Chusok - Korean Thanksgiving

I finally learned how to read Korean over the last few weeks. It is actually not that hard, but you do need to try and I guess up to this point I didn't even try. For the first few days after I learned to read, whenever I walked some where I would take twice as long as usual because I would have to read every sign. That novelty has worn off now but the next step I guess will be to learn what the words actually mean. Right now, I can read but it's like Italian or Spanish- just because you can read it, doesn't mean you know what the words mean. (picture above left: The changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace)

I had most of last week off for Korean Thanksgiving which is called Chusok. Apparently this is a big time to travel to other countries and I tried last minute to get a trip to Thailand but it was not to be so I was left here in Korea.

On Wednesday I went to Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is the palace grounds for the Joseon Dynasty which ruled Korea for about 500 years until Japan took over the country in 1910. I made it just in time to catch the changing of the guard. It was a little slow so I made my way inside the grounds and toured around a bit. Pretty amazing seeing all of the old buildings and especially the paintings inside the building-amazing to think how they painted all of that stuff by hand. (picture above right: The Kings Throne at Gyeongbokgung Palace. The mats to left and right are where the workers would kneel and take notes of what the King had said. The paintings in this room were all done by hand, but you can't really appreciate this fully just from a picture)

On Thursday, I headed to Incheon, which is on the west coast and caught a ferry to Deukjeukdo which is a quiet little island about an hour away. It was nice to be away from all those people. The Koreans on the island were so friendly too. I think they were mostly farmers and then catered to the tourist business as well. Probably only about 200-300 people on the island from my guess. Originally, I was only planning to be there for a day but I found out the joys of being on an island include the fact that you can't just catch a cab back to your house. I ended up missing the last bus back to the ferry dock and had to get a hotel room. Not that I really minded. The beach, the mountains and the views were all spectacular. (picture above right: the beach on Deukjeukdo. Most Koreans beaches, including Daechon, do not have sand like this one but rather are more like mud)

The next day, was the biggest day of Chusok but I was resolved not to get trapped on this island for another day (I was supposed to meet some friends in Seoul.) I waited for the bus but it didn't appear to be coming so I made up my mind to just walk to Jinri pier. As I started walking, I noticed a sign that said it was only 8km so that was not too bad, but mostly up and down hills. On the walk there however a man stopped in his truck and I understood enough Korean to know he was headed to Jinri pier too so I hopped in. On the way he offered me some of the grapes he had in his lunch and then when we got there, he gave me the whole bunch. Considering how much fruit costs here, I thought this was really nice (plus everything was closed for the holiday so I was hungry). Some of the Koreans are so friendly! I ended up catching the ferry back and making it back before my friends showed up to my apartment so it all worked out well. (picture above left: a view from the top of Bijobong, the islands highest peak, looking down to the ocean and townsite below)