Sunset @ Daecheon Beach: Alone enjoying the Sunset

This is the low-resolution picture I took with my camera. Daecheon beach during sunset.

me ...selca-ing.... 

Not a good picture that would do justice to the real beauty of the sunset I witnessed. 

But, at least...to capture the moment I felt....I dared to selca me....myself.

Namhansanseong (Namhan Mountain Fortress): part 3

Namhan Mountain is full of temples. Temples after after temples' names were posted on the directions at some parts of the trails on my up there. The biggest one is Yaksasa. Hmm...it sounds like 'Raksasa' (giant), in Indonesian.  

Another characteristic of the trails along the way to the top was the scattered 소원답 (sowontab) or wishing tower like these ones.  

One would surely see these wishing towers everywhere.  

When you eat, think about your health. When you throw away (the trash), think about environment. That's the message of this banner for all the hikers! 

People protect environment, environment protects people. 

(Should we put the word 'IF' in front of the sentence?) 

The picture does not do any justice to the real beauty of this spot.

See the red spot there? Someone was sitting on a rock by the creek. 

It looks small, but it was actually not. Once again, I set my camera on purpose to make the nature look like a miniature. 

Moss-covered tree like this was one of things that I treasured the most. I think this is the real proof that they are....intact and well-protected. 

(I am not sure whether this is true or not) 

See the street-lamp? Yes, all the way up the mountain, there were street lamps. Street lamp seems to be out of place and an incorrect term to address it. I'd rather call it 'trail lamp'. 

* Let's go on...hiking...

Namhansanseong (Namhan Mountain Fortress): Part 2

Once we arrived at the entrance, we'd surely find this banner indicating that we arrive at the right place. I was relieved to know this. I thought I would never find it.

It is said that this area is considered as World's Heritage. I guess...I got to find out by myself as to why it is considered so.  

'Nature, History, and Culture that breathe'

First, it's nothing spectacular at the entrance. Th walkway was a flat lane leading up to the mountain. It was about 3pm and I was just about to start my climbing..(if I really wanted to, because I really did not know what the mountain had in store for a first timer like me). 

As I kept on wondering as to whether I should go on hiking...the sight of a stream flowing down right on the right-side of the lane...changed my mind. 

Yes, if the very bottom of the mountain itself boasted a refreshing creek like this one...I could imagine what the peak would offer...(hope I was right). 

So..the sound of the water in the midst of summer was enough to change my mind and got me on my feet to go up and up..

I saw people took off their shoes and then went into the creek and sat on the stones....spending time, talking, eating......well... 

The benches, the walking trails, and other facilities were there for anyone to enjoy. But, I did not have time to sit spending time or even admiring the view..coz I got to keep on hiking... 

Still at the same spot. It turned out that I did not want to 'break myself away' from the very first spot where I sat down. 

Up away a bit...there was a bare-foot walking trail. Well, it can be found in some other city parks around Seoul, but this one was right on the trail to the mountain at Namhansanseong. 

They're man-made, of course.^^ So, I got to go up again...

Namhansanseong (Namhan Mountain Fortress): part 1

I was still fasting. But, my appetite for traveling was not. 

Without knowing what to expect, I just packed my backed after attending a Friday prayer at Itaewon and went straight to 1-hour long ride by subway to Namhansanseong. 

What is it, actually?

Well, first..let me just jot down and post up the pictures I took on my way there as soon as I got off at 남한산성입구역 Namhansanseongibgu station exit 1. 

Oh, it's line 8, by the way.

As any typical neighborhood in the outskirts of Seoul, markets like this were apparent.

Gosh..I love those watermelon. 

I took the picture simply because of their contrasting colors that captured my eyes. 

Then, something struck me hard.!^^

I found odong-odong. I thought that by-the-street kid's play like this one...was only to be found in Indonesia. I mean, Korea would never have this kind of 'thing' being displayed on the street. They'd prefer having them inside the air-conditioned malls, or something. 

But, I was wrong. Well, of course, this one was different. The one(s) we have back home are operated manually. I mean..someone pedals the machine to make it move! Meanwhile, this one is operated by inserting a 50 Won coin that would play for about 10 minutes.  

Enough said. then..I kept on walking for about 15-20 minutes until I found a fly over. The entrance to the Mountain Fortress was located just after we passed under the fly over. We'd surely find the entrance since it's obviously written. (sorry, no picture, though).  

Oh, one more thing that I'd better mention is the fact that the street leading to the main entrance to Namhansanseong is full of shops specializing in mountain climbing apparels. 

Eider, Kolon Sports, Columbia, etc. you name it you'd probably end up meeting them.

It was my first time of going there...so upon encountering these shops, I got more confident that I was going on the correct direction.

And lots of people (mostly in their 50s or up) wearing climbing outfits were visible along the way. This was also another boost to my confidence that I came to the right place.

(once again, this was my first time at Namhansanseon). 

I got off at 남한산성입구. Do not get off at 산성 (Sanseong) unless you want to go up the mountain by a bus that would transport us to the South main gate. But, that would mean you're already on top of the mountain. Then..it wouldn't be climbing up, instead it would be climbing down the mountain.

Well, any course will do.