Hiking Day.

I'm on vacation for the next two weeks and decided to make the most of my time in Korea. So, today was spent checking another thing off my list of things to do in Korea.

I've looked at this one Buddhist pagoda that sits atop a minor mountain (Mt. Hwajang) in Eonyang almost every day for the past five months. Today seemed like a good day for a small hiking excursion up the mountain. After a little convincing, my friends Jon and Rathi agreed to join me. Remember, when in Korea, do as Koreans do (they love mountain hiking). Rathi and I met up with Jon after his winter camp classes and headed toward the mountain. The entrance to the path sits directly behind Eonyang's Catholic church. After a small detour up a nearly vertical and virtually nonexistent path, we found the Buddhist temple and pagoda. The views of Eonyang and the surrounding mountains from the top were well worth the physical exertion.

The clearly marked path we could have taken...

... the path we took instead.

The view of Eonyang (far west Ulsan) from the top of Mt. Hwajang.
That empty space in the middle is the site of that ancient fortress.
My apartment is just to the left of that.

A Buddhist pagoda at the top of Mt. Hwajang.

It took Jon forever to convince me to stand up on this rock.
It was well worth overcoming my fear of heights. Thanks, Jon!

Jon was encouraging me to stand on the rock at the edge of the cliff.

My besties. I couldn't survive in Korea without them. :)

Playing around on the outdoor workout equipment.

Standing inside the colorful pagoda at the top of Mt. Hwajang in Eonyang.

Standing inside the colorful pagoda at the top of Mt. Hwajang in Eonyang.