I arrived at this minbak at about 8pm so these photos are all taken the next day.
My original plan was to go and camp at Gayasan National Park after descending Namdeogyusan. It was already getting dark when I left the Yeonggak Ticket Booth so I went quickly to the main road and looked for a bus stop. I was already informed by some hikers I met on the mountain, that there might not be a bus service in this area. I had to try looking for one anyway... and I found one close to Yeonggaksa Temple. The bad news was, the bus stops running at 630pm. It was already 730pm. So I went to the temple to ask about calling a cab for me... although I was hoping that they would just let me sleep somewhere in the temple. They couldn't understand me and I guessed they wouldn't let me sleep there either. The lady called someone, then she instructed me to go back on the road, and walk past the trailhead for about 400m to a minbak. She obviously just gestured the directions and I made up the words.
This minbak was a life saver. I was exhausted, filthy, and most of all hungry. There are no restaurants in this area and the road is like a ghost town at night. After a brief tour at this place, I unpacked, cooked my remaining meal, and retired.
The next day, August 3, 2006, I "communicated" with the owner about transportation. There are buses, he said. But it was taking a while already, and I still wanted to go to Gayasan. I bargained with the owner about giving me a ride. He assured me I could catch a bus to Gayasan from Muju so he took me there. There is no bus to Gayasan from Muju. I have to go to Daegu first (south terminal) then to the north terminal, then to Gayasan. I was still very tired, and easily irritaded so I just went home.
Click here in case you missed the beginning of this trip.