Boryeong Mud Festival

It's basically what it sounds like. Really, I don't think I need to expand on the title other than to say that it's as fun and ridiculous as it sounds.

We got to our hostel, got changed, and headed down to jump headfirst into the chaos.

Remember when you used to go to swimming pools in the summer, and there was that little mushroom/umbrella shower thing that you'd run under to soak yourself in just before jumping in the pool? Well that's sort of how we started things off as well; except it was more like a trough of mud that you just scooped up and applied to yourself and/or your friends with great liberty. Same idea, though; it was just to get you excited for the real fun that awaited in the mud area.

Honey got a little carried away.

At first, it looked like Honey, Lex, and I were out of luck, because we hadn't bothered to buy our entrance bracelets in advance, and they were apparently all sold out now. So without a bracelet, we were basically stuck watching all the fun from beyond the fenced off area. Or we could go to the beach, but I had already paid $100 for the bus ride and hostel, so I was having none of that.

I was NOT gonna miss out on this.

Or this.

OR THIS.

Thankfully, Kat mentioned that some other friends who went to the festival last year ran into the same problem, and they just hopped the fence. And wouldn't you know it, it really was that easy. I hopped the crap out of that fence at least five times.

I was pleasantly surprised that the lines weren't absurdly long; the longest we had to wait for a ride was maybe 30 minutes or so. After years of summers spent waiting in line at Canada's Wonderland, though, that was a piece of cake.

Once inside, it was like we were all little children again. Thankfully, Kat had the sense to bring a water-proof camera to document all the shenanigans.

We posed for a little Escape From Alcatraz action; we played American Gladiators by racing through a couple obstacle courses; it was loads of fun. (Alan may or may not have been the recipient an accidental elbow to the face from me during our race.)

I like to think the elbow was karma for when he tried to push me down on our way up these stairs. The jury is still out on who won this race.

The Mud Festival was likely my last big hurrah in Korea, and I'm pretty happy about that. I mean, what a way to go. I can't believe the adventure is almost over. But on the plus side, it just means another adventure is just beyond the horizon. Huzzah!

PS: A tremendous thank you to Kat for being the only one smart enough to think of bringing a waterproof camera. Without her, this day would've been a hazy memory drowned in soju. You rock, Kat!