You Know?

During the Fall of 2011, we took a tour to Seoraksan that was organized by the travel office on base.  We loaded up on buses and set off to find the beautiful fall foliage!  It was forecasted to be a ‘peak color’ weekend and, yes, Koreans forecast fall foliage as well as cherry blossoms.  We had a great trip.  What I really want to share with you is our adorable tour guide, Mr. Pak.

Mr. Pak worked for the USAF for 30 years, retired and now works part time being a tour guide for the travel office on base.  I found him to have a very endearing way of speaking and what I hope to share are some quotes, not exact, but close enough… you know?

“Please, remember my face.  There are so many of you and only one of me, it is hard for me to remember each of you.  You know?  And I know that we Korean people, well, we all look same, you know?  So, I will wear this hat, so you can know me.”  He said to us on the bus before started a hike.  And then he puts on the cheapest hat – a polyester  blue ball cap that has Osan ITT printed on it.  He smiles.

“Uuuuh, hello.  We have two buses on tour.  We are in first bus.  We stay in Seorak Tourist Hotel and other bus stay in other hotel.  Our hotel is older, but it is in park, you know?  Other bus stay at hotel not in park, but maybe a bit newer.  We are closer to park and I think is better, you know?”

“Korea is covered by mountains ____%.  We have a lot of mountains.  And so Koreans, they like to hike.  They like to hike b/c there are so many mountains, you know?  And Seorksan important mountain.”  What he failed to mention is that Koreans are serious about their hiking.  Adam and I called them Ninja Hikers because they have ALL the gear.  Hiking poles, boots, sleek hiking clothes, backpacks, hats and face masks.

“OK.  Now we go to Sokcho.  Great Buddhist temple there.  I am not Buddhist, you know?  I am a Christian.  But, this temple have great meaning.  It burn down twice.  And they rebuild this last time and cost 15 million dollars.  And that’s a lot of money. Uuuh, I think that Buddhists have a lot of money to rebuild great temple 2 times, you know?”

“Well, we visited Seorksan.  It is great national park with history, you know?  And you, we, we visit the park together and make the memories and the history together, you know?  I think that’s good, you know?”  Yes, actually I do : )