Highlights of SEA TRAIN ride @ Korea's east coast (part 1)

We sat at the very seat once used by the late president Kim Dae-jung when he took a ride on this train!!! Wow what a coincidence.^^ 

What a great journey it was to be able to see the whole view of the sea 

from inside the train. 

Whenever we went into the tunnel, the lights kept on changing.^^ 

We could stop at some destinations to take pictures. 

At the rail-bike scene.^^ (more stories later) 

One of the privileges of taking sea train ride was being able to enjoy the sea from the comfort of air-conditioned compartment in this summer.^^ 

Samcheok: the last station where we started off another trip to remember.^^

Bye-Bye Santa Beach Pension

It's 1 p.m. and time for us to check out from the pension we stayed for one night @ Gyeongpo, Gangneung. We should have checked out at 12, but I already told the owner (주인) asking her as to whether we could check out at 1 pm since we got to pray the afternoon prayer first before going out. Happily she said yes and okayed us to stay one more hour.

Now..it's time to say goodbye to Santa Beach Pension and for the sake of capturing the memory (again...^^) we took some pictures in front of the house.

Freya and Eyra seemed to be so tired, but then...she became enthusiastically happy again when she found out that we're about to take the sea-train trip.^^

(to be continued on our journey on the SEA TRAIN on the east coast of Korea).

Circling Around Gyeongpo Lake (part 3)

I think we're reaching 4.5 km towards the end of the lane or the very spot where we started pedaling this bike. We're taking a rest (again) to enjoy the moment.  

I kind of envied those who live near the lake for they must be able to do jogging, cycling, or exercising around this lake on a daily basis.  

Or those having private cars must have been able to enjoy 'cruising' or 'driving' around the lake, as seen on the pic. 

Yes..this was pretty much what we could see when we circled around the lake. Pedestrian lane and bike lanes were separated. Oh, anyone notice the white branched-tree over there? 

Or over there? At first, I thought they were real. But..then..they're actually not. They're lamps or bulbs attached onto the branches to be lit up at nights.^^ 

Now..let's take a pic again....before continuing our ride heading towards the finish line: 1.5 km to go.

Circling Around Gyeongpo Lake (part 2)

It's not even yet 2 km from the starting point, yet we already found diverse point of interest to see. Eyra and Freya just couldn't be more excited than this.

There was this large pond full of lotus. Although not all of them bloomed when we were there, some lotus indeed gave us enough impression on what it must've been like when all of them bloomed. 

Spacious enough wooden path was set to let visitors freely enjoy the lotus pond. 

But then...I started to wonder and question as to whether what we saw was indeed lotus. 

I mean...from the shape and color, they're not like any Lotus I'd seen before.

oh, well...we enjoyed the time we spend there though. 

Now girls..just sit there and let me take a pic of you. 

If only....all of the flowers were blooming when we were there. 

Now..let's go back onto our 'sepeda ceria' and continue our journey circling around the lake...and there was 4 km more to go. 

And...me doing the pedaling again? no problemo.!! 

In the midst of fresh and clean air imbued with calm surrounding around the lake, we didn't ask for more.

Oh, we found this 물레방아 or watermill when we're about to continue the journey.

so..why not take a picture of it, first, eh?

Circling Around The Gyeongpo Lake (part 1)

Since we still had 3 hours left before checking out, we decided to spend the time (again) at the lake and this time, instead of walking around, we rent a pedicab? ..a four-wheeled bike??....a bike-car?? oh,well..we called it 'sepeda ceria' 

30,000 Won for 6 people for one-round of circling the 6-km long lake.^^ 

Eyra & Freya were at the front seats specially designed for kids. As for us, well, we did most of the pedaling. 

It was really fun. 

The weather was friendly to us.^^ I mean..no scorching heat at all.  

We took turn to pedal and steer the 'sepeda ceria' as only one driver was necessary to maneuver the bike.^^ The rest? pedaling while enjoying the scenery.

At picture-perfect point of interest, we just parked the bike and got off from it to let us enjoy the view and...well, what's not to like about 'capturing some pictures'? 

One... 

Two...takes. *with monopod or tongsis in my right and. 

Gyeongpo Lake (part 6)

As we kept on walking around the lake, we found more and more flora too beautiful to just pass them by.^^ 

Still in the tranquil morning at the lake: I started to capture the natural beauty.

Of course, the lenses cannot capture the real essence of its charms. 

A drop of water or dew hanging on the tip of this purple flower captured my attention. It's really a sight to behold. 

Color after color of nature began to emerge and be exposed onto our eyes and senses. Never thought that this is summer. Or...was it just me who never realized that summer could be this dazzlingly stimulating? 

Yes..and all of these...I found just in a mere few meter radius from where we walked. 

Then...wild bushes that sprouted along the lake were additional beauty to the landscape. 

If we look at the lake's surrounding we wouldn't be able to closely admire the beauty, yet..if we stop and then look into every corner of the lake...we'd find those natural wonders around us.

Gyeongpo Lake (part 5)

Still @ the lake. But, what was it? Yup, it's one of the creeks that flowed right into the lake, I suppose. Yet, the garden itself was one of those gardens that surely quintessentially Korean. It's a typical Korean garden that surely captivated those who devoured such a thing. It's summer, and yet..it's good to look at. I mean..I am really into autumn/spring..and the fact that this garden is indeed a sight to behold means only one thing--> it's beautiful. 

Or was it because we rarely see this kind of garden around our neighborhood? dunno. But, it would've been a vain regret had we not taken a picture right in front of it.^^ 

and..let's do ONE selfie so as to have 'ME' in the pic.^^

Gyeongpo Lake (part 4)

In the wee early morning of August 17, 2014, we're in the middle of mist-covered lake. Was it because the sun's not shining as it should have been? Dunno. One thing for sure, the lake? if I got to describe it, for its sheer beauty, we couldn't ask for more, i.e. that is...as long as we arrive there early in the morning.^^ 

No one else was around. Just us.

There're these binoculars(?) that we could use free of charge to closely sample the majestic view of the lake in the morning.

Eyra and Freya took turn in using them. 

It's Freya's turn..and yes..I could see that she pretty much enjoyed the fun she got. 

These two little girls were preoccupied with the landscape. No..from what I overheard of their conversation, they'd been trying hard to locate the DUCKS!!! ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ 

Even Freya got to tilt her feet so as to be able to use the binoculars. 

As for their Mom, she's alone...admiring another section of the lake.

Gee..it's indeed a serene feeling...being there alone.