AquaeGrannus

Just take a moment and look it up! If you are in Portland even over night you MUST stay here, or at least EAT here! It’s very close to the Airport.

http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=57&category=Location%20Homepage

We went there a couple of times, I’m not exactly sure what for, (NAVY)The last time was about 1993-ish. It was right when Kim Jong Ill came to power and the idea was to be there with the RSK’s Navy so as to give the message: Don’t start no sh**. Whatever, I found it a refreshing difference from the industrial/commerce of Pusan(Busan) and nice not to have the presence of all the American scene, (Army) that you find in Seoul. Kind of a country town, not touristy, country manners, not much English spoken but no one was trying to sell us sneakers or ass. Went on a tour to the mountains,North Chuncheon province, Songni-san National Park two hours or so on a bus, then walking only, so no traffic or commercialism. Buddhist temples along the way, the Beopju-sa Temple maybe, I’m searching the area on google as I write, but until today I never knew what it was called. Serene, Jumping from boulder to boulder on the down trip. Jumping into a waterfall, definitely dangerous that, probably illegal, definitely rude(bad mannered American punks that we were), but so very memorable, I remember thinking of the contrast of the serenity there not so far south of the DMZ.Here’s where it is http://www.eashco.co.kr/position/donghae.html

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://geology.com/world/south-korea-map.gif&imgrefurl=http://geology.com/world/south-korea-satellite-image.shtml&h=750&w=672&sz=95&tbnid=B2QNMCHszRblrM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsouth%2Bkorea%2Bmap%26um%3D1&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=1

During the first Gulf War this became the new R&R stop over for sailors and marines since the U.S. military had closed shop in the Phillipines. It was a Great Party spot, take all your spring breaks and put them in one spot, add incredible coastline scenery and Carriben style beach/water activities and mix that with your best/worst visions of a Roman orgy.

The people were very nice. The most striking and beautiful sunrise I have ever seen. It’s been over ten years but the city was at the time, well, depressing. Even more so the stick villiage at the Shell fueling port we docked at.

A Blur. Don’t ride on the back of a moped! Carefull what kind of mushrooms are in your omelet. Had 2 shipmates contract malaria, source undetermined. You get hussled by the local military/police in cahoots with cab drivers:be prepared to pay,(seriously hide your valuables money/passport etc in your shorts. Not for the faint of heart. Fun but in no way safe.
Got knows what you might encounter nowadays with the current religeous strife. Travel in groups of 10.

1992 Detached with the US 7th fleet. Knights Inn. Almost jumped ship for the tavern owner’s daughter.

Frank and Daphne Vitae our friendly hosts, Caves, Big Bats, Sarongs, Standing astride the dateline at a bar being in today and tomorrow simutaneously and just being completely and absolutely away from it all. I doubt I’ll ever be back there in person because it’s so far out of the way but will often go there in memory.