My weekend in Gwangju

I liked Gwangju (광주) and I would visit again when I have the chance. The city is refreshingly different from the parts of Jeju that I have seen and it was a lot of fun exploring the city's downtown core.

Not really knowing much about Gwangju, my friend Nick and I decided to couchsurf for the weekend. This was my second time and Nick's first.  Couchsurfing is a community of travellers who either open their homes to guests or who travel as guests when visiting other countries. It is more than seeing a country but about living with people who call that place home, even if only for a while.

This weekend I stayed with a very nice American named Henry. He and his girlfriend Mina are really nice people and so helpful right from the start. As I was heading to Henry's he redirected me and even called to speak to the taxi driver so that I could join him and a friend at a small restaurant on a mountainside over looking the city. Talk about a welcoming view to the city. Pictures will come, I promise! It's just a little hard to do all from my phone on the go. :P

Nick arrived Saturday morning and we went out exploring, stumbling across an orchestra concert next to a folk museum and then later a fashion show in the middle of the street. Henry and his girlfriend showed us a delicious restaurant and we enjoyed good food and company before coming back to the apartement to play Dominion. A new game for me, but one that I like and want to play again.

Yesterday Nick and I went to Mudeugsan (무등산) which is more like a bunch of mountain peaks all clustered together.  We hiked 10k and made it to the top of 3 of the peaks. It was a cloudy day, but the view was still spectacular. A misty haze hung out across the mountain range and low over Gwangju. Hauntingly beautiful for the day after all Hallow's Eve. If it weren't for the cold wind I would have wanted to linger along the top longer.

It was fun, too because we ran across 4 indonesians who asked us to be in a picture with them. I only regret not asking them to send me the picture. If anyone comes across my photo with the Indonesian flag on the internet, please let me know! Haha. Oh well...

As I write this, I am preparing to fly to the next destination of my holiday which is Seoul.  I'm pretty pumped and can't wait to see where the adventure goes next!

Love and Hugs.