Jangsan | Millennial Abroad

This is a Busan Ex-Pat City Guide post. Check out the rest of my list here.

Dylan Teacher: “Good afternoon, readers!”

Readership: “Good afternoon, Dylan Teacher!”

Dylan Teacher: “Before we get started today, I have a very quick and relevant trivia question and the first student to answer will get a special star sticker!”

Readership: *deafening cheers*

Dylan Teacher: “Okay. What percentage of Korea is considered mountainous?”

Readership: *deafening silence*

Sorry, y’all. Sometimes I seriously can’t help but revert to instructional, cooing baby voiced Dylan Teacher during my time away from school. The answer to the above question is “Approximately 70% of South Korea is considered mountainous.” Why is this relevant though? It’s relevant because up until 3 and a half weeks ago, I hadn’t taken advantage of this fun little fact. This is even sadder when I reveal that I live literally 20 minutes away from a large mountain chain called Jangsan Mountain. Luckily, this issue was rectified after I suggested a brisk midday hike to my visiting friend, Matt.

Our morning started off slightly rough after a whirlwind night in KSU, but we nonetheless dragged ourselves out of bed, suited up, and headed out to be amazed with an elevated view of the city.

As we approached the mountain, we began to notice an increase in outdoor and mountain equipment stores; a brilliant strategy, in my opinion, to draw hikers in for some impulse buys. I know I was certainly tempted to enter a shop and buy some proper hiking pants after catching a glimpse of my reflection in the window (read: I was wearing a gray v-neck and red swimming trunks).

Eventually, we reached the base of the mountain, which was fairly crowded on this particular Saturday morning. Many hikers had opted to picnic on various sprawling rock piles and quietly socialize beside the serene waterfall near the beginning of the trail.

The hike itself is moderately difficult. There was fairly steep stretch toward the beginning of our ascent, but we were able to take a quick rest once the trail reached a plateau, housing a Korean exercise park. Korea is still pretty temperate for this Canadian boy, but many ajummas outfitted in full-on hiking garb approached Matt and I, making a shivering motion to indicate their disbelief at our minimalist outfits. I smiled and mimed that I was a “crajiee waygook” and went on my merry way.

Despite our t-shirts and shorts, all of the $3 glasses of Cass we had consumed the night before began seeping mercilessly from our pores. This is all to say it was a rather moist hike, made all the more conspicuous by the fact that KOREANS LITERALLY NEVER SWEAT. Matt and I would be huffing and puffing and dripping and dropping up a slight incline, only to be passed effortlessly by a middle-aged couple somehow NOT completely drenched in sweat. However, once I remembered my yoga practice (“find your breath”) the hike became much more bearable.

We reached a lookout after almost an hour of hiking. The view of Busan from Jangsan Mountain is spectacular, all white, concrete, airy, ethereal. I wish I had more photos to show but my iPhone died after Matt and I listened to “When I’m Gone” by Anna Kendrick on repeat for about 20 minutes. #SorryNotSorry

After leaving the lookout, we continued up the mountain. Oftentimes, there were no signs (even in Korean) to point us to any particular path, so Matt and I usually chose a trail at random and hoped for the best (luckily, Matt was raised as a feral child in British Columbia, so his sense of direction was quite honed). Every once in a while, we would stumble across a farmer’s tiny bungalow and we even discovered a simple, yet surprisingly bustling restaurant on our way down.

By far the most insane thing we stumbled upon were dozens of (pretty graphic) land mine warning signs. I was slightly unnerved to say the least, but I bellowed “YOLO” and continued on our journey. In addition to the charming signs, there are green tarps everywhere covering woodpiles, and barbed wire to add to the “beautiful scenery that may literally BLOW you away” ambiance.

Unsurprisingly, our descent down Jangsan Mountain was quite speedy. I made sure to keep my weight over my knees since I am the king of twisting my ankle. We stopped at a random little kiosk and enjoyed some nice green apple popsicles on the way down, although they had nothing on my beloved Melon Pops. Once we reached the base, we air pressurized our shoes because it’s South Korea so WHY THE HELL NOT.

Overall, the views of Busan from atop Jangsan Mountain are worth feeling like a fat, panting Dachshund. Just maybe without the Cass beer the night before…

Directions
To get to Jangsan Mountain, take Line 2 (green line) on the Busan Subway to Jangsan Station (stop 201) and go out exit 10. Walk straight for about 20 minutes until you approach the foot of the mountain. The hike is however long you make it, but budget for about 2.5 hours.

The beautiful scenery may literally BLOW you away

Always with the peace sign, like the good Asian biddy I am

Matt and his feminine shadow

Beautiful Busan

This is a Busan Ex-Pat City Guide post. Check out the rest of my list here.

If forced to compile a list of “The Best Things About Korea”, mine might look a little absurd. That’s because most of the best things here are a bizarre and fascinating variation of what is already familiar to life in Canada.

A perfect example of said “bizarre and fascinating variation” is the puppy cafe. Korea takes your daily caffeine habit to the next level, asking “why just drink your soy latte when you can drink your soy latte and THEN get your face licked by a bounding black lab?” An age old question, really.

A stroke of good fortune with my hagwon placed me in an apartment complex five minutes away from the Jangsan Puppy Cafe, otherwise known as Angel D.O.X. After 6 weeks in Busan, I figured it was time to take full advantage of my close proximity. Fuelled up from a Saturday morning of beach yoga and sundubu jigae, I headed to the Jangsan Puppy Cafe with Jess and Maddie, and our two friends, Maritza and Steph, who were visiting from Canada at the time.

The ground floor of Angel D.O.X. is a pet shop, equipped with everything a dog owner could possibly ever need and everything a prospective dog owner could ever want because THERE IS A GIANT GLASS WALL OF ADORABLE, TINY, YAWNING AND GENERALLY DERPY PUPPIES LINING THE FRONT OF THE STORE. After bowing to the cashier who graciously mopped our melted hearts off the floor, we ascended the flight of stairs on the left and were immediately greeted by a roaming black pup and an indifferent Siamese cat. Peering around the puppy gates, the five of us were thrilled to see a half dozen lapping dogs milling about the cafe’s open space. We knew we were among good, albeit furry, company.

Angel D.O.X. is a perfectly economical way to kill a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. The fare is 8,000 won (approximately $7.50CAD) to enter, and that includes a hot or cold drink of your choice, (they can make any espresso-based coffee, tea, etc.) an unlimited buffet of pastries and desserts, and the opportunity to play with approximately eight dogs. There is a sizable playpen where the dogs hang out with patrons (read: lovingly maul the patrons) and a half dozen picnic-style tables next to the large windows which offer a lot of natural light. There is even a sink to wash your hands in between playing with the dogs and eating your pastries, as well as a (likely suicidal) cat with dyed paws that struts around the cafe, hating life.

The best part about a visit to Angel D.O.X. is that there are no pesky poop bags, no groggy 3AM dog walks around your local eco-park, and no guilt for locking the poor canine in a cage when you just need a break after work. Puppy cafes are truly the best of both worlds. Note: I did, however, sit on the ground and slide my hand through a puddle of dog urine for a hot sec – truly the only downside of the entire visit. Accidents happen, people!

Beyond being cute and energetic and amazing, numerous studies have cited dogs as a form of stress relief. Dogs are basically furry angels, providing serotonin overdoses, one unhealthy world citizen at a time. Dogs do the body good, so what other reason do you need to walk, skip, or run down to your nearest puppy cafe?!

Directions
To get to the Jangsan Puppy Cafe take Line 2 (Green Line) on the Busan Subway to Jangsan Station (stop 201). Go out exit 3 and the cafe is directly across the street from Tous Les Jours.