A day in GG Park

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These pictures were too beautiful not to share. This day was too beautiful not to share. I'm generally private about my life but I thought this would be a good opportunity to open up a little.

This evening I'm sitting and reflecting on a past love. Firstly, what a beautiful feeling it is to be able to fall in love. I am grateful for the opportunity to have loved a certain person for a few years. Even though that love is no longer, he has left many footprints and has helped me become who I am today. At this moment, I am able to recognize and honor this love and what was- and appreciate it from afar. Although some times were hurtful, it was still a beautiful feeling. How wonderful it is to fall in love- and how complex it is to fall out of love... Nevertheless the journey was (and still is) a beautiful one. 

Frame

My dear and beautiful friend. She brought new life into me. Good lighting. I had to take a shot so I can remember.

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I miss my camera. For a long time it was an extension of my body. I would swing it around and document moments without hesitation. These days the world just flies by without notice. How can I slow down and appreciate it more?

As I sit here and reflect, I can't help but wonder about all of the changes that have happened. Even though I'm back in the same place I was in physically, it's now a different space and time. The energy has flowed, like the water in the river, it must go about it's way. New energy has come and although it's not as comforting as the previous wave, it too will have it's time.

Continuation-
Upon completion comes fulfillment.
With fulfillment comes liberation.
Liberation allows you to go on.
Even death is not a true ending.
Life is infinite continuation.
-Deng Ming-Dao

Cheongju

       

   

  

My usual walk along the river, which intersects the city into two halves. This road would often lead me to happy occasions, but would also bring me comfort when I am lonely. Without judgement, I can empty my thoughts and emotions. I am grounded by the Earth beneath me and reminded of humility. 

“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?” 
― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Gangjin

강진 청자박물관

The celadon museum in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do displays ceramic vessels made during the Goryeo dyansty (9th to 14th century). This rural area has many kiln sites and is known for redefining celadon wares in Korea. 

We took a city bus from Gwangju to Gangjin. There was no traffic so we arrived within an hour. Firstly, the whole bus was filled with ajummas and ajushis (middle aged women and men). When we arrived at Gangjin terminal, the whole terminal (small terminal) smelled like moth balls! The town center was so small, you could probably run across it in 30 seconds. 

You have to board another bus (local) from the terminal to the museum (30 minutes). The English website says to buy a ticket for Maryang (마량), but when I confirmed with the bus driver (tip: keep the name of the museum in hangul), he said it was the wrong bus. He took me back to the ticket window and told the lady to change it to a different city and I boarded a different bus (although, still going in the same direction as Maryang). I showed the name of the museum to the bus driver and asked him to stop there. 

The local bus is filled with middle aged and older women, hauling their roller carts of groceries. As each woman would get off or board the bus, others would greet them and help with their haul. The people we encountered in this town were so nice- they helped us get to the right direction despite the language barrier. I really took a liking to this town and wished that other parts of Korea were just as welcoming. 

The air here is fresh and clean. The pace is slow and you can enjoy your surroundings without hearing someone dig down deep in their throat to spit (additionally you don't have to dodge spit on the road while walking). 

The museum itself is small, but if you're into ceramic, it's worth the trip. There are many shops outside of the museum to purchase all things celadon. There's even an experience workshop where you can buy an already thrown cup (greenware) and design it as you wish. Maybe they fire it for you but I didn't ask as I was interested in other things. I really wanted to throw a few things for myself, but when I asked I was given the common answer- there is none 없어. This phrase, I've heard numerous times, and each time it doesn't get easier. When asking about things, things that you know are there or you are able to do, often times you are given this answer. It's quite frustrating, but what can you do? Move on.

Damyang

담양

A lush bamboo forest on top of a small hill. To tour the whole forest leisurely only takes about 1 1/2 hours. You'll end up with so many photos of bamboo you won't know which to choose to post. Like many beautiful places in S. Korea, it is filled with many people- the kind of people you want to claw your eyes out and make you thankful you don't have children at this moment in your life. We managed to find the smaller paths which were less occupied and enjoyed the peaceful sounds of the bamboo swaying.

The souvenir shops just outside sell some things made of bamboo, but it's basically all junk you don't need. There is bamboo flavored ice cream, which was anticlimactic since the flavor was so mild you could barely tell there was a flavor. However, it is colored bright green, if you like food coloring.