Week 23: Happy New Year 2024! Dec 31 to Jan 7, 2024)

 

January 1, 2024, sunrise at Hapyeong Beach, Gangneung, South Korea.

I rented a car at the mall near my apartment building on December 31st and drove for about 3 hours to get to the coast. I stayed in a hotel called Pension Badawa that is right on the beach. My goal was to watch the sun rise on the new year. I was not alone. There were thousands of people on that beach with me at dawn on New Year's Day. This is quite a tradition in Korea. Many people go to the mountains or to the beach to watch the sunrise. 

It had been raining at the coast when I arrived at about 3:30pm on the 31st. But the rain stopped at nightfall (around 7pm) and did not start again until just after sunrise, as I was walking back to my car at the hotel. The sunrise itself was not very spectacular. A blush of pink against stormy skies. But the waves were high, there was a lot of crashing going on, and the wind was whipping up the peaks of the waves. 

 

Gangneung is on the east coast of S. Korea, about 1/4 of the way down from the border with N. Korea. I took a picture of my wall map so you can see where it is in relation to Seoul (the big pink tangle of roads close to the west coast is Seoul). It is a pretty easy drive (through MANY tunnels) from Seoul to Gangneung. This was my first time driving in Korea. Three observations: 1) The speed limits are lower than in California so the driving is less stressful. 2) There are not enough places to pull over to the side of the road and take pictures. Not enough by far. 3) People are pretty good at communicating their intentions. I had no trouble with other drivers. 

After I arrived on the 31st I unpacked, did some work on my computer, and then wandered down the beachfront to find a place to eat for dinner. I was lured into this restaurant by the sound of music being played on a great sound system: 

I was one of three diners in the restaurant. There were literally more people working there than being served. But I had a decent plate of pasta, and there was a Stevie Wonder concert being played on a big screen. The owner was seated at a table next to mine and he was nodding along with the music as I hummed and sang to songs I knew. He kept taking care of me, bringing a candle over, stoking the fire in the stove, things like that. It turns out that the owner of this restaurant is Choi Ho-Seob, a singer/songwriter who had a one-hit wonder in the 1980s. His famous song is called As Time Goes By. It has been used in a lot of dramas.  I found this out as I was paying for my dinner. Fun brush with fame. 

I slept well and warmly (thanks to electric heating pads on the bed in the hotel) with a view from the window of the beach. 

It was quite easy to wake up on time because the sunrise doesn't happen until about 7:50am! 

After my sunrise safari, I hopped in the car and went north to Odesan National Park. (On the map above, its the little green dot above Gangneung). This is apparently the place to be for fall colors. I enjoyed the remaining fall colors but the real treasure for me was the snow-covered branches of the trees on that mountain pass. 

There was one place to pull over on the road (ONE! I was going nuts not being able to stop and take photos). I was not the only person who stopped. The people in all 5 of the cars that pulled off the road were all marveling at the sight of the winter wonderland (below). 

I was not the only person, but I was the only foreigner. People were ooohing and ahhing with me though. It was very clear what was on everyone's mind. So beautiful!

It took me about 5 hours to drive back along these mountain roads. I stopped as often as I could. What a magical way to spend the first day of the new year! 2024 will be the year that I spend completely outside of the USA. I am at peace with this. I am surrounded by kind people and lots of beauty. 

The video this week is short and all photos of beach and mountain passes. Link: https://youtu.be/2oEZYBQ1Lfo

The rest of my first week was spent at school, getting ready for next semester. I got my Vietnam trip planned, I was able to get the 50 bottles of mystery chemicals that were handed down to me identified (and in most cases, properly disposed of). I found a book I like for AP Physics 2. I think I am ready for the new semester. 

Coming up this month: 

Seoul Lantern Festival (this just started yesterday and it goes through the 21st so I am determined not to miss it). 

Leeum Art Museum (if I can pull Nimmi away from her desk...)

Coming up this spring: 

I am hoping to take two trips, one to Gyeongju (the ancient capital of Silla), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and referred to as a Museum without Walls. The other to Jeju Island. This one is likely to happen in April or May. The Gyeongju trip is going to happen in March (for spring break). 

Lots to look forward to!

I hope you have lots to look forward to also. May 2024 bring you both good fortune and excellent health.