Monday June 23rd
Our guide told us we would be doing a moderate hike to the top of Mt. Seorak. He told us that a five year old completed the hike so we had no excuses. He lied.
It was an amazing hike though. There were beautiful rock formations, views, and streams. 80% was moderate. 20% was a challenge- the last 20%. Half way through there was a beautiful Buddhist temple with a monk chanting inside. We kept climbing higher and higher. Paved path, changed to a stone path, changed to rock, and then into endless steep stairways to the top. I needed the physical exercise. I think my sweat was pure soju. I thought I was going to die. I kept seeing Korean people, long sleeves, hats and pants. I was in shorts and a tank top and was burning up.
We all made it to the top with the exception of our guides and a group member who was feeling under the weather. At the top, there was a man with a tiny stand serving iced tea and coffee. It was crazy to imagine he hiked that peak everyday.
When we got to the top, it was pure white. We were inside of a cloud. I heard the views on a clear day are amazing. Blerg. I thought maybe I had passed out on the way up and this was heaven- except there were squirrels and a man selling souvenirs and the girl who talks a lot was still there...so I was pretty sure it was just cloudy.
Squirrels look different. The other squirrel had tufts of hair sticking out from the top of his ears. We tried to feed them coco puffs from our hands. It didn't work...
This was a little beetle I met on my way down. I love the way they look.
After our group photo, because-in Korea, there was always a group photo, I booked it down the mountain solo and was met by our guide who bought me ice cream. I teased him about being a liar and he laughed like a mischevious 8 year old boy who pulled off a great trick. My legs were jello.
It was a quiet bus ride that day to Gyeongju. We all passed out. We were exhausted.
Day 10
Tuesday June 24th
Tuesday morning we were met by Mr. Min. He was 55 years old and he looked like 40. He spoke English and toured us around Gyeongju. It was lovely to see the pride he had in his city and how happy he was to share its history with us
. 
First we went to Seokgulam Grotto, a buddhist temple constructed in 751. It was under construction so it didn't look quite like it usually did but it was beautiful.
This was fountain you could drink from. If you drink a cup, you'll become a year younger.
I filled my water bottle.
We had lunch at a Chinese Restaurant. We had one of my favorite dishes- jang jang myun, fermented black bean noodles and cham pong, a seafood noodle soup.
After lunch, we went to Bulguksa, another temple. It was really beautiful. Mr. Min shared a lot of information with us about Buddhism in Korea.
There are two types of pagodas, Mr. Min explained, female and male. You can tell a female pagoda from a male pagoda because "the female pagoda is very complicated." He meant in design but I'm sure he meant in a greater sense as well.
I loved the design of the temples.
The top is what is used to ring the bell, its supposed to signify a whale. There is a dragon at the top of Korean Buddhist bells. There is a story about the whale and the dragon but I'm not sure of the lore.
After that, we did a rapid tour through Gyeongju Museum but we were all still exhausted from the mountain hike. Mr. Min cut the tour short and we went back to the hotel.
A few girls and I went to the sauna at the hotel.There was a steam room, a dry sauna, a hot tub, a very hot tub, and a cold plunge. It was really nice to relax and have some quiet time.
That night I had a really important conversation with a group member. The kind of talk you can only have with another adoptee. It meant a lot Martine. <3 <3 <3
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