Tips For Your Flight To Korea

 Hey guys!

 My name is Saadiya Patrick and I will be a junior at HPU. I recently finished my first of two semesters abroad at Konkuk University in Seoul, South Korea. I wanted to share my experience with flying to a foreign country and what it was like to actually enter South Korea.

So I imagine that a lot of you who will be flying there will either be going directly from Hawaii or from your home state. I happened to be a student who flew from her home state (Georgia). This most likely means that you will have a very long flight and will have multiple layovers. I thought it might be helpful to leave some nice tips for those who might find themselves in a similar situation I was in. I hope any of these tips help!

#1 KEEP THE WEATHER IN MIND:

Depending on what part of the year you'll be flying to Korea, it might be a good idea to keep the weather conditions of your destination in mind. I flew to Korea around the end of February; which meant that we were deep into winter. When I left my house it was around the 30s but by the time I would land in Korea, it would be closer to 19 degrees and there was a chance of snow. This meant that even though I would spend a lot of time on the plane, I still dressed pretty warm and packed layers in my carry. Having these easily accessible is a really good idea when the weather conditions of your home location might be different from where you're going. 

#2 TRY NOT TO OVERPACK

I know it might be tempting to bring your whole closet but keep in mind that you'll have to carry all of these suitcases with you once you land in Seoul. It was a little harder for me not to pack everything as I am staying for a whole year but, I think I did a pretty good job of trying to only bring the essentials. Trust me, when you have been traveling for 12+ hours and you're tired and hungry, you're not going to want to be dragging around more than 2 heavy suitcases around a big city. 

#3 BRING SOME SNACKS

I'm not saying to bring the entire convenience store, but I do think it would be a good idea to bring a few comfort snacks. I personally had to fly for almost 16 hours and it made my total travel time almost 2 days. The meals provided on the flights aren't bad but they might not keep you satisfied for your entire trip. It's also good to have a few snacks on hand just in case your flight gets in late. I didn't get to my accommodation until after midnight. This meant that my options for dinner were very limited. Luckily Lotteria (I like to call it the Korean McDonald's) was an option, but otherwise, I would have had to go to bed hungry. 

#4  GET YOUR DOCUMENTS READY

Make sure to check up on any requirements that Korea might have in order to enter their country. I know some people who arrived during covid and had to test and quarantine. By the time I entered, the required PCR tests were no longer mandatory. Just make sure you know what documents you'll need to ensure you have a smooth entrance to the country. Another thing! When you land and before you go through customs, there will be a couple workers announcing something in Korean and pointing to banners with QR codes and yellow or pink papers. This is a survey-style form that you'll have to fill out before you can go through customs. It'll ask you for things like where you're staying, why you're there, and what kind of visa you have. I highly recommend filling out the form via the QR code plastered on all the banners. Once you fill out the form, you'll get a QR code that the customs people will ask you to scan. You can also show them the completed form if you fill it out on paper, but just know that there might not be any English copies. *also note that despite the long and stressful process of getting your visa, not a single person at the airport ever asks to see it. Even when I took a flight back to America, nobody even asked if I had a visa. It's more important to have the actual passport and (eventually) your ARC than to have the visa)

#5 KNOW HOW YOU'RE GETTING HOME

Once you've landed, it can seem very stimulating and even overwhelming. You're in a new country with everyone speaking a language you might not know. And now you have to try and figure out a way to your accommodation. I want to help make this part a little bit easier. You will basically have 3 main ways you can choose to go home. 

1. Express Train + Subway
• depending on where you are going, you can most likely take the express train and the subway. I would probably rate this method a 7 out of 10. Depending on the time of day, the subway can be very busy, and not all the subways have escalators/elevators to carry your luggage. Also in order to use this method, you'll need to purchase and load your T-money card; which can be a little confusing
• BUYING A T-MONEY CARD
• buying and loading a T-money card can be a little confusing at first. In order to purchase a T-money card you can do 2 things:
• buy one at the convenience store
• get one for free if you buy a sim card at the airport. 
• buying a T-money card at the convenience store isn't too hard. Simply go into your closest 7/11, GS-25, or CU and go to the register. Say the words "t-money" and make a box gesture and they'll know what you mean. If you really want to test your skills you can also say "kyo tong kadu" which is a transportation card in Korean. *Note that most of the time you can only load your T-money card with cash. The only way to load it using a card is in the convenience store. You are going to want to also have your cash ready so the cashier can put the money on your card. Some stores might let you pick the card that you want and you might even be able to go to specific stores to purchase cards with cute designs on it. But that can be done at a later time. I personally recommend only putting a max of 20,000 won on your T-money card at one time. I have heard and experienced too many situations of people misplacing or losing their cards and all the money they put into them. It's easier to reload your card later on than to worry about it. 
• The other option is to get a free T-money card when you buy a sim card at the airport. My mom went this route since she staying in Korea with me for about 10 days. when you exit your gate, there will be quite a few booths advertising sim cards. Make sure you look for the one that mentions a free T-money card. When you buy the sim card, the worker will load the T-money card for you.

Either of these methods works for getting the T-money card and it is just a matter of which method makes more sense for your situation.  

• If you take the express train, it'll go as far as Seoul Station. From there you'll have to transfer to whichever line will take you to your place. If you are going to Konkuk University, transfer to Line 2 or the Green Line. Taking the Express Train isn't required but it is much faster than taking the subway the entire way. However. keep in mind that you'll have to purchase a separate ticket for the Express train and it cost around 10 dollars. *note: the subway closes around midnight and reopens at 5:30a. If you get the Naver Maps app, you'll be able to check the timetable for your train*

    2. Uber or Taxi

• This is probably the most preferred method and the quickest. Taking a taxi doesn't require buying a T-money card and it's not too hard. If you already have the Uber app downloaded on your phone when you land, you'll notice the name has changed to UT. Other than the name and language change, the app is completely the same. You'll be able to enter any address and get a taxi to that location. I do have to be honest about some of the downsides:
• price: depending on what time you try to grab a taxi, you might have to pay up to $70 for a ride. Also, know that it is common for taxi drivers to take advantage of foreigners by taking longer routes or driving slowly in order to raise your price. Even though you are using the Uber app, it is still a taxi service. This means that they'll use the meter and sometimes they'll try to overcharge you for a ride. 
• safety: now this label is a little misleading. Riding in a taxi isn't unsafe. HOWEVER, taxi drivers are known for driving crazy. They drive really fast, slam on breaks, and make plenty of sharp turns. You'll make it to your destination safely but you're heart rate will be elevated. 
• language barrier: while a lot of the taxi drivers at UT Taxi might know a few English words, there are still a lot of older drivers who don't know any English AT ALL which can make it difficult to communicate with them. Unfortunately, Papago (a popular translator app in Korea) won't be helpful as they can't type and drive. Hopefully, they won't ask too many questions but if you ever want to let the driver know that they can "drop you off right here" you can say "yogiyo kwen-chanayo" and they'll understand what you mean. 
• Taking a taxi is not a bad option, but it isn't going to be for everyone. I would say if you have a lot of bags or if it is after midnight, this will be your best (and maybe only) option. 

    3. The Bus

• This should probably be your last resort. Taking the bus can be difficult, especially with luggage. It is possible but I don't think it'll be enjoyable at all. You'll need to get a T-money card for the bus as well and when you get on and before you exit, you will scan your card. You can use the Naver Maps app to find the bus schedule as well and it'll show the timetable for each bus coming. *note: the bus (like the subway) closes at a certain point. Generally, they close around midnight but, it depends on which bus for the closing time. Also after the regular bus closes, the night bus will open. The night bus will be marked with an N (ex. N15 N62). Naver Maps will have the information for this. 

I hope that these tips are helpful and provide a little bit of a guide for traveling to Korea. It can be a scary thing to come to a completely different country. I just hope that any of this information can help someone else not have to struggle as much as I did when I first got there. As prepared as I thought I was, there is just some information that you can't really find on the internet so easily. 

Thanks for reading and see you in my next post!

-Saadiya Patrick

Tips for Studying Abroad at Soonchunhyang University (순천향대)

안녕하세요 (HELLO) EVERYONE! My name is Mia Takahashi and I have completed my Spring 2023 semester in South Korea at HPU's partner school, Soonchunhyang University. It was a splendid four months that I will forever cherish for the rest of my life. While there, I mainly took my Unrestricted Electives and Upper Division courses since I needed to complete these before starting my nursing course in the upcoming Fall semester. (Classes I took: Cultural Internship Discussion, Understanding Global Society, Understanding Contemporary Korean Film, Global Entrepreneurship of Korean Business, and Korean Entertainment.) I learned a lot about Korean history and was even able to take a few field trips with a few of my classes. 

I wanted to take some time to share some tips and tricks that I learned during the time leading up to my time in South Korea and things that I learned during my stint there that I wish I knew prior.

(Picture: Back Gate of Soonchunhyang University)

Tip #1: DO NOT OVERPACK

I know that may seem like a "DUH" type of response but it is really easy to overthink what to bring and you end up overpacking due to indecisiveness or anxiety since you only have a few days left to pack for your time abroad. I made a list of what I needed to bring, but even so, I ended up overthinking and being worried about the "WHAT IF'S" which led me to slightly overpack. Make sure to check the weather before leaving, this is essential! I went during the end of the winter season, so it still got pretty cold, especially at night with the wind chill. If you plan to go during this time, this is what I would suggest:

CLOTHES: Trust me when I say, you only need one or two really good warm, thicker jackets. I would suggest having one that you can layer underneath and another that is waterproof. These are bulky items that you will only use for a month or two and then most likely never use them again. For tops, I would suggest bringing between 10-12 tops that you can layer or style differently. (This count does include bringing 2-3 long-sleeve tops.) Again, you most likely will end up buying a few shirts anyways, even if you think you won't because believe me, you WILL. Clothing, especially tops, are affordable here and you are very likely to find a good deal at one of the multitude of shops outside of the mall. (*Pro tip: catch the train from Sinchang Station (Soonchunhyang University) to Cheonan Station; head to the mall but go across the street and explore the shops over there instead.) Next is bottoms, this is a little more tricky as pants sizes are smaller than US standard sizes, therefore it could be slightly harder to find bottoms that may fit. I would suggest bringing 3 long pants (different colors or styles), 2 jean shorts, and maybe 1-2 skirts or sweatpants. *Note: it is a lot easier to find sweatpants there due to the loose fit and comfort. 

SHOES: one pair of comfortable, yet reliable boots; this will be your lifesaver when you're freezing or when it rains. Furthermore, make sure to pack one good pair of walking shoes since you will be walking a lot more than you might be used to. I would also suggest bringing one pair of slippers or slides. These will be mainly used for every day, short distances (i.e., your dorm to the kitchen). However, do not stress too much about packing too many different pairs of shoes. During my time there, I ended up buying three different pairs of shoes because of their uniqueness, comfort, and affordability. 

UNDERGARMENTS/EXTRAS: if you are planning to go during the winter season, bring a scarf, beanie or warm hat, and gloves! These will save your life, especially when you get hit with the wind chill at night. I would also suggest only bringing 12 pairs of socks and underwear since you will be doing laundry pretty often, but I say 12 is a nice number since it is always nice to have extras just in case. Another thing is to bring the proper electricity adapter, do some research prior if you plan on bringing your own hair dryer or straightener. I had a few friends who did not have the correct adaptors since the US uses 120-volt outlets, whereas Korea uses 220-volt outlets. Bring one backpack that you can use for school or as a weekend bag. I am grateful that I brought my bigger backpack with me and I was able to use it for school as well as when we stayed in Seoul for the weekend. With that in mind, please do not bring too many bags. Korea has a wide selection of tote bags for reasonable prices and cute designs. I was able to find cute and functional tote bags of all sizes during my time there! (I love looking at Daiso for new tote bags!) Lastly, bring some type of omiyage from home. As someone who was born and raised in Hawai'i, sharing goodies is very common when you go to a new place. My family and I will always bring some type of goodie with us to share when we go on trips and everyone loves and appreciates them! I brought a variety pack of macadamia nuts and something special for my roommate (I got all of these goodies from Costco). I would highly suggest doing this as a form of an icebreaker. I introduced myself to all of my suitemates with a goodie and there was one night that everyone who was there had already gathered in one of the study rooms and we were all talking story and trading goodies from where we came from! 

Tip #2: LEARN HANGEUL 

When I decided to study abroad, I began studying Korean on my own time. (Unfortunately, HPU does not offer any courses in the Korean language.) While my program does not require any Korean language experience, having some before going to Korea will be in your favor. Now, this does not mean you need to have fluent conversations and be able to fluently write in Korea, but simply being able to read the Korean alphabet (Hangeul) will help with the added stresses of being in a foreign country. In my case, I am nowhere close to being fluent in Korean, but being able to sound out things, like locations or food on a menu, made traveling around a lot easier. This leads us to my next tip. 

Tip #3: DOWNLOADING THESE APPS

TRANSPORTATION: When you go to Korea, you will need to download either Kakao Maps or Naver Maps. I prefer to use Kakao Maps, as I found that it gave a better navigation system, however, I had friends that used Naver and they seemed to enjoy it. Google Maps and Apple Maps will not work as well as the former since they are connected to the Korean public transit systems. A couple of other transportation apps that are useful to have are the following: KorailTalk (for purchasing KTX and similar tickets) and Kakao Taxi (for ordering a taxi). (*Pro tip: in general, it is best to search for the place you are looking for in Hangeul. Also if you use Kakao Maps, you can scroll to the bottom of your route options and you can see how much it could cost for a taxi.) Just as a friendly reminder, you are in another country, so don't be surprised that most transportation drivers do not speak English. Also, don't be surprised if your taxi driver calls you; most of the time they are either calling you to let you know that they will be there soon or they're trying to find out where you are close by. It can be intimidating, but keep calm and remember you got this!

LANGUAGE: While it is quite accessible to get around Korea, I would recommend you download Papago. This app is better than Google Translate or Apple Translate and is highly used throughout Korea. You can take pictures of almost anything and it will be able to immediately translate it for you. (There are other languages available to translate to English as well.) This is an essential app for a nonfluent speaker; it will be helpful for solo traveling, communicating with native speakers, and figuring out directions on various items. But as I previously stated, having the foundation built (in other words, being able to read and pronounce Hanguel) will help you tremendously. I suggest apps like Duolingo, Lingodeer, and Write Korean to help you learn some of the basics, but please keep in mind that no app is perfect and won't teach you everything you will need to know.

Tip #4: WIFI AND KOREAN SIM CARD

In Korea, wifi is very accessible and almost always a place to connect (even on the train)! With that being said, you shouldn't rely on the free wifi always being available, especially in smaller-rural towns. While my cellphone plan on T-mobile would have allowed me to connect to the internet and cell towers in Korea, I decided to get a Korean SIM card. I chose to get mine from Chingu Mobile, per a recommendation from my cousin who goes to school in Korea, and it was only $64.00. I chose the unlimited data plan for 4 months and picked it up conveniently at the airport. Most times, your American phone number will not work for certain reward points or apps. Having a Korean number will allow you to call taxis, order takeout, and even shipping items will require a Korean number. 

Tip #5: PHOTO BOOTHS
In almost every place I visited during my four months in Korea, I was able to find at least 1-3 photo booths. I highly recommend taking photo booth pictures as it is a way to keep a memory of the day you spent! Most prints also have the date (and sometimes the time) of when you took them which is a nice memorabilia to look back on. *Pro tip: DO NOT FORGET TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PICTURE AND VIDEO!* I would say mostly all of the photo booths that I went to allow you to download a digital picture as well as a short video clip of you while in the photo booth. This is such a nice option to have, that way you have both a digital and a physical copy to look back and reminisce on. You can also find cute photo binders to keep all of the pictures you take during your time there! (I was able to fill every page in the photo book and even had a few that were unable to fit!) As I look back at my photos, I love that I took so many to capture my time there, and am grateful for each one I have. It is definitely worth the money spent!

A Final Reflection Before Returning Home

It has been a while since my last journal, but so much has happened since then and it was about time I posted my final blog post. For starters, as in the writing of this blog this is my final week in Japan. To say that the phrase "time flies" is true would be a large understatement. Somehow it feels like I have a lot of time left before returning home and not enough time simultaneously. 

Cherry Blossoms at
the Park

Here are few updates about the semester. There were moments during the middle of the term where it felt as though I had lumped myself into a cycle. I would wake up to go to class, attend all of my lessons for the day, come back to the dorm, do homework, and then get ready for bed. See in the beginning of the semester the workload was quite light and there was not much to worry about in terms of homework. It probably was because they want to ease the students into the change in environment before piling on the assignments. 

But as the semester began to continue forward more and more homework began to pile on top of one another. Since I came to Japan to study, I pressured myself into solely focusing on homework and projects to not fall behind. I thought I would be content with this since it was my decision to study in Japan. 

Lake at the Park Near the Dorms

Yet what I did not realize is what I was doing to myself was harmful to my mental health. Fortunately, with the support system that I have both here in Japan and back home I was able to quickly realize what I was doing to myself. One night when I called my mother she told me that I should relax and enjoy my time in Japan. 

While yes it is important to keep on top of the workload in school, I should not forget to take a break for myself every so often. She then suggested I try to do things for my own enjoyment and not worry so much with school. 

With that piece of advice I started to do things to help balance out the stress and break out of the routine that I developed. Some of the small things I began doing was talking walks around the park that is near the dorm, going with friends to fun little excursions together, and taking part in school activities. One of which was an excursion to Nara and Osaka. Out of all the excursions I went to with the school

Osaka

I think this trip was the one I had the most fun on. A few friends and I were able to explore temples, eat amazing food, and learn more about Japanese culture. For example, we took a class on woodblock printing and, while admittedly harder then it looks in person, was insightful to how ancient artist would painstakingly work on the beautiful artwork that we see in museums to this day. As for the food I mentioned earlier it was delicious. One of the items I had eaten was grilled eel and although it looked scary at first when I took a bite of it the amount of flavor that was there was unbelievable. Also the owner of the cart was really nice and was trying his best to converse with me and my group of friends. 

Todaiji Temple

At first, he tried to speak to us in Japanese, but once one of us
explained that we do not understand Japanese all that well he immediately switched to English. Although he kept apologizing for his lack of English we all told him that we appreciated his efforts for talking to us. Afterwards, he recommended us other vendors and places to visit while we were in Osaka for the brief period. 

Volunteering Opportunity

Another experience I was able to have while in Japan was interacting with some local Japanese children. This semester I was in a class about learning Japanese culture through picture books. My teacher for the course also volunteers with the local library near the university and one of the volunteering opportunities was to read English books to Japanese children. So she asked for students to volunteer with the event and I decided this would be a great chance for me to interact with some of the local people in the community. 

Needless to say, the event went well. There was a mini origami lesson for the children, singing nursery rhymes with them, and of course, reading the English translation of beloved Japanese picture books. Although there were a little hiccups along the way (for example, on this day it was quite raining), I was never the more grateful to my teacher for allowing me to join in and help with the event. 

Outside of school I was fortunate enough to be able to plan a solo trip to Kyoto for my birthday. There I explored a bamboo grove, the local aquarium, eat in the market, and much more. Although I am not much of a big spender, I was encouraged by my mom to use my birthday as a time to step away from the workload for the weekend and have fun. So I did and, in my own opinion, feel as though this is one of my favorite birthday memories for years to come. 

All in all I would never had experience all of what I had done had I not taken a break from the school work. Now I am in no way, shape or form advising to not do work while studying abroad. What I am advising is to allow for periods of time to not think about work and to enjoy the scenery. It does not have to be as big as planning a trip to Kyoto or going on excursions every week that is planned by the school. The breaks can be as simple as going to the local park to watch ducks swimming in the lake or taking pictures of the local flora and fauna. Whatever makes the stress easier to handle should be done. Otherwise it could leave to a severe case of burnout. 

Before I conclude this journal here are a few of my favorite places that I recommend for people to visit:

1. Nagoya Castle
• Nagoya Castle is a beautiful sight to see in person. Along the way there is a lot of history and more to discover. There is a lot of walking so do bring a bottle of water if planning to visit the site. Although I may be recommending Nagoya Castle, Japan has other castles in the different cities that people can enjoy for the historical background. 

  

  Nagoya Castle

2. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove 
• If wanting a tranquil get away from the busy everyday like then this bamboo grove in Kyoto is somewhere I would suggest visiting. The bamboos are tall and surrounds the people as they walk through and along the way there are shrines and other places to visit within. I do recommend going in the early mornings or the late afternoons if one wants to avoid large crowds of people. Arashiyama Bamboo Grove does see a lot of tourists and locals going to take photographs. 

  

  Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

  
  
3. Kyoto Aquarium 
• Now there are other aquariums that are in Japan. For example there is the Port of Nagoya aquarium. However, the one that I went to was the one in Kyoto and I thought it was absolutely breathtaking. Especially with how large the tanks were, the diverse animals in the museums, and the vast amount of exhibits to behold while in the aquarium. Definitely a place where I would visit again and would recommend to a friend. 

  

  Viewing Tank within Kyoto Aquarium

  
  
4. Tokugawa Art Museum 
• The art contained in this museum puts any of the visitors into the mind of the past. Containing pieces from the Tokugawa family and others who have donated to the museum it tells a story of each owner of the item. Though no photography is allowed, it is still worthwhile. Side note: if attending NUFS at the time of visiting Tokugawa Art Museum then admission is free for students. All that is required to take advantage of this deal is to bring the student ID to the front door and show it to the ticket collector. At least that is what I experienced it may change, but that is how I know it is done currently. 

  

  Tokugawa Art Museum

  
  
5. Nagoya Science Museum
• For those wanting to see a museum with a lot of interactive components that is both educational and fun then the science museum is the place to be. It has a lot of fun interactive exhibits that is connected to the theme of each floor. In addition there is a beautiful planetarium inside. However, avoid going here on holidays and weekends since there will be a lot of families visiting the establishment. Additionally all the exhibits are in Japanese with no English translations so do keep that in mind. 

  

  Exhibit within the Science Museum

  
  
6. Kuromon Ichiba Market
• If anyone finds themselves in Osaka then Kuromon Ichiba Market should be one the list of places to visit. There are a lot of food stalls and shops to visit. And all of the food is delicious from the takoyaki, fried crab legs, candied strawberries, and so much more. Although again plan accordingly if large crowds are not ideal. 

  

  Kuromon Ichiba Market

Hopefully there was something that anyone who comes across this blog post was able to take with them for the next time they travel or study abroad. Thank you for reading about the last leg of my journey through Japan and I hope whoever reads this has enjoyed the contents within the blog. 

I went to Austria and discovered the end of the world may be near?!?!

 Hello everyone! My name is Mckay and I am a student at HPU and just finished up my semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria. It was magical five months filled with adventure, laughter, self-growth, and new friends. During my semester abroad I took both biomedical courses and international office courses, and in this blog post I want to focus on a very interesting mountain located on the outskirts of Salzburg that I learned about in my "Inside Austria" course. This mountain is called Mt. Untersberg and is breathtakingly beautiful. While it features picturesque views, a quaint mountain hut that offers delicious food, and ice caves, it also comes with a harrowing tale. This tale is as follows ...

Mt. Untersberg

 

They say a mighty king is sleeping deep beneath the mountain of Untersberg. He sits at a stone table, surrounded by his court. When his long white beard will grow around the table three times, the ravens will no longer circle the mountain top, and the King will wake up, grab his sword and fight in the final battle between good and evil after which the end of the world will begin.

Art work depicting the king

This tale is creepy! But also... kind cool :) Thats why when I was given the assignment to present about for my class regarding anything about Austria, I chose to present on Mt. Untersberg's legends. It was a very intriguing presentation and during my research for it, I stumbled upon a story that Miranda Waters has written from the POV of an adventurer who has roamed into the depths of the Untersberg and found the sleeping King. I read this story out loud to my classmates and they loved it. Here is the link if you would also like to give it a read https://nomadswithnotebooks.com/?p=1163

Artwork depicting the legend

A few weeks after my presentation, I learned that my classmates and I would be taking a field trip to the top of the Untersberg and hike to a gorgeous peak and also an ice cave. I was so excited!! Whether my excitement was for the gorgeous adventure that was to happen or for the possibility to see the sleeping king myself is up for debate :) 

When the day to explore the Untersburg was finally upon my classmates and I, we accessed the top of the mountain via a cable car that cost 28 euros round trip. However if you are feeling extra adventurous, you can also reach the top via hiking. *Quick side note* It is possible to reach the base of the Untersberg via public transport, if you decide to take this adventure you do not need to rent a car or Uber to do it.

Cable car you will ride to the top, the views are INSANE

Said views

Once at the top, my classmates and I embarked on a hike to a lookout, which was lead by my course instructor's husband. I am pretty sure this man was half mountain goat because when one of my classmates got a cramp, he just scooped him up and carried him down the icy mountain side that my classmates were slipping on like it was no big deal at all! For spring and early summer, the mountain top will be chilly and have snow, so be prepared with warm clothes and good shoes for hiking in the snow. 

Me at the peak of the Untersberg

Once we reached the peak, my instructor's husband then lead an optional hike to an ice cave. I had to jump on this opportunity because if I was ever going to see the sleeping king and see if the end of the world was near due to his beard growing three times around the table, this was the time! Our part mountain goat part human leader took us on about a 45 minute hike to an ice cave that has no name and is only known by locals, so I would love to tell you how to access this cave but I cannot due to the fact that it had no name, I have no sense of direction so I could not recreate the hike we took to get there, and that our hike leader spoke no English so I could not ask questions about this cave. 

Upon arrival to the entrance of the cave, I was very nervous to go inside because I am extremely claustrophobic and was also nervous to maybe see the king and to see how far his beard had grown! However, with some motivation from my friends I was able to summon the courage to enter the cave and it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. There were giant icicles that stretched from the top of the cave to the bottom and giant chunks of ice everywhere. I explored the cave for a little bit before I concluded that sadly, the sleeping king was nowhere to be found in the cave :( The beautiful views and great time with my friends made up for the disappointment though ;)

Inside of the ice cave pt 1

Inside of the ice cave pt 2

My classmates and I then hiked back to the top of the cable car and nearby mountain hut and had some delicious food and beer to celebrate the hike that we had just conquered before we rode the cable car back down. While I was not able to find the sleeping king and measure his beard and consequently confirm or deny if the end of the world was near, this was still a gorgeous way to get outside, explore the mountains surrounding Salzburg, and get exercise. I highly would recommend this adventure!

-Mckay