Cheonan visit: Vegetarian buffet and scenic view

On Sunday, June 10 (the day after hiking Dobongsan for Jonathan's birthday), we took the bus to Cheonan, the city we lived and taught in right after we arrived in Korea back in November and December. Before we left Korea we wanted to visit our friend, Fabrice, who was the only other teacher at our institute while we were there. We took a taxi to Fabrice's apartment and then spent some time visiting with him and his friend Ho Jin. Then another friend, Daniel, one of my former English students, picked us up and took us out for lunch at a completely vegetarian buffet - Dul An Chae - a favourite of ours from when we lived in Cheonan. The meal was, as always, delicious!

On our way to our next stop of the day Daniel stopped the car beneath a tall bridge going over the road and we climbed up the stairs to see the view from the top. Cheonan, as I recalled it from the cold wintry days we spent there, wasn't a very beautiful place. But the amazing verdant scene that met my eyes from the top of the bridge made me realize how very wrong I had been. On the way to our final destination, I sat with my face pressed up against the car window drinking in the gorgeous foliage-covered mountains and the brilliant-green rice paddies with the startlingly white heron/egret birds sauntering through them. It was truly one of the most beautiful sights I witnessed during my entire year in Korea, and I was so amazed at the huge transformation of the area from the brown of winter. Later, on the bus ride home, I was kicking myself for not taking pictures during that drive or having Jonathan take some, but sometimes you just need to take in the beauty around you and not worry about having to take pictures to show other people. I can assure you that that drive is forever ingrained in my memory, as firm as any picture could be.

Some of the delectable spread at the vegetarian buffet

Jonathan at the dessert table

Fabrice, Daniel and Ho Jin with their food

Walking bridge connecting two mountains

Ho Jin was quite afraid of the height, but he conquered his fear and walked to the other side and back

Connecting the trails

Hazy view from the top

Ali had to document these well-being stretches posted along the trail

Ho Jin happy to be back across the bridge

Friends chattering while descending the stairs

Watch for our coming Cheonan post about The Independence Hall of Korea, the place we went to next.