Gwangju City is Bike Friendly!

After three failed visits to the local bike shop, we finally managed to get two sweet new rides! We tried to save some money by searching for used bikes but came up with nothing after a few pathetic attempts to wager in hand gestures and loudly-spoken Korean. We ended up caving and buying new bicycles. After only a week of owning these guys, they have already proven their worth. The ride to school only takes 2 minutes, the handy-dandy basket makes transporting groceries (vegetables) a cinch, and meeting up with our cross-town cronies has never been more convenient. The bikes here are all made in China and have cheap plastic brakes, erratic shifters, and an astonishing number of EXTREME decals (I did some aesthetic work and took mine off). If you want something other than a mountain bike you either have to get an old man bike or a mini.


We are so cool.

If you look at the map below, the red line indicates the Gwangju Stream (the red dot is our apartment complex). On the banks of the stream are pathways that are used for walking, biking, and exercise. The path runs the entire length of the city and if you follow it far enough you will start entering the countryside. Along the stream are many man-made cascades, places to sit and relax, and under-the-bridge-old-man-hangouts. It is common to see these guys playing and betting on card games, fishing, or having a smoke. Or if you are lucky enough, like today, one of them will challenge you to a strenuous bike race and then continue to make guttural motorcycle noises at you the entire way. He won.



The people in Gwangju are very friendly and have no problem taking pictures of foreigners with their cell phone cameras. This guy asked if he could take a picture of Caitlin and I on his phone. He is probably texting that photo to all of his homies and LOLing about it right now :) I made him get a photo with Caitlin as retribution. He has been to Denver once and saw the Grand Canyon.

This particular spot alongside the stream was a field of sunflowers. The bees were busy pollinating, a hungover preying mantis was having trouble navigating his leaf, and Caitlin got a bug stuck in between her teeth. We continued on this path to SangMu, the business district of GWangju City. Our friends Leah and Stuart live there and it is also were you will find Geumho world - a multi-level electronics and home goods store. I picked up a pair of clippers and was finally able to shave my scruff for the first time. Also, me and the guys can now have our monthly wine-tasting, cookie-baking, and head-shaving parties. Guys only. Guys.