Microblog

All charged up at Seoul’s Incheon Airport, ready for the next adventure.

Took a creaky old commuter train to Baengmagoji, just south of the DMZ. Walked along the civilian control line, heeding landmine warnings.

Posted Five South Korean National Parks.

Paused at a temple on my way to the summit of Dobongsan Mountain, Bukhansan National Park. I rode the Seoul metro to get to the trailhead.

Ancient artifacts punctuated my hike of the Mount Namsan area of Gyeongju National Park. This pagoda is over 1,100 years old.

Walked past some of the hundreds of ancient burial mounds in Gyeongju.

Now in Gyeongju, South Korea, surrounded by Gyeongju National Park, an area of enormous historical significance.

Posted Descending Lifelines and Other Korean Oddities.

On a bus from Gwangju to Busan.

In Naejangsan National Park I had lovely ridge trails all to myself.

Four of my Purple Rain photos just published in: Vacation on Location: Explore the Sites Where Your Favorite Movies Were Filmed. My original blog post.

The hotel clerk asked where I was going next. I replied I did not know, which was true. Freedom! I decided at the train station.

I lost count of all the peaks I climbed as I hiked full across Wolchulsan National Park. This was my most arduous day on the trip, so far.

Now staying in Mokpo, at the end of the train line, southwest South Korea, near where the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea comingle.

Hiked Seoul’s city wall. An 11 mile wall once protected the city; 8 miles remain today. The views would have been wonderful on a clear day.

Pushed 7 for a Seoul-style haircut. My stylist, Luna, had an assistant: at one point they both wielded blow-dryers.