shot.

Monday was my first day of teaching. After working all week and getting to know my school, I could not be happier. The students, director, and my fellow coworkers are all great. 

Till next time!