The trek up the Volcano ... Mount Hallasan 1950 metres

I have to admit I did not think Suri would climb up the mountain, but she did and all credit to her - well done it was quite an achievement.

But what a day.........

We contacted the taxi driver who brought us to the hotel, we were expecting to get a deal, another driver turned up and wanted 100,000 Won for the day, far too much and more than the Lonely Planet Guide suggests, We were however helped out by Kim the General Manager of the Hotel, we had been talking to him earlier - always a good thing to do.

Anyway he suggested that we get a taxi to our base camp for 20,000 Won, then he would pick us up later in the afternoon, I was amazed at such gratitude and friendlyness.

Any way off we went and arrived at the ticket office and paid our entry fee only to discover the start was a mile or so up the road and the taxi driver should have taken us there. No probs - we got another taxi for 5,000 Won, then we were ready to go.

First we got some extra provisions - it was hot and sunny so extra water was essential.

Then away we go up the hill - lots of steps for Suri to count, she lost count at about 400, that was about the time we met an American couple on their way down saying it got a lot steeper further up so they had turned around. I decided not to tell this to Suri - a good idea me thinks, and on we went.

Yep it got steeper, there were a lot of people climbing up the mountain - all ages - children upwards.

After about 2.5 hours we got to this sort of plateau, at the end of this path we stopped and had some lunch. When we were finished Suri said right how much further to go - or something like that - ah bless her. I said we are at the top and we are going back down now, her face lit up I can tell you.

On this walk it is not possible to get right to the top, we were pretty close, but still 250 metres below the rim of the old volcanoe.

Going down was much easier, though still very difficult. The views were beautiful, and the leaves on the trees and bushes and shrubs were all changing colour - just magical.

When we got back to "base camp" there was no phone - so no way of contacting Kim, Suri spoke to a kind person who phoned him for us - he was waiting for us at the ticket office and would be with us in a few minutes, - wow what a relief - and to see him was just great, after all we were 45 minutes from town.

Kim spoke only a little English, he took us on the way back to a road called "mysterious road" where the cars - in neutral - go up the hill on their own - amazing and water also flows up the hill. I can not explain it but it seemed to be the case - probably a trick of the eyes and mind.

Back at the hotel - Kim would not take any money - just amazing.

So I have to admit we were pretty knackered, so after a kip and a shower we had a very nice fish meal in a local restaurant, and we are now planning the next few days.

Another adventerous day - what will tomorrow bring - I wonder, the trip so far has been just great, and we have been lucky on quite a few occasions, including today - as Zebedee said .... time for bed.