Mulloskeys Adventures Abroad

Why oh why did we not get bikes earlier?!?!  It was our friend Ben and his generous hand down of his bike to me that inspired us to get one for Erin as well. It just so happens we live next to Ansan’s largest park and bike path.

There is no better way to get around and see a city than by bike, with the possible exception of hovercraft. When you don’t have a car, it really can change everything. Bike owners can appreciate the unbridled freedom, the desire to explore and find hidden treasures all about town. First let’s take a look at the park perspective:

From the park, off a humble offshoot of a path, is an underpass. To our amazement and surprise, it opens up to the sea and adjacent wetlands and tidal mudflats. A light ocean breeze seemed to push us along as we marveled at the serene beauty and abundant sea birds that have been in our backyard this entire time. Stunning.

Bike riding isn’t just about parks and bike paths. The true afficianado enjoys the inner-city streets and alleys aswell. In Korea such a journey is about searching out new restuarants, markets, and pubs. Moreover, it’s about having no destination at all. its about always being ‘at’ where you are ‘going’ , already and not yet there simultaneously – such is the journey of life right? We were near the neighborhood where many migrant factory labourers lived. This was the perfect place to buy a large Tsingtao beer to cool off in the mid-day sun. We hit a bench in the nearby park and had no idea what was about to happen….

Korea is a magical place of random events and spectacles. You never know when one will happen – but something great will happen. Today it was a group of men drinking and eating across the park. One of them spoke very little English – the worst amount. He introduced himself as “Phil Kim” and started going on about the singer Kris Kritsofferson. Now when a drunk Korean man is talking to you… you are trapped. There is no way of politely leaving with his dignity intact… so you tough it out.  This time however, was rewarding beyond measure. Not because of the ice cream they bought us, but for the sweet serenade:

On our way out of the neighborhood we happened upon a drinking and driving checkpoint – like Canada’s R.I.D.E. program. The only difference was this was 1:0opm in the afternoon.. oh Korea, I love you.

With too much ambition we rode for almost 2 hours to the costal village of Oido, which you may recall from horrible food poising 3 years earlier. 

It was sunny and beautiful and we weren’t going to eat anything. What could go wrong? How about a flat tire. So what would you do? Cant pump it at gas station, there’s a hole in it. Can’t take a taxi with the bikes. Can’t take a bus with the bikes. There are no bike stores in town. And you are in a rural part of a foreign country with little to no English and your Korean is pretty bad. Let it sink in..

So what did we do? In a country where anything can be sold off the back of a truck anywhere, we happened (by sheer chance) to stumble upon a moblile bike repair guy parked at the side of the road. GOD I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!!  Here he is fixing my bike, putting in a new inner tube and sealing the leak – for $3.

I think it’s still worth talking about the amazing entrepreneurs that work their tail off from various trucks all around this country. You can’t go 5 mintues wanting or needing something without finding it. It is such a uniquely Korean experience that I truly take for granted. Let’s say you have been though the long end of the meadowlands trail. You want a place to sit, a snack and perhaps a cold one? But there is no commercial area or restaurant nearby – no problem. There is a truck for that.

Now it’s tomato and weird yellow melon season. You want fresh from the farmers’ market – not that unripe stuff that goes to the big grocery stores. And you don’t want to walk more than 100m. There’s a truck for that too!

But what about my vegetables you say? And what’s that? You have a fear of trucks since one ran over your cat?..  Leave it to the ajummas to sit on the sidewalk doling out everything and anything green or with a bulb on it.

As one gallivants around town, in and out of public spaces and parks, you are sure to encounter countless pieces of public art. Some are more obscure than others – but I am no art critic.

What would bikes be if we didn’t use them at night too? The park is abandoned on Sunday evenings and the perfect place to go with a mat and a bottle of bubbly, and listen to the frogs croak. It just so happens to be a great place to take some photos. The takeaway message here (teachers in Korea and everyone everywhere) – GET BIKES!

And the frogs sing us out…