Samcheok shenanigans

Last weekend my friend K and I decided to take a trip to Samcheok: a little town on Korea's BEAUTIFUL east coast. Having decided to wing it, I don't think either of us new quite what to expect. We weren't disappointed however! The trip was unforgettable, on oh, so many levels...

Leaving on the Friday evening, we both jumped on the express bus from Seoul and sat crammed on the back seats for the four-hour arduous journey to the coast. On alighting from the bus, we hurriedly looked for a taxi to take us to the motel. We found one, jumped in and directed the driver: 'Moon Motel kajuseyo.' The driver looked perplexed. Mumbling in Korean and gesticulating that we were talking nothing but jibberish, he pointed to the door. Luckily, a lovely ajuma saved the day and directed the driver to our motel. Hurrah for nice randomers!!

On Saturday we rose early, left the hotel and looked for a place to eat breakfast. It was too early. We forgot in our anticipation that this is Korea...the land that doesn't get out of bed until 10am. So, grabbing some snacks, we looked for the bus to Hwanseon Cave, one of the biggest limestone caves in Asia. And they weren't kidding. This thing is a BEAST!

The ride through the countryside to the cave alone is spectacular. The leaves are turning, and the pine trees lining the mountains make the scenery unforgettable; the east coast really is a little bit of Korean heaven. The trek to the cave is nightmarishly steep, but the views make it well worth it. I was in awe. But I was soon to be blown away even more by the magically eery underworld that is, Hwaseon Cave.

Hwanseongul is enormous. Indeed, it could be home to a small town, and maybe once was -in ye olden times! The cave has many chambers, and the chasms between them are linked by tunnel-of-love type bridges lit up by neons. So many cave formations can be seen, and the 'moonscape' terrain of the cave is purely cool. I AM IN LOVE WITH THAT PLACE. Sadly though, I didn't see a bat:(

Leaving the cave, we realised it was raining, pretty bad. But did it dishearten us. Nay, did it heck as like? We were off to our next adventure: Haesindang, also affectionately known as 'Penis Park'. I kid you not. In short, a young virgin drowned in the sea years ago and to appease her, the locals (fishermen who weren't getting a good catch presumably because the girl's ghost was ticked) started erecting (pun not intended) penis sculptures around the coastline. Today, the park is home to hundred of penis-shaped totems. Genius.

This place is truly one of a kind. This is most definitely a good thing. K and I turned all shades of red while watching the oldies 'dick about' (that pun was intended, and in the UK it is not offensive to use that term). There is only so much you can take of that place and the hormonal men in it, even though it is highly amusing.

Having felt we had, had enough of PP, K and I ventured down to the beach. Unfortunately, it was a pebble beach, but the sea was crystal clear and so refreshing. The rugged cliffs and islets are so pretty and that was a perfect end to the day, or it would have been if we hadn't have been offended by a hypocritical jerk entering the park as we were leaving...