11-4

In Daejeon, I have the opportunity of living in a bustling city, bursting with every characteristic of an urban jungle. But just on the outskirts of the city, surrounding this noisy, crowded place is a world that is completely the opposite. Daejeon, like much of Korea, is surrounded by mountains. On the weekends, many people head toward the vast network of hiking trails to escape city life, even if it's just for a few hours. This is exactly what I did on Saturday.

The base of Gyejoksan, one of the dozen or so peaks surrounding Daejeon, is about a ten minute walk from my apartment. I followed the sidewalks until they became dirt trails, and found myself in an entirely new environment. Instead of restaurants and shops blasting pop music, I was surrounded by leafy green meadows and farms. Climbing toward the top, I passed a plethora of co-op farms and local produce stands. The air was clean, the sound was peaceful, and the beauty was serene.

Gyejoksan is not only a natural beauty, but an important site in the history of Daejeon. On the top of this mountain are the reconstructed remnants of an ancient fortress. This mountain keep was used throughout the history of this region as a defense against invaders from other parts of Korea, China and Japan. When I reached the top I found an historical play taking place, with actors dressed in traditional Korean clothes, demonstrating how life was a few hundred years ago in this same place.

My hike to the top of Gyejoksan was a nice escape from city life, and even gave me a slice of Korean history. The Coloradan in me looks forward to exploring more of Korea's beautiful mountains in the upcoming months.