An unexpected afternoon hiking trip to Baegunsan mountain near my town in Korea. A co-teacher suddenly invited me to join other teachers for impromptu hiking, exemplifying how living in Korea without fluent Korean language skills means "you need to be able to roll with the punches."

The hike featured autumn foliage reminiscent of fall in Ontario, Canada. Along the trail, the group encountered "The Deity's Bridge," a famous local landmark. The path led to a Buddhist temple nestled in the mountains, where I walked the grounds with another teacher who explained various plants and trees.

A memorable moment involved the principal showing me a maple leaf and enthusiastically asking about differences between Korean and Canadian maples. Near the temple grounds stood a small pagoda where a monk could be heard chanting and playing drums.

The experience captured through vivid photography and reflection on how travel in unfamiliar places creates unexpected adventures. I appreciated witnessing the seasonal color changes across the mountainous landscape as sunset approached.