Five alarms later, my body gave in. With steady steps, I go through the morning routine: brush the teeth, wash the face, use the Lou. Time check–7:35AM, just enough to change and pack. In hindsight, the bag became unnecessary but no harm in being slightly cautious. Take a swig of OJ and I’m out. I promised Patty I would meet her at Edae Station at 7:45AM–I left my dorm at 7:47AM. Fortunate for us, we made it to the rendezvous point with 10 minutes to spare thanks to a lightly occupied subway, but the driver taking us to 단양 (Danyang) did not spare them. The group made quick introductions and went off for the three hour drive to the county home to under 1 million South Koreans.
The car ride went as most long ones go: a few moments of conversation, unintentional naps that leave your neck sore, the acrid smell of gas when a car gets a full tank. MeetUp is pretty popular site in Korea, both for expats and locals alike. Event offerings range from club nights to camping trips to even speed dating events and week-long trips to nearby countries. Needless to say, it is a great resource into exploring parts of Korea. Patty and I took advantage of this by signing up for a paragliding and caving trip in Danyang.
In our group, we met Koreans and people studying and working in Korea for the meantime. Conversations ranged from hometown peculiarities and fascinations of Korea to tattoos and the meaning of the word “collective”. Patty being an anthropology major has a pretty in-depth view on the term. After a pretty long discussion over the idea of a family in America in comparison to an East Asian household and a South Asian household, we found ourselves at a fork in the rode for a break. In comparison to rest stops along the East Coast, I would say the Korean version has a lot more offerings if you’re looking for fresh foods as people from nearby towns bring their crops by to sell along with the groceries and deli products you can find next to actual restaurants.
But the snacking slowly devolved to napping until we found ourselves at the paragliding company. It lay right by the 남한강 (Namhan River). Paraman was the organizer of the event and owner of the place. His English was pretty good and disposition was very cheery. Most of the group was a little worried on how safe the actual activity was but he gave us quick instructions and told us it would be enjoyable. After an incredible bumpy uphill drive to the jump point and rather speedy prep to jump, things seemed to say otherwise. It took about 7 minutes to get geared up and have the chute laid out. In comparison, the glide back down by the river lasted about 6 minutes. Talk about a speedy adventure. In all honesty, after experiencing skydiving, all I can say is that paragliding is kind of a walk in the park. At first, it seemed a little more questionable as we would have to run down the side of the cliff with its rapidly steeping decline. After 4 steps, the chute already pulled up and by my 7th step, I realize we were already in the air, so I just sat back and relaxed the incredibly serene view and extremely relaxing descent. Honestly, I could have meditated up there.
Nearly everyone in the group was rather surprised at how relaxing it was and were pretty eager to try it again. The company got videos ready for those who requested them and allowed us to snack. Before we went to go caving, Paraman took us to his new studio apartment to enjoy 수박 (watermelon). Praise the lord. The lack of fruit in Korea makes me feel blessed every time I can get my hands on some. It was very juicy and quite seedy. Paraman unfortunately had many groups signed up that day so he could not go caving with us but he instructed one of the Koreans in our group for the remainder of the day’s activities.
Not too long after, we arrived at 고수동굴 (Gosu Cave). Dated to be over 450 million years old, Gosu Cave earned the nickname the “underground palace”. Inside, it takes seconds to understand why. Visitors are restricted to only exploring 1.7km of the natural beauty but in the allowed paths you can find a number of wonders. The Earth had an eye for interior design as you find intricate cervices, beautifully formed pools, and rock formations that resemble animals. Some ceilings have designs that seem like tessellations and other regions have beautiful wavy and spirally formations. Kids have the advantage when it comes to exploring for when they have to go through the narrower, tighter paths, they have to do little to get through.
Following the exploration, hunger urged us to eat. We gave in and sat down for a meal full of dozens of 반찬 (side dishes), bibimbaps, dduk, and jigae. We also tried some 더덕술 (alcohol made from a root similar to ginseng). It was similar to rice wine in quality but the taste had a slight ginger ale-esque aftertaste. All in all the meal was quite filling.
Our last stop was to 도담삼봉 (Dodamsambong). It is probably the number one stop in Danyang. Three rocks stand beautifully in the very middle of the Namhan River here. Legend has it the represent three people that used to live in the town. A couple deep in love had failed to have a child and so they brought in mistress to bear the husband’s child. Following the child’s birth, animosity grew between the wife and mistress. The heavens had turned them all to stone with the largest rock being in the center with an ancient pavilion on its side. To the right stands the smaller rock that was the mistress and to the left, a bit away from the other two, stands the smallest rock representing the wife seemingly turned away in shame of the husband. The setting was serene and if you go up the trail on the mountain right by, you can find yourself looking at a rock-formed broken arch acting as a gateway into the river.
The long car ride back seemed a bit like the first with its little conversations and day reflections. It was a pleasant trip and I’m now inclined to try some more of these MeetUps. Stoked for more adventures!
