Rolling Out The Purple Carpet - Cheonjusan

 Azaleas popping out meant go time! Last year we hiked Cheonjusan about a week too late. This year we were ready. Chuey was as excited as I to get on the mountain.

The first photo spot is near the beginning, but the trails started steep and we felt it.

Chuey always want to be first.

After a bit of hiking, the azaleas began to appear, and they did not disappoint.

We made it, smack dab in the middle of the color.

The beautiful azaleas on Cheonjusan are the inspiration for the song Hometown Spring. A sign at the top explains that the song is 'a nursery rhyme that expresses the emotions of our people and awakens a clear and pure childhood as the best famous mountain of azaleas in the country.'

We ran into a guy on the way up the mountain that was picking up trash as he saw it. In our very broken Hangul we told him how kind he was for doing that. We were on the same pace as him, and he graciously kept taking our picture as we kept coming across the photo ops.

The top! 천주산 Cheonjusan means a pillar that supports the sky. The main peak sits at 638.8m and is called 앮용지봉 Yongjibong.

Trish, Chuey, Alyxis and Kate

You can see Changwon-si and Haman-gun below, depending on which direction you are facing.

I like the way down from big hikes, when you see people who are breathing heavy on their way up. It feels good knowing my hard part is over.

Nestled at the bottom of the mountain is Cheonjusanseokbulsa Temple.

That's a wrap on a successful azalea hike.

[April 15]

#16--Sabotaged!

Snorkeling with manta rays. 

That should have been Zeke on his 16th birthday.👆

That was not Zeke on his 16th birthday, because, Covid.

Zeke took it like a champ, because, Zeke. I did the best I could to make it a fun birthday. But when you had plans to snorkel with manta rays in Bali, every thing else falls short.

To start the day off, Chuey helped us wake him up.

I gave him 16 clues to help him find his gift.

In an effort to make the day special, we went to Namildae Beach. Our options were limited; in case we had Covid I wanted to be outside, away from people. Hiking is not on Zeke's radar as a fun birthday activity. Even though it was chilly, the beach seemed like our best option.

It was too cold for me and Daisy to go in the water but the boys braved it for a couple minutes.

Doing this zip line has been on our bucket list since we arrived. This is Zekers.

Next came the Daiser.

And last was me. Lijee was our photographer.

Another prezzie.

For the first time, Zeke needed help showing his age. Eli had to pitch in a finger to show the tens for sixteen. Babies don't keep.

Poor boy. Even his cake was a flop. It was supposed to be black forest cake like the Swiss Bakery Shop in Fort Worth. But it didn't turn out like that. 

He took it all in stride. I sure do love my Zekers.

[April 4]