Well, it was a little rainy here for Halloween, but that didn't stop the fun! The festivities started with a potluck soup dinner at a neighbors, before the official trick-or-treat hours. Rowan was aghast that there was trick or treating only from 5-8:30, but that's life on a military base!
Gryphon was a werewolf this year, but the mask smelled yucky so she rarely wore it. Yes, its a sad milestone: she was NOT Harry Potter!
Rowan was a southern belle. She had admired the costume last year but they didn't have her size, so this year we ordered it online. Of course, she had to have a wig.
Gryphon went trick or treating alone with her friend Sidney, which was another big milestone. Sniff, sniff, my baby is growing up so fast! Then they went to a Halloween party before coming back here for a sleepover and to divide up the loot.
Mark and I traded off passing out candy to the hundreds of kids who came around (seriously, more than I have seen anywhere, ever!!) and taking Rowan and various other little girls around the neighborhoods. Amazingly, Rowan decided she was done at around 7 and she and 2 friends came back and handed out candy. Yes, she is actually not feeling good, because that is really weird for her!
It was a good Halloween, one of the funnest parts was meeting so many Korean kids who were trick or treating for the first time. Its nice to live on post and still have that little slice of America, especially on holidays!
Happy Halloween!!
We got to Jaechon early, in order to do some sightseeing at an ancient resorvoir called Eurimji.
There was a small, sort of frighteningly dilapidated amusement park outside it called Eurimji Land, so of course we had to go. I veto'd anything larger than the mini-coaster.
All around the resorvoir were pagodas, and picnic areas, and restaurants. The pine trees here are some of the oldest in Korea.
Then we went to the meet, which was hopelessly behind schedule. Shin Soo Ji, Korea's Beijing Olympian was there, as were all the top level gymnasts, and basically every gymnast in the entire country. And they allllllllllllllll know Rowan. Its a lot of pressure for an 8 year old, when the entire arena stops what they are doing when the loudspeaker announces her name. Everyone is very nice and very complementary, but I know Rowan would much rather just blend in. That isn't going to happen, so I guess it's good they think she is doing a good job, and isn't terrible!
The meet didn't finish until 8 that night, so we drove to Tanyang and went immediately to find a place to stay. I wanted a traditional type place, but it was dark and raining so the best I could od was an ondol room in a regular hotel. The girls were tickled to sleep on the heated floor, though the next morning Rowan said it hurt her head.
The next morning we got up and drovei nto Tanyang proper, to find some breakfast. Tanyang is a little town, set next to the South Han River and nestled between mountains. I took this lady's picture, wish I could do that! We were about to give up finding anything "western", and go eat kalbi (ribs) for breakfast in despair, when we were saved by...
Paris Baguette!! Thank goodness for Paris Baguette. Coffee and rolls!! No kimchi!! The girls (and I) were very happy for that. Next trip we will bring breakfast foods with us, I had forgotten the "there is no breakfast" thing, and I just cannot overestimate how yucky stew and kimchi are at 9 am.
Fueled up with yummy goodness, we were able to get to our planned destination, Gosu cave. I bought one of those fabulous bandanna maps of the region outside, at a store selling mountain herbs and souvenirs. Gosu cave is really impressive- beautiful rock formations, we even saw a glowing worm type bug!
However, Rowan decided that she is not a fan of enclosed spaces. And then the metal pathway started climbing up a big shaft, and as it got higher, she got quieter. I knew she didn't like high places, and pretty soon, she was done and not going any higher! Gryphon climbed up herself but the cave continued a long, long ways that we didn't get to see. Hopefully we can go back with Mark sometime. 
Next we drove to the river, where these 3 beautiful rocks come out. It was very scenic, and hoem of 2 of the "8 Scenic wonders of Tanyang".
We didn't take a boat ride, but see the pagoda on top of the hill? We climbed up there for scenic view #2, a natural stone bridge, on the other side of that hill. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when the girls saw the looonngggg staircase up the hill.
The view was gorgeous from the top, though, so that helped. Tanyang is very rugged, and the weather was foggy and cloudy, and the streamers of clouds trailing over the mountains was just lovely.
Gryphon and I wanted San Jae Bibimbap, mountain vegetables mixed with rice (and spicy red pepper paste) for lunch. Rowan had eaten nothing but rice all weekend, because she isn't real into Korean food (or any food, for that matter). I was feeling sort of bad for her- all that excercise and no food! 
But hunger (or malnutrition) must have got the best of her, because she said the DwaengJongchigae (a not-spicy tofu and veggie stew that comes as a side dish) smelled good and actually ate some!! Gryphon told me to quickly get a photo of her eating *something* besides rice!! 
We bought bear food, because I recognized what animal it was for. I am not real up on my zoo animal names, and didn't want to feed the wrong food to the wrong animal! So since I knew bear for sure, bear it was.
The girls tossed it in to some extremely depressed looking Sun Bears, but they didn't pay it any attention. It was a very strange zoo!
After the zoo we wandered around a while, this is an arbor of gourds. I have seen grape arbors, but never gourd arbors!
Kids waded in the streams and fountains, while Mark and I had some snacks. All the snack stands sell beer here, which is another strange thing to me. Mothers sitting at the park with their kids, drinking beer. 
Gryphon's feet in the stream, it was a lovely not-too-hot day.
One of the things I wanted to find was the "barefoot park", where you take your shoes off, walk barefoot and feel different textures. I was imagining something tactile, sort of for kids, since its in the playground area. The sign says to do it for 10 minutes every day and its healthy for you.Cool, right?
Uhh...not so much. See those jagged rocks? The pointy wood? IT HURTS! I didn't last 2 minutes, let alone 10! The girls gamely took their shoes off to try, but put them right back on. Mark took one look and said no way. 
My feet, not really feeling any healthier, just very sore!
I snapped a photo of this guy, who is on a bench in the middle of the barefoot park.I think he has the right idea on how to use the park- leave your shoes on, and nap! Much healthier!
WHile Rowan practices in Ansan, the moms sit outside and eat and talk. And eat. And eat. I swear, I don't know how Koreans don't all weigh 900 pounds- they eat SO much!! My head hurts after practice- 5 hours of Korean chit chat is tough! At the last practice (there have only been 3) we started sewing sequins on leotards for the group, in addition to the eating and talking. I am not much of a sewer, but am getting the hang of it!
