Dobongsan hiking

Half dreaming and half listening to my lazy morning playlist.

I have been hiking last two weeks so be prepared to go into the wild today! What I learned from my first hike is the less you bring wit yourself the better and never underestimate ajummas (middle age women).

Swedish and Czech guy in Japan

The typical Q&A when we met someone.

So what is your story?

Well this tall hairy guy standing next to me is from Sweden and I am asian looking guy from Czech republic and we are both exchange students in Seoul, South Korea.

Hiking in Seoul

Weather that weekend was beautiful so it was the right time for exploring something some new place. What about going hiking? Yes! But where? Fortunately Seoul is sorrounded by mountains. I decided to get to the highest peak called Beakunde in the Bukhansan national park. Some of my friend had already been there so I was warned not to underestimate the mountain. It is really tough Thang he said however I felt quite confident. So my solo adventure began by a breakfast at Paris Baguette (the chain french bakery) and then it took only 2 hours :-D to get to the feet of mountain.

After arriving to basecamp it was so easy to find the way up cause hiking is very very popular among koreans specifically older people so I just followed the most crowded stream. Btw if Koreans are into some hobby they are super serious about it. They were fully professionally equipped to survive a blizzard :D comparing to my outfit - jogging shoes, suite pants and fancy backpack. Enough words here are some photos :-) and also a video!

Korean family, cooking and soccer

Ohh its already one month being in Korea! Time is sooooo fast especially here where everyday is full of fun and undiscovered things. Its been only one month but I can definitely say its super awesome here. A lot happend since last post however today Im gonna share a great experience with you.

First trip -> Busan

Everyone who visit Korea usually come to the seacoast city on the east named Busan eventually so we had not even warmed up our seats at classes and on the sunday morning we were sitting on the bus excited about seeing a proper real sea. Koreans celebreated a Chuseok, something similiar to a thanks giving day, so there was no school form monday to wednesday. All students left to their home to spend it with their family. We got there via a bus because it was cheaper then a train but it took about 6 hours to get to the center from Incheon. Yey our first trip!

Living & Studying => First week

I live in dormitory called Biryongjae where about other 1000 students live. There are 4 of us who share the 24m2 room . I share it with one swedish hipster and two very kind koreans. The whole university - all the buildings like library etc are formed into one huge complex. So there are over 10 buildings. I really like the campus its soooo beatiful when the sun shows up I wish you could see it. There is even an airplane! In the morning there is a broadcast with some chill out music and this make my day even better but it is in korean so I just translate it to myself as a motivating speech like “Enjoy this beatiful day” or “You look amazing today”.

First day first impression South Korea

At the dorm listening to Korean RnB. The Korean know how to dress well expecially young generation. The number of people speaking english here appears to be nearly 0. When I asked someone today they whether didnt know anything or answered with only few basic words. In contrast english level of my two korean roommates is really really good. So maybe it wont be such as bad. Anyway when the train (subway) from Incheon airport got out of a tunnel up to the ground, my jaw instantly dropped because the view of everything alongside rails was so different comparing to the europe and to be honest I did not expect that at all. It wasnt particulary more beatiful or something but it attracted me because my eyes havent seen it before. Altough The subway net is really huge It was not expecially hard to get to the right place. So I eventually arrived to the INHA University completly exhausted after tough walking tour with the heavy bag and a lot of improvisation due I got lost because I wanted to get there in my own without a taxi. That was pretty much all about the first day in Korea.