Gwanaksan Hike, January '05

A buddhist temple on top of a cliff, Mt. Gwanak, southern Seoul. I am about to celebrate the second anniversary of my love affair with the SHC, The Seoul Hiking Club (for more info and photos visit www.hikingkorea.com ). Korea is about 70% mountainous country and certainly a good place for people who like hiking. No doubt about it: one of the best aspects of my Korean sojourn is belonging to this club. We hike every Saturday, huffing and puffing on our way up the mountain and later relaxing during a very informal dinner downed with lakes of dong-dong-ju (rice wine that looks and tastes a lot like buttermilk). Good times!