Once Ian and I settled into our jobs, it was only a matter of time
until life began to take on a familiar, monotonous rhythm. So we
decided it was time to shake things up a bit and get muddy. Every
summer in South Korea, a famous Mud Festival is held. People flock from
all over to attend because it is such an experience. It's a week long
festival, featuring mud pits, mud slides, mud obstacle courses, and
essentially anything else they can think of where mud can be
incorporated.
On arrival, we expected to walk into complete
pandemonium. We were surprised to discover not only the lack of bedlam
we were so hoping for, but nary a speck of mud was to be seen anywhere!
What gives? Apparently, Koreans are even organized when it comes to
liquid dirt, which is actually gray clay. The clay it turns out was
confined to one particular area of the beach. As we made our way down
the beach we witnessed the half hearted attempts to get the party
started, by people trying to roll around in kids blown up swimming
pools full of gray muck. Surely this was not what we had come all this
way for. But as we kept walking, the evidence of a real party became
more convincing, as each passing Korean looked more and more like a
granite statue come to life. What we eventually walked into was all out
clayos. There were huge blow-up mud slides, mud obstacle courses, mud
gladiator pits, a mud jail, and so much other mud inspired
entertainment, we didn't know where to look! Now this was more like it.
We had an absolute ball. By the end of the day, large vats of lavender,
and bright blue clay were appearing everywhere. Our friend Michael and
I went totally mental and practically threw ourselves into them.
Everywhere we turned were at least 50 Korean photographers trying to
catch that perfect photo of foreigners gone wild. They were going as
crazy as we were though, following us everywhere and screaming at us to
pose this way or that. It was actually a lot of fun, but after half an
hour we finally had to walk away.... with them still following us, of
course. It was like being chased by paparazzi. We are absolutely
convinced that we're going to be on next years brochures.
All in
all it was the most fun we have had so far in Korea. Even though the
blond streaks in my hair are STILL died blue, and my yellow and white
bikini is now green and blue, and probably always will be. It was all
worth it though. I already can't wait till next year's!
=
