Seoul Sister: You have to have Faith to meet Faith.

"You are never alone or helpless, the force that guides the stars is with you too." 

Shrii Shrii Anandamurti

Whilst traveling there were many times where I found myself, lost, alone and not sure.  Luckily though the Universe never let me down, whenever I thought I was lost I was found. I met interesting and amazing people who let me into their world.  People were kind to me in a ways I least expected.

Clearly I'm not the only one who gets lost from time to time if they have these on the floor at the subway station.

Asking around in my circle of friends, for contacts in South Korea I was introduced to the nicest couple; they took care of me and showed me a good time.  They introduced me to Corona Margarita’s, just what a girl on holiday needs.

Expect the unexpected, like speaking Zulu in South Korea! before I left South Africa I didn’t think I would bump into any Zulu speaking South Africans in Korea.  Boy was I close minded about that,  I met some lovely folks who offered me a roof over my head at any time and they showed me around Seoul.  We are all connected.

Faith and I met at Seoul Station we had missed the last train. All it took was a “hello” and we were off to explore the nightlife in Itaewon. 

Meeting Faith opened up another world of possibilities.  I travelled to Busan, a coastal city to meet up with her for the weekend.   I met the funniest, kindest and coolest people in Busan resulting in me having the time of my life - Gangnam Style!

Sometimes if you choose the beaten track and make your own in-roads, you will meet lady luck and really get immersed into someone else’s culture.

I met O’ ma at the sauna, I was naked in a plunge pool when this woman came up to me and stared.  I figured my chest was at it again soliciting unnecessary attention.  She couldn’t speak a word of English but the body speaks louder than any words.  We fast became friends and I was invited to her home,  introduced to the family and was spoilt with the most amazing meals.  By the time I left SK I was weeping because of the relationship I had formed with my precious O’ma.

South Korean Independance Day Breakfast at O'ma's home.

 

It all starts and often ends with sharing a meal and some thoughts.

Be open to anything, life favours the curious.   

Seoul Sister – Late, Lost & Numberless!

I caught a glimpse of Singapore, a glimpse from the sky, of lights, beautiful lights as we landed at 6 am.   I had an hour to catch my next flight, by the time I made it to the sky train the sun had come out to play.   I was delighted to see that the flight attendant who would be looking after my section was as glorious a specimen as the sun outside.  He had the most awe-inspiring eyes I had seen on a man in a long… long time.  I sunk into my seat enjoying  my view, I even forgot that arriving in South Korea would have to be “rush central”,  as I was  already 2 hours behind schedule and I literally had an hour and a bit to catch my flight to Suncheon at another airport!

Singapore airport from the sky train

Arriving in South Korea I was incredibly excited and in a hurry, I had a flight to catch. I had just made it through customs, about to sashay through the gates after having picked up my luggage when 2 officers singled me out and took me aside for questioning.  At this point I told myself “its ok this won’t take more than 5 minutes.” Little did I know that the officers spoke very little English and my 4 pairs of shoes would be cause for suspicion, who even asks a woman why do you have 4 pairs of shoes?     When they eventually let me go it was a mad dash to Gimpo International Airport but first I had to find the Expressway train that would get me there.

Incheon International Airport - Taken by Rehman

 as I ran through the airport I began to understand why this airport was voted Best airport worldwide for 7 years in a row. 

1.  Its huge.

2. It’s well organised for a place that always has so many people moving through it.

3. It has various entertainment facilities including an ice-rink. 

Train signs were my saving grace because if I had to ask people I would never have found it as quickly,   as my questions were often met with looks of deep confusion.

 I arrived at Gimpo International Airport only to find I had missed my flight and there were no more flights to Suncheon.  As I digested that bit of information I realized I had in transit lost my paper with all the numbers I should call if I miss my flight.  That’s when the real adventure began!

 I dragged my bright red suitcase back to the Expressway train heading back to Incheon International Airport it was so cumbersome that at times different men would help me by lifting it on to the escalators for me.   I was lost for 4 hours; I went from bus terminal to bus terminal asking for a bus to Sunchoen that I was pronouncing the same as Luncheon.  When it should have been pronounced Sunchon (soon-chon)!   Eventually someone was able to make sense of what I was looking for and helped me.  I arrived at Central City Station at 10pm.   I was still without numbers; luckly I had saved them in my Facebook & Gmail account because you never know when you might lose a piece of paper!  I just needed internet access.

 As I made my way around the station I saw signs to the Marriot Hotel, I knew they would have a business center so I made my way there.  I pretended to check-in but had to email home first to let them know I had arrived safely.  I used the computer and thanked the lady and left.  With very little money on me I was worried about using it and finding myself penniless in Suncheon.   My bus eventually left the station for Suncheon at 11:30pm, I was happy to be on my way but with no phone and just a piece of paper with numbers, I did not know how I was going to find my way to Janine. 

Finally on my way to Suncheon

 Eventually 30 minutes before we were due to arrive in Suncheon I started praying that the guy sitting next to me would offer me his phone to make a call.   We had not said a word to one another let alone shared a smile throughout the trip.   We sat side by side, I observed him, he was awfully busy on his laptop, pulling out 3 different electronic pieces that captured his attention.  I fell in and out of sleep and every time I looked over he was still busy with his laptop, phone and something that looked like a PS2.

 I didn’t dare say something just in case he didn’t want to be bothered and a part of me had given up on finding someone who spoke English.  As we entered Suncheon and the bus lights turned on this guy turned, looked at me and asked me in perfect English “are you coming off at the university or at the station?” Say what?  I almost fell out of my skin!    This whole time I had thought he could not speak a word of English and he was as fluent as most South Africans. A flood of relief washed over me and in excitement I said to him ”this whole time! You could speak English and didn’t say a word” and he responded “you didn’t say hello”  

Janine and I on my first day in Suncheon

Who said black woman aren’t adventurous?

I was woken up by a rustling in the roof, listening in; I realized it was home to some pigeons.   Considering it was 4am in the morning I came to the conclusion that this little family lives on the principle that the early bird catches the fattest worm, because why would they be up at 4AM!?!

Whilst my thoughts blasted the worm, I found myself wide awake and restless.  The deep sleep I had dived into was now just a distant dream.  My thoughts soon turned to the adventure that lied ahead, abseiling off the longest single-drop abseil in the world.   Unable to lie in bed any longer, I headed out to enjoy the sunrise.  The sun peered through the trees greeting the river that snaked through the property.  You could smell the mountains just like you can smell the ocean when you are at the seaside.  My senses were alive taking everything in.   I thought that by then I would have been feeling nervous or slightly edgy about the abseil but instead I was feeling calm beyond placid.  I wanted to take everything in, slowly, silently and without worry.  

7am finally arrived!  We met our local guides who would be putting us through our paces. We began with our training; abseiling a 40m rock face in preparation for the 204m long abseil down the side of the waterfall.  

Geared up and ready to begin our training.

 The first and the last time I abseiled  was in my teens,  I can still remember the sinking feeling that filled my stomach the moment the guide (whom might I mention had asked me if I trust him)  told me to step back… and there was nothing…nothing  to catch me.  That sheer disbelief of falling, with no control.  For a second you cannot think of anything … then your senses kick in, your body springs into action and before you know it it’s all over and then you just want to do it again. 





Safety Check.

This time I was ready,   I had an idea of what to expect easing any butterflies I might have had.  The training was a breeze for my friend and I and an hour later we were done and on our way to the falls.  The guide who was driving us to the falls was the first certified Eco- guide in Lesotho as he spoke about what his qualification meant to him, his voice beamed with pride that he, a guy from a village as small as Semonkong had managed to excel and be the first to succeed. 

Arriving at the site we were taken to view the waterfall first, I swear this must be a scare tactic for those people who have height, water or falling phobias because immediately doubt set in amongst the group.  Instead of participating in the conversation of uncertainty,   I withdrew and just fell silent, I feared nothing, I trusted that the guys would do everything required to ensure my safety and the rest I couldn’t have been bothered about.  I wanted no worry, no anxiety just the experience, after all how could I desire certainty when we live in uncertainty every day. 

Sitting on a rock waiting for my turn I was totally blown away by the enormity and the majestic beauty of the Maluti Mountains, besides the angora goats and the shepherds who came to watch our fall, there was no one else. 

My turn finally arrived and standing on the edge, a wave of excitement hit me. I leaned back, looked at the guy and stepped back.  

Standing at the edge.

 The feeling is always mind blowing, my heartbeat turned up a notch, and I could feel my skin beating with it.   I let out a huge Whoop, whoop! As the water sprayed my skin I opened my arms embracing the freedom, the magnificence that is nature. 

Thats tiny spec is me ...the power of nature!

All too soon I found myself at the bottom of the waterfall. I let out another shriek of delight!  I wanted to sprawl out on the rocks and hug the waterfall and just stay in the moment for a second longer.   

Hands up for my Victory Lap!

I had done it! I had abseiled 204m (670ft) down the Maletsunyane waterfall, 50 story’s of pure ecstasy.  I looked up taking it all in, feeling victorious, the guide who was waiting for me gave me a high5, “you are one fearless woman” he said,  “ you looked like you were having the time of your life up there.”  As his words sank in I smiled even more after all Life favour’s the brave.  As I finally walked away from my moment, I looked for my friend so we could share in each other’s triumph it’s not every day that  one does something as exciting as this and to share that moment with someone else makes it that much sweeter.

The face of bravery.

Those who have seen my pictures often ask me would I do it again… My answer is the same every time.  Yes in a heartbeat!

visit http://www.placeofsmoke.co.ls/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=8  if you would like to find out more about the activities available at Semonkong, I'm definitely going back for the donkey pub crawl!