Surfing the waves

Some ex-pats told us about a beach just north of the popular Chilpo Beach (you can see it in the distance in this photo), where there are lots of rocks to climb and crabs to catch.  We went last week and were delighted to find warm water and great waves that reminded us of summer trips to Lake Michigan. 

After climbing on the rocks and exclaiming at the waves crashing around us (too ferocious for crabs to show their faces), David, Elisabeth and I waded into the water.  A steep beach at low tide plus big waves created a strong undertow, so I made sure we went no more than waist deep - which was plenty of fun. We waded, got wooshed to shore or knocked over, shrieked and giggled, then did it again. 

Well, for a few minutes, anyway.  Until some Chilpo Beach Police noticed us and came down to chat.  Not that I could understand a word they said.  Well, ok....  Actually, I could understand pretty darn well their pointing and head shaking and pantomime of swimming.  We may not swim here; we may only go in the water back at the popular beach ("Chilpo Beach Town") where they would life guard us appropriately. After playing dumb for a bit (why? what is this rebellion in my heart?), I reluctantly let on that I understood.  Just to make sure we were all clear on this, they continued walking to tell Nick and Sam the same thing. Arg. Nice guys, though.  And good looking, though with all their clothes on it was hard to believe they would jump in the water to save anyone.

So, our family regrouped and after some righteous indignation and foot stamping and chest puffery, down the shore we went to the Chilpo Beach Town. Inside we went into the tiny space roped off for swimming.  It was perhaps 75 feet long extended 15 feet out.  Not much of a swimming place - but the waves were still strong enough to knock even Nick and Sam off their feet.

We quickly realized that we stood out on this beach.  Not only were we (a) White (not-Korean), but we also (b) didn't wear life preservers or use inner tubes.  Probably 90% of the Koreans had one or both - men and women.  I love this picture that shows the contrast between the Lantingas on the left and Koreans on the right.

Elisabeth and I tired quickly - I'm not a strong swimmer (ok, I'm nervous in the water) and Elisabeth could hardly stand from the waves coming in an the undertow pulling out.  So we hung out on the beach and played with bubbles we found and laughed at our man-cubs and giggled at the Koreans, who were so stunned by our dangerous water play.  For an area so involved in ocean fishing, it amazes me that so few people ever learn to swim. My kids, growing up in Iowa, are proficient swimmers.  The world is a strange place.