This time of year in Korea, the leaves are changing colors, and they're most beautiful in the mountains.  There are segments about this natural show in the news, and my students and their families are making trips out during the weekend to see the foliage.  This past Friday, Ras and I went to Sorak-san to check out the leaves.  He didn't work that day, and I worked at 3:30 pm, as I usually do.  I didn't have time to do a proper hike, but at least wanted to see how far along the leaves had changed.  On an express bus, it took 45 minutes to get to Sokcho, then another half hour up the mountain because there was a lot of traffic on the single road.  We saw students there on field trips, and quite a few Chinese tourists... and ended up helping some that were trying to use 10,000 won to pay for their 750 won bus fare.

We took the 1.1km cable car (7000 won round trip), then walked another 10 minutes to the summit of Gwongeumseong.  The sign at the top of the peak reads like this:

A legend tells the story of Gwongeumseong.  Two strong men, named Mr. Gwon and Mr. Gim, built a castle overnight to fight off enemies when a war broke out.  The castle was used as a refuge in 1254 (the 41st year of King Gojong's reign in the Korean dynasty) when Mongol troops invaded.  At the centre of Bonghwadae (peak), at the altitude of 850m above sea level, there is a mountain castle which is about 2.1km long.  Gwongeumseong has a good command of the scenery including Baekdudaegan, East Sea, and Sokcho city.

5 minutes from the peak, we came upon some kind of traditional ceremony.  I'm not really sure what it was for, but there was a cow's head as part of an offering.  Overall, the leaves are about 50% changed.  Another week or week and a half, and I think it'll be really beautiful in Soraksan.

Sokcho, and beyond that, the East Sea	The big Buddha down below, and the trail that leads to heundeulbawi (Tottering Rock)
I'm on top of the world!	An 800 year old tree
	I love Japanese Maple, at least that's what these look like.  I took some home to press.