Gangneung Trip (part 2)

We were trapped on the bus for about 4 hours. It was supposed to be 2 hour 40 minute trip..but since it was a loooong weekend, highway did not seem to help us speed the travel up. We barely move 1 km for 20 minutes! Gee....  we're practically 'standing still' on the road.^^Luckily we could always do something to entertain ourselves. 

As for me, taking pictures is a must. Although it's summer with all of the greenery dotted the landscape...nothing special, compared to Autumn or winter^^, yet it's a great way to spend the trip on the bus. 

As for the kids, they behaved well enough...and not to be cranky with the fact that we're somewhat 'trapped' in the middle of highway.  

Finally, at about 1 pm..gee..4 hour trip from Seoul to Gangneung...we made it. 

We arrived safely at the bus terminal...and then... 

looking at the map of where we were to decide how to get to the pension we reserved--> which turned out to be quite far away from the city center.

Rafting @ Hantan River (part 2)

After rowing our boat for about 1 hour or so, our guide guided us to take a break 

we parked our boat on river bank with loads of rock formations that looked more like ....well the pics tell it all.

a great spot, indeed. 

I think it's one of the cool spots that worth-visiting.

Well, at least for a photo session. 

thirteen of us would never turn this opportunity down.

What a way to spend Chuseok Holiday.

First Day @ Wasuri

What? Eyra and Freya were holding the lace of a local dog they encountered? 

And they were running after her. 

then...they were taking a walk with her again. 

through the trodden path at the back of the village.

and going into the stream where we could .... 

take the moment... 

or the time to capture the gleaming reflection of afternoon sun... 

Looked like the kids enjoyed being there. 

Om Wawan with the kids...walking back home. 

Freya found a yellow/orange rose. 

Found a playground... 

one... 

two... 

three... 

four...

five... 

six...phew. 

Let's go home...and take a look around the neighborhood.   

bumped into some village inhabitant who greeted us warmly. 

had a chat or two over trivial stuffs in life. 

made us feel welcome... 

Back at home and ready for dinner: mie ayam is ready!!!

A Family Portrait @ Sundam Valley

A memorable moment we spent at Sundam Valley must be preserved*-* and captured in the lenses. The tranquil water...the green trees above...

Eyra..let me get you up here.... 

Another pose to capture the moment.  

No other families were visible...it's just us. (no, of course, there were..but really a few) and this made us feel so special...and we did have a privilege to feel that way...

Remembering how amazingly dazzling the scenery in Sundam Valley, we were like being transported into a new atmosphere different from what we have back home in Seoul. (C'mon Suray...of course it is). 

..and that's why we loved the fact that we managed to be there (the valley)

Sundam Valley (part 2)

Sundam Valley@Gangwon province. 

It is one of the tranquil places in Gangwon province which turned out to be a worth-visiting place. 

Well, who wouldn't wanna be in this kind of place? Well, some may not want to.^^ But as for me, definitely ...I want to go there again. 

to experience a rafting in the river. 

With a coke and other juice on each of our hands, we were having a splash... 

This may not look much or this may look so trivial...but..the rocks ...scattered along the banks of the river..indeed made me want to 'immortalize' the landscape...by capturing it into the camera... 

Eyra was about to.... 

climb rocks much bigger in size than her tiny body... 

Freya, too, was no exception compared to these big rocks.. 

an incomparable fact of the masses...(gosh what am I rambling about?^^ 

the whole group kept on walking and walking ..ditching the rocks and stones... 

so as to take a pose like this...0

But..I took the view from afar..we could easily grasp the magnitude of this seemingly small valley..  

and admire its natural beauty. Oh I saw on rafting boat was approaching towards me.. 

See the size of the boat, rocks, and our family on the right side? 

Another rafting boat was visible afar. Gosh..I really wished I'd been on that one of the boats.  

An illustrative mode was turned on during the action of taking this picture. It gave me another dimension of admiring this natural wonder. 

A sense of vivid reality blurred and blended into a mesmerizing palette of grey-ness. 

With my wife and two kids on the front, they were more like a family having a trip in a far-away deserted planet...^-^