Long before we came to Korea, we read about how serious Koreans are about recreation. This woman, for example, has just been for a hike. Notice the standard pieces of her ensemble: Visor (worn by any woman over 35, when hiking or no), surgical mask (likewise), small (but exorbitantly expensive) backpack, cotton gloves, and several healthy layers of clothing (the temperature was about 65F). This lady would be a perfect specimen of a Korean hiker except that she lacks one important accessory: an expandable fiberglass walking stick. What was she thinking!
A few weeks ago Katie and I went for a little hike ourselves, though I must admit that we were shamefully under-layered and accessory-deficient. Just as we had read before coming to Korea, we found the trail to be pains-takingly manicured. Also, we found strange exercise equipment at regular intervals along the trail. Strange exercise equipment can be found at just about every park or trail in Changwon. The photos we took this day were relatively benign. The machines frequently resemble large jungle gyms or fantastic teeter-totters.
Here, Katie demonstrates the correct use of this piece of equipment. You stand on a round steel disk and swivel your lower body back and forth. Importantly, this helps strengthen the "wacky" muscle group.
We were only a bit surprised to find that this exercise station also possessed a hula hoop. It was simply hanging on a tree. I couldn't resist. Please note that in the U.S., an unguarded hula hoop hanging from a tree would remain there for no more than five minutes. In Korea, after using the hoop for exercise, each person politely replaces it and continues hiking.
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