Saturday morning, the girls and I packed up the van and headed to Jaechon, in the mid-eastern part of the country, for a gymnastics meet. Jaechon is around 2 hours out of Seoul, through winding roads and mountains. 
It is a small town, very rural, with golden rice fields and apple orchards. The girls loved getting out of the city, and seeing the terraced tiny villages and traditional homes.
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.
Eurimji's main attraction was the waterfall, both a man-made one (seen here behind the girls) and a natural one, that was huge and flowed down a gorge behind the resorvoir.
All around the resorvoir were pagodas, and picnic areas, and restaurants. The pine trees here are some of the oldest in Korea.
We also solved the mystery of what the strange looking orange fruits are we see here. There are some growing on trees near our house, but they don't seem edible. Turns out, you just suck the juice out, not really eat it. Its called "kam" in Korean, in english...totally clueless. Never seen one. They are good though!
Then we went to Taechon College for a practice before the meet the next day, and out to dinner with the other gymnasts and moms that our coach teaches. In many ways, it is like being in the US and going to a meet in another state for the weekend, which we did many times. But it is also very, very different! For one thing, after dinner, the kids went alone back to the hotel (due to lower crime and a willingness to watch out for other people's kids, Korean children have a lot more freedom!) and the other 2 moms and I stayed at the restaurant and had beer! I don't remember that ever happening in the US. :) The hotel was filled with little rhythmic girls, just like in the US, but they were all Korean and the hotel lacked a pool but had house slippers available in your room.
Just like in the US, we all went to eat a good breakfast before going to the meet. Only, Koreans don't have "breakfast" food. Its just food. Winner of The Weekend's Most Unpleasant Experience Award goes to...
...kimchi for breakfast. You all know I love kimchi, and Korean food. I would eat it every day, and often do. But for BREAKFAST?! Even I can't get behind that. Rowan ate a few bites of rice, but even though she loves rice couldn't get behind that for breakfast, either. Only Gryphon really chowed down on her stew, rice and kimchi! Did I mention it was 9 am?! The restaurant was full of gymnasts from all over, it was cute- so like the meets in the US, yet so different!
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!
I did Rowan's makeup, but it was unsatisfactory, and Kim SungSaengNim trowled on a whole bunch more. There was a huge gap between the time she went on for hoop, and freehands, and her coach was judging so another woman was coaching her in the back. In the weekend's most surreal moment, Shin Soo Ji, Korea's #2 gymnast Lee Kang Hwa, and Korea's #1 junior (and the hands-down most gorgeous gymnast I ever saw, we call her Beautiful Feet Girl) were all gathered around giving her pointers as she practiced. That certainly doesn't happen for most Grade 2 competitors! (I have no idea how Korean school works, but 2001 is School Year 2 at these meets. I had to explain that Rowan is not extra-smart or anything, just that all 8 year olds would be in 3rd grade in the US!)
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.
There was also one of those traditional Korean swings where you stand up and get really high in the area. Here I am (not so high) on it!
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!! 
After lunch it was back to the big city. I tokk a photo of the rest area- Korea has great rest stops on the major highways. Tons of food, a park, great big clean bathrooms. The funny thing is, nothign is very far away! In the US, we sometimes drove to Syracuse or Indiana for meets, almost 12 hours away. Here, even Pusan at the southern tip of the country is only 6-8 hours. But even if you don't *need* to rest much, the rest areas are still pretty cool!
Plus, you can get walnut cakes, which actually have nothing to do with walnuts except the shape. They are doughy fried walnut shaped things with purple bean paste inside. I am not describing them well- they are very tasty!!
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.Eurimji's main attraction was the waterfall, both a man-made one (seen here behind the girls) and a natural one, that was huge and flowed down a gorge behind the resorvoir.
All around the resorvoir were pagodas, and picnic areas, and restaurants. The pine trees here are some of the oldest in Korea.We also solved the mystery of what the strange looking orange fruits are we see here. There are some growing on trees near our house, but they don't seem edible. Turns out, you just suck the juice out, not really eat it. Its called "kam" in Korean, in english...totally clueless. Never seen one. They are good though!
Then we went to Taechon College for a practice before the meet the next day, and out to dinner with the other gymnasts and moms that our coach teaches. In many ways, it is like being in the US and going to a meet in another state for the weekend, which we did many times. But it is also very, very different! For one thing, after dinner, the kids went alone back to the hotel (due to lower crime and a willingness to watch out for other people's kids, Korean children have a lot more freedom!) and the other 2 moms and I stayed at the restaurant and had beer! I don't remember that ever happening in the US. :) The hotel was filled with little rhythmic girls, just like in the US, but they were all Korean and the hotel lacked a pool but had house slippers available in your room.Just like in the US, we all went to eat a good breakfast before going to the meet. Only, Koreans don't have "breakfast" food. Its just food. Winner of The Weekend's Most Unpleasant Experience Award goes to...
...kimchi for breakfast. You all know I love kimchi, and Korean food. I would eat it every day, and often do. But for BREAKFAST?! Even I can't get behind that. Rowan ate a few bites of rice, but even though she loves rice couldn't get behind that for breakfast, either. Only Gryphon really chowed down on her stew, rice and kimchi! Did I mention it was 9 am?! The restaurant was full of gymnasts from all over, it was cute- so like the meets in the US, yet so different!
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!
I did Rowan's makeup, but it was unsatisfactory, and Kim SungSaengNim trowled on a whole bunch more. There was a huge gap between the time she went on for hoop, and freehands, and her coach was judging so another woman was coaching her in the back. In the weekend's most surreal moment, Shin Soo Ji, Korea's #2 gymnast Lee Kang Hwa, and Korea's #1 junior (and the hands-down most gorgeous gymnast I ever saw, we call her Beautiful Feet Girl) were all gathered around giving her pointers as she practiced. That certainly doesn't happen for most Grade 2 competitors! (I have no idea how Korean school works, but 2001 is School Year 2 at these meets. I had to explain that Rowan is not extra-smart or anything, just that all 8 year olds would be in 3rd grade in the US!)
Rowan had a hiccup in hoop, but still got second. Her freehands routine was the most incredible routine I ever saw her do- just perfect. She even got an almost perfect score- 2/10th of a point from the maximum! That was probably excessive, but it was really an amazing routine. So she was happy, and her coach was sort of happy (RG coaches are never happy) and that was good.
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.There was also one of those traditional Korean swings where you stand up and get really high in the area. Here I am (not so high) on it!
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!! After lunch it was back to the big city. I tokk a photo of the rest area- Korea has great rest stops on the major highways. Tons of food, a park, great big clean bathrooms. The funny thing is, nothign is very far away! In the US, we sometimes drove to Syracuse or Indiana for meets, almost 12 hours away. Here, even Pusan at the southern tip of the country is only 6-8 hours. But even if you don't *need* to rest much, the rest areas are still pretty cool!
Plus, you can get walnut cakes, which actually have nothing to do with walnuts except the shape. They are doughy fried walnut shaped things with purple bean paste inside. I am not describing them well- they are very tasty!!
And that's the play-by-play of our weekend getaway, complete with photos!
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!
Being monsoon season still, it POURED. But most of the races were done by then, and since they are already wet, they swim anyway as long as there is no thunder or lightning. You just get used to being totally soaked to the skin during monsoon season, whether in the pool or not!