Last weekend, we went with Will, JungMi, Cara, and Toby to hike Dobonsan, a mountain north of the city. Hiking is like a national sport here in Korea. When we got off of the train to walk to the trail head, we found ourselves in a swarm of people. Pretty much everyone, young and old, was decked out in the latest outdoor fashion. All sorts of hiking gear, from low to high grades of practicality and relevance, were able to be purchased from the many mountaineering shops that lined the road to the mountain. It was easy for us to feel inadequate and intimidated in our comparatively pedestrian getups, but we pressed on.
At one point on our hike, we came to a cliff and were able to see a Buddhist temple across the valley (above).
The scenery on the way to the top was gorgeous.
About halfway through the hike, we began to wish we had some high tech equipment of our own. For much of ascent we were scrambling up steep, smooth rocks, grasping for weeds, branches and tree trunks. At one point (below), we had to use some footholds chiseled into the rock and a rope to ascend a steep part of the trail.
We finally made it to the top, and rested for a while among the other hikers. Evidently, it is the tradition to carry exorbitant amounts of a type of rice wine called
Makoli up to the top of the mountain when you hike. There were a lot of people filling and emptying their tin camping cups. I worried that a few of them (including the two gentlemen below) might have trouble safely making the descent. The face of the man in the background pretty well sums up the mood at the top of Dobonsan (worth zooming in).
The trail down the mountain took us by a little temple under a cliff. We stopped for a while, taking shelter from the rain, and were given some bananas by the monk who lives there.
This week, I (Ryan) went to Beijing with a big group of students for the annual Beijing Model United Nations conference. It was a good trip. There were some unfortunate incidents along the way (four boys got into a little trouble, but nothing too serious), but for the most part, everyone had a great time and spirits were high. On Monday, the group (below, minus the aforementioned four) went to the Forbidden City.
It is really hard to describe the size of this place. It was built in 1406 and served as the imperial palace until the communist take-over.
At the back of the palace is a large garden filled with very old trees that have been cut and mended into strange and interesting shapes. There are also a lot of sculptures and formations in this area which are nothing more than lake stones that have been excavated and hauled from far away to be displayed in their original state. We were lucky that the day we visited the palace was warm and sunny. For most of the trip, it was overcast, and the air hung thickly between buildings like grey curtains. It was nice to be among trees and flowers.
Of course, it was pretty crowded, and the dominant fashion seemed to include matching baseball caps:
In this ancient city, it is easy to get lost in the history of the place. However, there are frequent reminders of the realities of a more present history.
Mao Zedong's image hangs over the entrance to the old imperial palace, and his body is embalmed and on display in a mausoleum just outside in Tienanmen Square:
The trip also provided a really good opportunity to hang out with students. There were eighteen on this trip, along with three teachers, including myself. One of my students never really felt comfortable breathing Chinese air, and rarely put down his book:
We also did a lot of shopping at the silk market and pearl market. For the most part, prices in these markets are about 90% higher than they actually should be, and you have to do a lot of haggling.
As is expected when dealing with teenagers (and myself) there was a lot of eating going on. I know I had duck on three different occasions, but for the most part I didn't ask what I was putting in my mouth. 
A lot of tea was consumed as well, which helped wash down all the oil. Notice the glossy shine on the dish below.
The conference itself went really well. We have a very bright group of students, and MUN provides a great opportunity for them to sharpen their communication skills and develop a diplomatic character.
After long days of debate and sight seeing, everyone was exhausted, and much of that fatigue has carried over into the rest of the week as we are getting back into the swing of things. The scene below is similar to my 6th period economics class.
