Driving to Jirisan (Mt. Jiri)

Because we started out early, we didn't have any breakfast. So after about an hour of driving, we stopped at Gyeongsan Service Area on Gyeongbu Expressway near Daegu.


The cafeteria was well-stocked.


After picking our dishes, we sat down to eat.


Back on the road, we entered the Guma (DaeGU-MAsan) Expressway. Here's one of the several apartment complexes visible from the road.


Also, a truck containing yarns of green threads passed by us. Daegu has a large textile industry.


Here's Maxan's manufacturing plant. There's little doubt that the very mainboard I used for my wearable computing project was created here.


Exiting the vicinity of Daegu, we entered a tollgate, which eventually led to the infamous '88-Olympic Expressway. Why is it infamous?


Because even though it's supposed to be an 'expressway', and thus a paid road, it's only a 2-lane, and has a speed limit of 80km/h (50mph). This is worse than lots of national roads (gukdo).


At least it's getting expanded partially. It doesn't seem to be a high priority, however.


We stopped over at Geochang Service Area for a coffee break.


There were a lot of rose of charon (Mugunghwa), the national flower of Korea, in full bloom.


Back on the road, we could see our destination, Jirisan, far ahead.


Some interesting bushes came and went along the way.


Finally, we reached Jirisan Tollgate. We were finally coming close.


Dad handed in the toll ticket which was used to automatically calculate the toll we had to pay.

The trip continues.