Gone Bananas!
South Korea Stage 11 – Thu 12th Nov 2015 – Bugok to Changwon (47 Km)
Weather: 12⁰C min – 19⁰C max, fine but cloudy
Accommodation: U-Motel, Changwon
“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle I no longer despair for the future of the human race” ~ H.G. Wells
Naturally my cheap motel “The Hilton” did not include breakfast, so I decided to call in at the township of Bugok on the way and get something there. Well you wouldn’t believe it but the only shop open at 8:30 am was a fruit shop, so I bought the smallest hand of bananas they had … 14 bananas for a total of W3,500 (about A$4). So I ate five of them straight away and called it breakfast. A coffee would have been good, but I had to wait until I passed a 7-11 shop about 20 Km further on to get a machine espresso. I ate another three bananas and called it morning tea. If the cricketer Peter Siddle can live on a diet of bananas so can I!
The 47 Km journey from Bugok to Changwon was a breeze today compared to the marathon yesterday. The trip was fairly uneventful (mainly more persimmons and onions), with limited photo opportunities. However, my morbid curiosity did get the better of me when I saw a sign pointing to the tombs of Princess Jeongseon, the fourth daughter of King Taejong (of the Josean Dynasty), and her husband Nam Hwi. After a detour of 300 m I arrived at the tombs to find them roped off, so I was unable to get any closer than the foot of the hill where they are entombed.
It was pleasant enough riding along the country roads in the sunshine, listening to music on my iPod Touch and munching a couple of Dr You energy bars. There was no riding on the Nakdonggang Bicycle Path today, but I did pass over the Nakdonggang River and could see the path below me.
Things got a lot more interesting when I reached the outskirts of Changwon, the 10 Km route into the city centre took me along some beautiful tree-lined avenues and through a delightful park where there were interesting conifer trees with well-manicured, mushroom shaped foliage. I couldn’t help notice how fast the autumn trees are losing their leaves; they will be completely bare in a week or two. The gentle breeze made the air thick with dancing leaves that looked like snowflakes floating to the ground.
The city of Changwon where I am staying tonight is the capital city of Gyeongsangnam-do province. Changwon is the eighth most populated city in South Korea, with an established population of more than a million people. Although it is known as a heavy industrial city the city centre is very alive and attractive, with lots of good eating places and coffee shops. It is very much alive at night and has more neon than I have ever seen. There must be a party going on in the street right now because I can hear lots of music from my 7th floor motel room. I’m off to check it out now and then get something to eat from one of the many fine eating places nearby.
I was with you every word and phrase. Great story and the way you bring it alive. Thank you.
Thanks Bernard.That is praise indeed coming from somebody as eloquent as you 🙂
Hi kev Have you turned into a banana as yet? Lucky the iron in the bananas will put your iron level up.
You are luck to find the hotel being so cold and wet oh ! not good, you could get seriously ill my dear.
Anyway you have survive the cold and continue to go bananas!! just as well you eat the fruit!!. Safe ride.
call this day your Peter Siddle stage