So..... adventures.... I've had a few!! Im currently at Jeju Island which is at the south of Korea and seeing the sights. Waiting for the weather to improve so I could hike up Koreas highest mountain, I did some touristy stuff. I felt like Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider, as I navigated my way through some amazing lava tubes and then felt a little like Jack Nicholson in the Shining as I got very lost in a hedge maze. (Seriously folks.. mazes are really frusrating!!)
So finally the weather improves and I get to hike up Mt Hallan the next day. I awake BEFORE sunrise to catch the bus to the start of the hike and off I go. I should have sensed something bad was affoot as the guy at the ticket booth looked very concerned as he studied my hiking boots for a lengthy amount of time, but of course I headed off obstinately anyway...
The beginning of the hike (20k's in all people!!) is beautiful. The ground has a smattering of snow and the sun is rising and looking all pretty like through the trees. My mind wanders to bizarre thoughts such as 'Does Harrison Ford always save the world in films?' 'Did anyone else find Jeff Goldblum's bod quite amazing in the Fly?' and who thinks making films like 'Hypercube' is a good idea... (I have nodded off each night watching Korean cable, can you tell??) At one point however, my bowels decided it was time for them to move..... not good... I was in the middle of nowhere!! Luckily, like a mirage, toilets appeared out of nowhere!! I praised the lord, but admittedly, these toilets did resemble those in 'Trainspotting!!" But they were toilets nonetheless!! Anyway, the first 8 ks to the top is great, and Im lovin it all. However the last kilometre to the mountain crater is a bit of a killer and its where I realise my hiking boots are not actually made for trekking in the snow. I suddenly realise that the hard core Korean hikers surrounding me are actually very smart with their boot snow chains and spikes and their walking sticks. However, I do slip and slide my way to the top to see a snow filled volcano crater. Its kinda cool, but I think it looks better in the spring!!!
Well, then its time to head down, and good old me decides to take a different route on the way back. I begin my descent carefully, and realise in the icy snow, going down is going to be ten times harder than going up... About 10 minutes in and I take my first spill onto my ass. 10 minutes later, another spill. It seems this is going to be the theme for the next few hours. I find it weird that there are no other hikers on this route, and realise that there is probably a really good reason for that... But its too late to turn around now. Finally, I see another hiker ahead of me. I walk past her and then suddenly fall on my ass for the third time, but it doesnt stop there... oh no... I continue to slide down on my ass for a good 30m or so, trying to grab onto tree branches or anything else on the way, but to no avail. Finally I manage to dig my boots into the ground to stop myself. Why did that one have to happen while someone was watching? It was the kind of fall that could have ended up much worse, but also would have won 'Australias funniest home video' for sure.
I really expected the ice to begin to disappear eventually, but no, it didnt... 8 spills later and my patience was wearing thin. A trio of old Korean dudes found me very entertaining sliding down the mountain. Finally a younger guy passed me and stopped and offered me his spikes from his boots. I politely declined and he headed past me. However, a minute later he was waiting for me at the top of a particuarly steep bit, and took off the spikes of one of his shoes and insisted I take them, as he lead me down the mountain. When we stopped for a break with 3 ks to go, who was there, but the old trio from before who gave me oranges and chocolate. What legends.
Anyway, we made it to the bottom and life was almost good again. I headed back to my hostel and lay on my bed. I felt like death. Not only had my body taken a battering falling down so many times, but my stomach was not a happy camper. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening lying in bed, feeling like death as I battled a case of diarrhoea!!! This morning I awoke early to catch a ferry back to the mainland, only to find all ferries are cancelled due to bad weather. With less than a week until my flight, im hoping the weather improves soon!!! And yes, I still have diarrhoea!! Wish me well folks xx
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