Exploring the caves of Korea

A ghost town this time of year, summer brings loads of tourists which I am sure changes the entire feel of the town.We were the only tourists in town it seemed.

We started the morning a deserted coffee shop, the kind you see in movies such as "Jeepers Creepers", when soon enough the main characters find themselves in the midst of outrunning some crazed monster, "jeepers creepers where'd you get those peepers" playing in the background, I had an erie feeling that soon enough we would find ourselves running from the crazy Koreans 50 Meters under the earth as they ran at us screaming "WAYGOOK"! Thankfully, no such thing happened and it was all my dramatic imagination playing games with me.

Gosudongol, a cave filled with Stalactites and over 130 creatures sits nestled in the small town of Danyang.

As I entered the cave, my first cave experience, I realized that despite my years of denial, I have a sense of claustrophobia. Had we visited the cave in the peak of tourist season I don't know if I would have made it through unscathed.

We ventured through the cave which was surprisingly very hot, I was expecting a frigid cold, colder than it was outside, but it was sweltering in parts. Long staircases, which I am happy to say I didn't not fall down once, and amazing rock formations. They have assigned some of these formations clever names such as bacon, love rock and flower. It truly is amazing to see mother natures creations for your own eyes instead of in a text book, it makes you more aware of the power of the land.

We exited the cave and stopped for coffee before venturing through the shopping area outside the cave. The oddest souvenirs line the street, Army Dolls next to silk worms, pieces of the cave next to Scary Movie masks...the randomness of Korea.

We made our way back to the bus station, enjoyed a cup of coffee in a deserted coffee shop and then it was off to Guinsa.