The Tides of Gyeokpo Beach

Gyeokpo Beach

Being not-quite-ready to return back from holidays when we did. Two friends and I decided to run off to the beach for the day on our first weekend back. We decided to head up to the Buan (부안) area of Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla Province) and check out the beaches around there. We ended up at Gyeokpo (격포) Beach, about a half an hour local bus ride south of Buan (note, we realised once there that there is actually a direct bus from Gyeokpo to Gwangju!). With nearly no-English language information available on Gyeokpo on the net, all we knew was that is boasted a famous (in Korea at least) harbour and some cliffs that someone had once said were worth visiting.

Looking northward along the beach.

The tide was out when we arrived and the beach itself seemed to be pretty cute, if not all that large. Expensive sea food restaurants (we got some cheaper seafood closer to the road) nudge right onto the sand, and the area was filled with families frolicking in the surf and floating about in their rented yellow inner tubes. One curious thing we noticed was that everyone seemed to have left their stuff pretty high up on the beach but, beyond deciding to do the same, we thought nothing of it. We also saw people off to the south end of the beach walking along exposed rocks at the base of the 'cliffs' where a pontoon serving something had also been tied. Being eager to get into the water, we decided we'd leave what we figured would merely be tide pools for later exploration and jumped right in - not even bothering to take any pictures (something I would regret later!).

While the weather was beautiful and warm, the wind was extremely strong (and I mean extremely strong, I saw more than one uprooted umbrella go by) and whipped up some great surf for playing in. I love bobbing in waves!! In fact, we were having so much fun bobbing around that we didn't notice at first quite how much the tide had risen. By the time we headed back inland, the tide had risen half way up the beach, the rocks were no longer visible and the pontoon was taking off. It was also at this point that a local asked us if we'd managed to wander around the point because it was a 'very famous sight seeing spot in Korea'. We said that sadly we hadn't, and asked when low tide might come again. He said it was still rising.

The tide coming further in. Compare this to the first picture and bear in mind that that one wasn't even taken at low tide!

and it comes higher... I'm starting to figure out why people left their things so high on the beach!

When we'd first entered the water around noon, you could walk out  nearly to the distance of the point with your head remaining above water the whole time. By the time we left at 4:30, the water was up to my chin only 3m out from the restaurant. There hadn't even been water there when we arrived!

Two ajummas play in the surf at the base of one of the restaurants.

I could've sworn this was a beach only hours ago!

We did eventually make it around the point (coming at it from the landward side). This is what we found:

Gyeokpo Harbour. I'd've loved to have seen the difference between high and low tides here.

What we ended up missing:

Notice all of the little rock statues. At low tide you can walk right out across the water and go inside them.

Town!

Cheondeungsan Climbing Expedition

Sorry, this is going to be a mostly photographic post as I am running off to China & environs for holiday and have no time to type! More explanations will come eventually, I promise

I finally managed to join the climbers from Gwangju's Extreme Climbing Gym on one of their overnights this past weekend for some camping, multi-pitch climbing and rapelling - such a blast! I hitched a ride in the last car headed toward the crag and, so, didn't even arrive until after 11pm. No worries though, the tents had already been set up and dinner was on the grill - the only problem was the pitch black, somewhat precarious river crossing. Happy to say I didn't fall in; though some of my fellow climbers did :). Even that wasn't such a problem as the water was so delightful that many of us chose to go for a 1am swim in preparation for our 5am wakeup *grins* - I'm convinced Koreans don't sleep. The climbing itself was great, we took a much easier route than some of the others (who you can see pictured climbing on what look like sheer cliffs in a number of my photos) on acount of my being not-anywhere-near-as-mind-blowingly-amazing as they are. My wrists were acting up (I sprained both - yes, I am that talented - a few weeks ago) and by the last pitch I had no grip left to climb with - leaving me stranded but meters from the top :(. All in good fun though - it put me ahead for the rapel down :D.

Spot the climbers?

Gangcheonsan - A Teacher Wellness Hike

This post could equally have been titled "The Day Upon Which Ally Discovered why Koreans do not believe in Outdoor Pools".

Last Monday marked the official end to the school term and the start of summer vacation. (Well, maybe not 'vacation' per say... Korean students don't really seem to get those, most of the students and teachers are still at school attending or teaching specialized classes. Thus, I've spent the mornings since at school running an Olympic-themed English summer camp for some of my students  (and being pelted with goo-balls, water balloons and any number of other things as part of the daily activities :D). It's been ridiculously fun and I've loved having the chance to wear shorts to work given the end of monsoon season and the extremely hot weather we've been having lately!). 

In celebration of the official end of term, all of the teachers were whisked off 1.5hrs northeast to the valley of Gangcheonsan (강천산) where we were fed an absolutely delicious lunch on the banks of the river. 

The river view.

A supremely yummy 'Chicken in Lacquer Stew'.

Our restaurant.

After eating our fill and honouring the teachers who will not be returning next term, it was time to head off on a hike. Possibly one of my favourite things about my school is the fact that my principal loves hiking.
Gangcheonsan itself offers a number of easy strolls along the valley bottom accompanied by stunningly picturesque waterfalls and a wonderfully lazy river perfect for swimming in - check out the pictures below.

While all of these things were wonderful, they were not my favourite part of the park. That honour goes to the fabulous suspension bridge seen below. Though there wasn't technically enough time to hike up to it, cross, and make it back to the bus for the designated meet up time. I had by that point, found my self hiking with the principal, vice principal and a number of the senior teachers - all of whom wished to climb and cross it as much as I did. And, hey, you can't be late if you're with the head of the school ;).

From the top, we spotted a lovely turquoise pool about half way up one side of the mountain and, of course, what else was there to do after a sweaty hike but check it out ;).

Meanwhile, back at the river, the fish are being fed a feast!

True Korean Wildlife!!!