Wesley's Tool-Box

The entrance point to the path to the top of Nogodan is called Seongsamjae. This map shows the details of the 4.7km climbing path from Seongsamjae (lower right) to Nogodan (top left). I have uploaded a cropped higher resolution image of this map.

Even after passing the tollgate, we were still somewhat far away from the main destination, Nogodan, one of the mountains that comprise Jirisan. It is 1,507 meters high, and the name originates from the mountain having the altar (sindan, shortened to 'dan') for Seondoseongmo (honorifically shortened to 'Nogo'). Nogo is the mother of Park Hyeokgeose, the legendary founder of Silla Kingdom (57BC - 935AD).

Last weekend, our family decided to go out for a drive in the vicinity of Jirisan (Mount Jiri) as a summer vacation trip. As usual the trip was to be quick (one day without a sleepover) but efficient.


Dad is at the wheels. He's still quite able to make a long-distance drive, but I hope he doesn't overdo it. 15 years ago he was able to drive all the way from Quebec (Canada) to Florida (USA), a three-day trip (one-way) with 10 hours of driving each day, so our family could visit Disney World. He did do a round trip.

I rode on airplanes more than a hundred times, mostly to visit Ulsan to meet my family. Typically, the ride goes on like this.


Upon arriving at Gimpo International Airport, there's a water fountain next to the entrance. I always ignore this because the subway and/or limousine bus does not arrive with much ample time to spare.

Back in 2001 and 2002, I had quite a bit of interest in this 'degree confluence' thing. Basically, this is the coordinates where the integer-numbered longitudes and latitudes meet (e.g. 37N 128E). You go visit there, take pictures, and report on it. No doubt I actually bought a handheld GPS if only to just do these trips.

I have linked my member page on the sidebar. I was quite successful in that I have visited all ten ground confluences in South Korea before anyone else. Most of them are still not visited by anyone else. Feeling that the mission was accomplished, I guess I put this project behind my mind ever since.

Come to think of it, 2001 and 2002 were pretty wild times. That's when I made a wearable computer and was on TV every day. Heh.

Well, I'm not sure if I'll ever do this again, but regardless I updated my name / e-mail address / website. Perhaps I'll do a revisit sometime. Or better yet, visit some new ones.