Hello, Folks!
I sliced my Korea adventure story with several other posts, but
now I’m back to continue it. What happened on that morning of the trip? Read
on if you wish to find out.
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| Welcome to Nami Island! |
As I mentioned in part one of this story, I wanted our trip
to Nami Island to be relaxing, fun, memorable, and yes, even perfect. I
expected all these things and more because how could one go wrong with a visit
to an island? Islands served as gateways to the simpler, more chill life. I
dreamed of silence, sunshine on my face, and isolation with my close friend and
companions. It was like I ordered the universe to deliver all these conditions
because I deserved them after the long, tiring, crowded week I had endured.
That Sunday at Nami Island was meant to wash away the ache, temper
frustrations, and massage out all the kinks and knots of stress matted at the
base of my neck. A one-day cure all.
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| It gets better. |
HOWEVER, the trip
to Nami Island was an adventure all in itself. It started at the station where
I arrived first, and later Rebecca and her students joined me. We waited for
our train, but the time for its arrival passed with no sign of our grand
chariot. So, despite my efforts to get to the station on time, we were
behind schedule. No matter, I thought. These things happen and it was
still early in the day. With the help of our adept smart phones, we discovered
the Seoul Subway system decided of all days to finalize its newly revised
route!
An hour later we finally caught a train with no available
seats because old folk in very expensive mountain gear packed our cars and all
the remaining cars for that matter to the point of suffocation. Apparently I
didn’t get the memo that this morning was part of a peak mountain-hiking
season, but I had thought the elderly here hiked no what matter the season. It
was different today because excitement laced their conversations and their eyes
crinkled with expectation for a wonderful day, no different from mine earlier.
I sucked it up because I dealt with this crowdedness on a regular basis in
Seoul so this situation should not have come as a surprise. It was the island
that was supposed to be deserted not the public transit system.
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| A tree of wishes? |
After another hour of standing in the train, we reached the
station where we would take the bus to the ferry. Now, this bus. THIS BUS. The driver
of this small bus deserved an award for: 1.) Violating the sacred personal
space of individuals by allowed an incomprehensible amount of people on board
2.) Ignoring the vehicle's capacity for so many passengers and 3.) Driving at
ridiculous speeds around the bend so that all passengers rub and fall on top of
each other like lovers in some crazy orgy scene. I counted the seconds in my head as my arm
ached from tightly gripping a handle above a seated passenger that, despite my
small frame, I was sure I would crush from the sheer force of the sharp turns the bus
made. And let’s not forget those potholes that the driver gravitated toward. I
smelled the sweat of my neighbors’ sweat and rubbed skin with more people ever
in my life in one location and time.
The ride continued for twenty minutes, and when I jumped off
the bus, I told myself it certainly could not get worse. HAHAHAHAHAHA! How naïve
I was back then. Rebecca and eyes exchanged looks of horror when we spotted the
ferry. IT. WAS. FULL.
So, what did we do? Dum dum dum. Stay tuned for the next
part!
Ever had a similar situation when going on a trop? Would love
to hear it!
Thanks for reading,
Sammy :)
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| What is that you ask? A tree of Soju bottles. -_- |
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