Paragliding in Korea

Paragliding in Danyang

PRICE: 80,000 WON (with 20% discount we got through meet-up --> Paragliding in Korea)
               +20,000 WON if you want to video the flight

PLACE: Danyang, Korea (2-3 hour drive away from Seoul - you get picked up if at sports-complex if you go with Meet-up and then it's 25,000 WON for the drive both ways. If not there's a direct bus from East Seoul Bus Terminal to Danyang at 13,000 WON per ride )



It kind of just happened really.

One day I was kinda tired and disappointed at myself for spending weekends after weekends just eating lunches and dinners with friends rather than going out and really exploring or "doing something" as I had promised my self  I would once I get to Korea.

Feeling rather blue about how dull my life had become, I was scrolling through 'meet up' suggestions when I stumbled across "Paragliding in Korea" and signed myself up +1 (just in case I could get ANYONE to tag along).

I had expected my brother to want to tag along but he said he was busy/broke that weekend... but as soon as I had asked my coworker she immediately responded with "YES - it's on my bucket list of things to get done!"

So.. off we went - luckily on the clearest day - with just enough wind to fly my ass up up up into the sky.

The meet-up group! There was a lot more people (around 13 in total I think) so we had to split the group into two so that one could go explore the cave first (photos in the end).

The view on top of the hill/mountain was gorgeous - but it did fail to impress the swiss guy... way to be a mountain snob (although the alps.. kinda does make any mountain seem puny and unimpressive..)

We got our own pilots that would fly with us and proceeded to gear up in sky-suits to brace ourselves for the chilly wind. The ridiculous number of seat belts that were attached to the suit did comfort me... as there were no way I was going to 'fall off' with these many shackles... Plus the pilot reassured me that he had been doing this for over 15 years and he's still alive! Yay!

All ready to go! 

 

It was FANTASTIC!  Unlike Bungee jumping or sky-diving, which were filled with such adrenaline pumping and heart stopping adrenaline ride... This was just so calm and soothing flying through the air as if I was literally a bird. The view as well as the cold wind were so liberating and refreshing.... it really made me understand how some people are so obsessed with the notion of flying. It is truly an experience that you don't forget...

We were lucky enough to have a long ride of around 15 min. I've been told it really depends on the wind and on the day. The pilot also did some crazy swirls and what he called "vikings" towards the end that made me kind of dizzy but also dying of laughing out of sheer childish joy! Was GREAT! :D

As part of our trip we also did get to go explore a cave called Gosu Cave (고수 동굴) which was nearby. I had never been inside a cave like this one... and although some parts of it was rather 'gothic' an freaky looking, it was definitely an interesting walk inside (plus only 4,000 WON entrance).
If you do end up going to Danyang for paragliding it's definitely worth the quick trip into the cave (although it does get rather humid/hot in there!) 

 I'm not quite sure how i'm going to top paragliding in the near future... but i'm sure i'll find something as interesting if not entirely different to paragliding to 'sparkle' my seemingly 'mundane' life as a 20 something year old working in Korea.

:)