Weekend Spent on a Farm

Brooke and I where invited to spend a weekend at the dance teacher’s mothers home near Yesan. The dance teacher and her husband picked us up at 10:00 am. Our first stop was Sudeoksa Temple. There we met with her sister and brother in law. Outside the temple were many shops and restaurants. We had lunch at one of the restaurants, which consisted on bibimbap, soup, and some kind of root. I also got to try Makgeolli, which is a traditional sweet rice wine.

After lunch we walked through the temple and a museum. Then we began our hike, which was the real reason we where there. This was the first hike I have been on since I’ve been in Korea. The trail was well defined and most of the path was paved in stone steps and was the step master from hell! In addition to the steps, it was one of the hottest days I have experience in Korea. For half of the hike we followed a stream and most of the hike was covered with shade from the trees. We hiked for what seemed forever and got pretty far up, even though it was only a half of mile that we traveled. The reason we got so much distance is that we went straight up. The trails back at home are longer but there are switch backs to get us to the top.

Coming down was scary because the steps where to small for my whole foot to fit on the step and some of the stones where loose.

After our hike we went stopped to have ice tea. This tea house was on the edge of the mountain and had a wonderful view. Then we went another museum by the temple, which had artwork on display.

We then went to the “farm”. The farm was not really a farm, it was a house by a lake and they had a huge garden on the side. The place was beautiful and had a calming feeling. When we got there the dance teacher’s whole family was there! Uncles, cousins, and siblings, but soon after everyone left except her sister who when went hiking with, her mother and brother all who live at the house. We where shown to our rooms and we took a well deserved shower. We then got ready for the BBQ party as the dance teacher called it. We got to help out by picking sesame leaves from the garden. Beef and pork was barbequed and we had fresh kimchi with our meal. The cabbage from the kimchi was crunchy and the kimchi flavor was not as potent as the kimchi I have had. 

picking sesame leaves from the garden 

Family Dinner 

After dinner we played a stick game and I won all three rounds! We then watched TV with the family and when to bed by 11:00 pm. The hike must have worned us out because we where the first to go to bead aka party poopers! The next morning we had breakfast, which consisted of soup, kimchi, rice, eggplant, fried squash. A little bit after breakfast we had some fresh watermelon. By 11:00 am we where getting ready to leave, but before we left we where given a watermelon soup. The soup was given in small glass bowls and had cubed watermelon, ice cubes, and water that was slightly sweeten by some liquid and powdered stuff I could see by the pot the soup came out of. The dance teacher’s mother gave me steamed corn and a box of cookies for the road before I left.

This experience left me feeling relaxed and calm it was such a nice break from Pyeongteak. I am so fortunate to have taken part in such a special experience of being taken in by a Korean family who was so warm and kind.