Yaaaas, that's right. That's me on the top of a mountain. This month I went hiking to the peak of the Bukhansan which is a mountain IN Seoul. Das rite, my city has mountains!

So hiking is this thing that I've been doing ever since I came to Korea. I do it on a daily basis to get to school, I did it in Jeju and Busan, however I didn't get to chance to hike to the top of an actual mountain. A lot of people decide to go hiking outside of Seoul. Since I'm already not that of an outdoor person, or alteast that's how I perceive myself, I refuse to travel several hours outside of Seoul to climb a dang mountain if my own beautiful cities has a few as well. This is supposed to be the highest peak in Seoul.

When I researched on which mountain to climb, internet said that this mountain has different paths which variate from easy to difficult. All lies. We can pretty much call everything difficult. When we came there we just decided to follow the majority of the crowd. I am telling you, it was steep, it was legitemately dangerous (as in, "I wonder how many people died at this exact spot" every 10 m) and slippery. 

But then there's this. You climb (literally used hands and feet) to get to a rest point or path, to find out that there are CHILDREN walking up and down this mountain with their folks without a care in the world making selfies as they go. It makes you realize a few things. These kids are raised to be superheroes,  I am a wuss for struggling this bad and no way I am allowed to give up because that would mean that 5 year olds beat me in hiking.

I mentioned "How many people died at this exact spot", right? I know that some spots were dangerous. Like if it was more slippery or I would make a wrong move I would fall and there would be no gate nor net to catch me. That's also the reason why you're so dang proud when you make it to the top though. And also it gives an amazingly real dimension to the hike.

The struggle was so worth it.. The view just makes everything perfect. This was defenitely a movie/hans zimmer moment to be grateful for life and for being able to be there. You do feel on top of the world!

Das my city!

The way back was the worst though. Everything seemed more slippery. However there were two grandpa's who were willing to guide us on which way to get back down. And I mean they didn't just point the way, they actually showed us the way. They even took another road that was a little bit easier because our hike gear was limiting us. They were faster, but at every rest point, we found them waiting for us. It was truly refreshing to meet such kind people.

Hiking will defenitely be on my list for further trips in the future. I know that I have never really been the type that was willing to go on a hike (sorry, dad), but this 7 hour hike definitely changed everything.

Nina