7 April 2023
Famous pollution view
Apsan observation deck
One of the most popular places to go in Daegu is Apsan. This is my third time. Last time it was under re-construction and the actual viewing deck was off limits. This meant that today I simply had no choice but to go back and see if it was finished. It was.
There are many ways to turn this small adventure into more of a proper hiking day, last time I walked a loop around the back of the mountain and up over the back way and then down the main path. Today I just went for a leisurely stroll with a thousand locals up the main path, which is a steep road for much of it, then high quality steps.
There are a few temples, and these are a source of nuisance, as mini vans keep driving dangerously up the steep road brushing against all the people walking while blowing their horn non stop and with monks leaning out the window yelling at everyone. Then at the temple they have quiet please we are praying signs everywhere. It made me want to go and buy a portable horn and wander into the temple itself and just blow it for no reason. Repeatedly. And then hurl some insults at the entitled monks.
For the first few photos today, I accidentally had my camera set to -1.7ev. Which means they were badly underexposed. I adjusted them in lightroom but they kind of look a bit weird and contrasty as a result. This is the street outside my hotel at dawn. No one really gets up early on Sunday in Korea.
The only cafe open early was the fancy starbucks pictured yesterday. So that is where I went, I had most of the place to myself.
There are multiple buildings and gardens that are all part of the starbucks.
The road up to Apsan goes past the street full of 'eat every part of a pig' restaurants. Interestingly, when COVID burst onto the scene in Korea in a huge way, it happened first in Daegu, and it was linked to this specific street.
Time to start the climb up to the top of Apsan. The lower parts have a stream running along side the path.
It is very steep. This is where you might get run over by a monk driving erratically, reading one of his brand new iphones while wearing very expensive sunglasses.
Here is the temple. There is probably a really good view off to the right, but they do not allow you to go over there. Maybe the wall is falling down.
I climbed up behind the temple to get a clear shot of the nazi symbol.
Here is a shot of the staircase to the top of Apsan. It is a bit greener here than the other hikes I have been on, a lot more pine trees.
A rare flat bit of the trail to the top.
There is a cable car. OBVIOUSLY I DID NOT TAKE IT. It is hard to get a clear shot of it though, this is the best I could do.
Now for the viewing area. This was off limits last time. Now it has a rabbit. There is an auto camera station thing that encourages people to time their leap into the air. This seems like a bad idea for the longevity of the wooden decking. Also the blue poles are where a rock sticks up through the decking. I suspect the safety poles were not part of the original design and they wish they built the decking 1 foot higher.
Now for 3 shots of the view from here, of the terrible pollution. First up, the left view.
The centre view. My hotel is in there somewhere.
And the right view.
Time to head back down. Here is a neatly framed shot of the golf course that I believe is the US Marine Corp camp. They do not have bases, they have camps.
Once I got to the bottom I walked around the bottom of the hill for a while to find the cable car station. I think this is it, if you squint you can see the observation deck at the top.
PEAK blossoms.
The whole area near my hotel is underground shopping streets. This one is 2 levels, periodically there is an atrium like this with robot art.
Back on the surface now, and the streets are lined with tulips.
Today was a rest day, so I was back in town in time for lunch. On hiking days I just have muesli bars, but not today, today I got to have a beef poke bowl. That's all for now.