Frozen Han River (part 6): Frozen in Styles

As usual, I made a compilation of pictures taken during today's crazy trip to the the Floating island at Banpo bridge in Han River. Who would've thought that an impromptu short trip would be this cool and cold^^. Going straight after work! Instead of going home, why not satisfy the curiosity of what Han river would look like.....in the stillness of white surface.

Frozen Han River (part 5): Keep On Swimming or Strolling

Han river could be so inviting for some..to plunge themselves into..especially during summer...and that's why..this particular lifebuoy was set up in the designated places...where accidents such as drownings are prone to occur.

Okay..I kept on strolling along the riverbank...and found some dried tall grasses...dancing to the incoming winds..../ It's not much..but at least..this was the vegetation I could see along the road...

See? No one's there. I was a bit ...well...confused myself..as to why I ended up being there. Not that I didn't remember it, it's just that I was thinking of going home instead of wandering further away from the spot where I came from. That means...I had to walk..much farther..to reach the bus stop. But, they..that's a part of the journey...of exploring Han river during winter.

Some apartments are being constructed. I just simply cannot imagine how much they'd cost. I mean..just look at them, they are all facing the river..which according to Fengshui..it's one of the ways to blend harmoniously with nature...to get some luck in return. *oh, well.

again...a self portrait..of my shadow...

...Got enough of freezing myself to the bones...and it's time for me to go home.....by bus. Not by subway..since the latter would require me to walk...and walk...before reaching the station.

So, the only possible way for me to go home faster..was by taking a bus from UNDER the bridge. Yep...the brigde has an elevated road and the one beneath it. It's Banpo bridge....

Saw this read ball....frozen in time...and snow..

Banpo Bridge...reflected onto the surface of the river. Oh, I spotted some ducks live under the bridge..and that's pretty amazing considering the cold weather and freezing water they live at. gee....but, that's the mystery of nature. 

*been a great 2-hour journey to the river bank near Banpo bridge*

Frozen Han River (part 4): Snow-Covered Rocks at the River Bank

After I said "enough" of the island..and kinda forced myself to go home, I had this urge..of keep on exploring the surrounding area at the river bank. hmm....okay..I just let my hunch take me to the places near the floating island.....only to find out that..."wow" indeed, the river was practically frozen....and I could tell from the pillars of the bridge...

They're literally covered in or changed into ice. hmm..I just wondered that it wouldn't melt away soon since the weather was pretty ....cold, still. But, boy..this is nice. It's like seeing something new for me.

Then..without me realizing it...I was strolling along the river bank where I spotted rocks covered in snow. Snow or ice? well, one thing for sure..the river was surely white....

The monotonous white river...., yet...this is way too dangerous to step on.../ On a split second, I was thinking of walking on it..but then..."knock it, off, Ray" wake up!. let's go on...

okay..I kept on walking along the river bank. psst. again...on a particular bright day..in summer ...I think someone would've reprimanded me of not going too close to the river...^^

But, today..was..special. Since..again and again..not a single soul was visible in the vicinity..so much.that it gave me ample freedom to be as close as to the river as I could get...

A special moment..and time I gave myself.

Then...I decided to go back....not to let myself..be frozen...^^

Frozen Han River (part 3): Blueish-Looking Reflection on the Han River

The blue skies..and its blue reflection.....really conquered my fear of froze-bite. ^^

I was literally almost on the top of the roof at the floating island when I took this picture. I was shivering...and something prohibited me from going upstairs though it's just a few steps away. But..this view was great enough for me to say "okay,stop it, Suray. Let's go down"

The whole area was covered in broken ice and the afternoon skies sort of helped me out of this fear...I mean..I was a bit scared of height..but this particular scenery was the first reason as to why I came here in the first place.../ so, no harms done.

As I was descending, I took some snaps of the river...and oh boy..the weather was nicely warm...compared to the previous days, of course. 

Couldn't get enough of the pictures. Boy, my eyes got sore due to the bright bluish color of the hour...and due to the whiteness of the river...thanks to the ice..

In case, some might wonder why I ever wanted to go here; considering the fact that I got to feel the cold breeze and all. Well, this passion of curiosity about what the river would looklike during winter...was ..again and again...the driving force that brought me there.

See? Lots of people see this uniquely designed architecture in Seoul....so why bothered taking the pictures of these islands?

For..me...it's the satisfying sensation of being able to the places where none would never want to be. I was the only one at the river bank near this particular site from where I could see the floating islands were really surrounded by the ice. 

A completely different way of enjoying Han river in Seoul. Not during summer or spring, but during winter..especially when the river was covered in ice...ice..and ice...

Frozen Han River (part 2): Han River from Atop the Rooftop...

I didn't expect anything from the river when I arrived there. Well, of course...I thought that it'd be nice to see some ice on the river as what the news was making a fuzz of. And..I just got what I wished for. Lots of ice...ice....broken ones...thick ones...frozen ones...adorned the river bank ..and surrounding the Floating Island where I was at that moment.

It's the first time ever..that I enjoyed the view of Youido from afar...from Banpo bridge...and what made it even more special was the fact that I was there on my own initiative. Not that what I've been doing are not mine, it's just..that. on.this particular day...I wouldn't have been allowed to be here in the first place. 

There were signs where visitors are refrained from entering the site due to the harsh weather...but then..I thought.."oh, well"

I just needed to take a bunch sample of pictures of this beautiful frozen river....which started melting. The fact that this was something out of ordinary...was one clear thing that I got to capture onto my lenses...and my memory.

oh, gosh....wondering what it must've looked like a few days earlier. It must've been awesome to be here earlier...though I might've frozen my hands....and all.

I saw a stair..a tall one...I mean stairs...leading up to the roof of the biggest floating island. I saw no signs or warning or whatsoever..that would prohibit anyone from climbing up the stairs...

So, without further ado, I dared myself to climb the stairs..and as I did....I could see the different sights and sound of the river...though the sound would just be 'stillness', I could see that something cold was happening down there...or up there on the roof.

Yup, I made it.  I was literally breathless...to be on the (almost) top of the roof. I was just some inches away from the top..when the wind sort of whispering ....not to go upstairs...yes I stopped right there.

Gee..the shivering feeling just trembled my feet even when I was writing down this entry. I felt that I was too scared to go up onto the roof. Maybe..it's too high for me. But, from where I was standing..I could see the different sight of the river...

The reflection on the glassed wall of the island...gee..it's really something to be there.