To begin with, I feel like I should respond to the question I was asked most about my Donnaeko pictures; Yes, the water was cold.  But I'd say it was somewhere in the low 60's.  It wasn't enough to take your breath away, but it was not pleasant to be in for anymore than a minute or so. 

Since then, I have moved into my wonderful new apartment.  It's not the big one I was promised, but it's worlds better than my previous officetel.  I have a nice balcony looking out west over Seogwipo.  If I look left I see Halla-san and right, the harbor/ocean.  The whole place just feels so much brighter and open.  My stress levels have definitely gone down since moving here to Hyorim Sky.  I even got a bunch of pictures hung up on the walls, bought and orchid and built (well Paul did the work) a small cabinet for the corner of the room. 

Lauran is here visiting right now, so that's probably the biggest news.  We've been out trying to explore the island as much as possible, but it seems like she's getting a little bit of the Jeju cold.  Since I went to Donnaeko, I've been to Yeongmori Cliffs/Canyons which we pretty impressive.  It's basically this big rocky point that sticks out in front of Sanbang-san and has been erroded away over the years creating really intricate rock formations.  It was crowded when we went, and we dealt with (Lauran moreso than me) all the high school-aged Koreans saying hello, and asking to take pictures with us.  After Yeongmori, we headed over to Sonaksan which is the southern-most point on the island.  I went there a couple weeks ago with Bree and Rob, but this time, I brought my head lamp and got to look around inside one of the Japanese-built caves a little farther.  Lauran and I also hiked around the top of the entire crater, and enjoyed a pajang (pancake with green onions, octopus and some other things in it) with some beer while looking out over the ocean.  On the drive home, we stopped and checked out some of the old Japanese Hangars from their occupation of the island.  There was even a little memorial beside a massacre/mass-grave site that we would have never known about had we not taken some random turns. 

We've spent some time down at the little pool next to Oedolgae cliffs, and I did a little cliff jumping there.  It was even warm enough last weekend that Meaghan, Paul and Lauran and I went to the beach beside the Hyatt and swam a little bit.  Yesterday we went through the 'Longest Lava Tube in the World', where be basically got rained on the entire time.  It was cool to say we'd been in a lava tube, but it was pretty freaking cold and went in there. 

As for today, it's time to get the day started, but I hope this little blog and photo-dump was enough to keep my Mt. Airy AARP fan club content for a little while!  I promise to try and write a little more often.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon.  A bunch of us had been out for Ken's birthday till the wee hours of the morning.  Some of the party-goers probably watched the sunrise before going to bed.  Not Ken.  And definitely not me.  I hate wasting a day due to hangovers.  Plus Sunday was supposed to be my moving day.  Meaghan, Paul and I were sitting in the 'Orange Restaurant' having a typical $5 lunch, and talking about what time they'd help me move.  I said f-it.  It's sunny and warm, lets go explore.  And away we went. 

Our journey this gorgeous weekend found as exploring Donnaeko Falls.   It's a little system of 2-3 decent sized falls, and a few really tiny ones; all with crystal blue water.  Water you can see down 30 feet in.  When we arrived at Donnaeko (15 minutes from home) there was nary a soul there.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  Since the temperature was relatively nice, and the water looked great (and there was no surf anywhere...), Paul and I decided to jump in.  The cliff height was somewhere in the 15-20 foot range, depending on your pride.  And the water was probably below 60, based on the shrinkage of my testicles. 

Jumping in was a litle nerve-wracking, but well worth it.  And the water was in fact cold, but we warmed up in the sun and by climing on rocks.  I eventually climbed my way North on the riverbed and found another pool, although not as deep, and a non-running fall.  Even farther North was a dried up waterfall with a nice little cave behind it. 

The entire area was awe-inspiring and overall relaxing beyond belief.  Aparently we have until June to enjoy it, because that's when Korean's start to swim.  Well, I'll definitely be there a few more times before then.

I forgot to add previously about how blown away I was by my recent mail deliveries.  Brandy has now sent me 2 packages with 2 awesome t-shirts.  I have already had numerous comments on each, and 'Muggs not Drugs' is something that I have heard off and on for years, and is now documented in cotton and felt.  Ridiculously awesome.  Brandy, I can't thank you enough for the packages you've sent.  You keep sending sweet t-shirts, I'll keep taking pictures in cool places wearing them.  And once I figure out the postal situation here, I'll mail you stuff in return.  THANKS AGAIN!!!

It's been awhile since I last posted, but that doesn't mean it's because nothing has been happening.  Since I acquired my lovely blue van (name suggestions still being accepted) I've been exploring as much as possible.  We've spent a couple days in the SW side of the island, trying to find some reclusive surf spots, exploring volcanic beaches with small caves.  We've spent a day on the Eastern side of the island checking out scenic cliffs overlooking the blue water and exploring a lagoon and the water-smoothed canyon that leads to it.  It's all just been so incredible.  The natural beauty of this island is stunning, and I don't think I'll ever become tired of it. 

When I explored the beach near Sanbang-san, I was totally enthralled by the different forms of basalt, the little caves and the brown sand.  It was one of the coolest beaches I've ever been to (minus the factory down the shore) and I can't wait to surf there and have bonfires.  In one area, the lava had cooled very slowly, forming these polygonal chairs that almost looked manufactured.  I tried climbing around on some of the cliffs, but it was a little nerve-racking having the sharp and porous rock breaking off in my hand.  There is potential for good bouldering, but I'll have to go back a few times to figure it out. 

On the East side, we made it all the way out to Pyoseon beach, which was probably the longest beach I have seen.  It seemed like there was a quarter mile of sand before you even made it to the water.  No need for beach-renourishment there.  Unfortunately the day was a little over cast, so we couldn't appreciate it as much as we would have had there been sunny skies, but it was still nice to see.  At the canyon, Paul, Cliffton and I spent about 45 minutes throwing rocks at other rocks.  Pretty mature for a bunch of 20-somethings, right?  The way the rock in the canyon flowed looked just like a stone river.  You could see exactly how the river leading from Halla-san had shaped this channel all the way down to the lagoon/inlet.  There'd be some great sloper bouldering there, but the rock is as smooth as glass. 

In other news, I'm FINALLY moving to a new apartment.  I'm getting out of this depressing, tiny, squid-smelling apartment.  I'm moving to Hyorim Sky/Hyolim Sky (I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce it, you know Koreans at that whole L/R pickle).  It has been a 3 month battle in which I finally had to lay out an ultimatum with the directors before I coud get into a new place.  Unfortunately I had been promised one of the beautiful. large apartments on the 7th floor, only to have it mysteriously sold out from under us 9 days before I was supposed to move in.  Of course with my luck, it also happened to be the last of the large apartments available, so instead I'll be moving to one of the medium sized apartments on the 9th floor.  I'm fine with it.  I have some friends on that level, and I think I have a corner apartment, so it'll be pretty nice.  But really, anything is better than this place. 

Tonight I'm going out for Ken's birthday (age withheld) to get some spicy Galbi and then throw some darts.  Should be a good time, although my body still doesn't like to sit on the floor, cross-legged. 

 I think I'm moving tomorrow, so I should have some pics of the new place and the view up by my Monday night.

PS  There's a picture of 'Dexter Rock' on the Pics page.  You'll know it when you see it.