Times That Won't Return
It feels a bit late, but to commemorate finishing the massive photo organization for October and November, here’s a photo diary from my week-long sabbatical in Yeongdeok!
The feeling of leaving somewhere early in the morning is always great. A strange mix of tiredness and excitement. The time spent on the train, drinking McCafé black coffee and reading my favorite book, is precious.
The train speeds through the fog. Chug-chug-choo-choo, off to Grandma’s house in Yeongdeok, where Mom had already gone ahead.
As soon as we arrived at Grandma’s, we had a healthy meal of bulgogi jeongol that Mom had whipped up. Leaving Seoul, it truly felt like my sabbatical had begun, and I was so happy.
After breakfast, a stroll around the neighborhood. Osiptcheon Stream in the village.
Just looking at it cleared my head completely, a purification for both eyes and mind! The air in the countryside is so clean, it’s incredibly refreshing!
Since Mom made breakfast, I made Mom’s favorite pasta for dinner. I bought littleneck clams and other ingredients from the supermarket.
Ta-da! I specially added lots of vegetables, and simmered it to Mom’s taste.
For the second round, steamed littleneck clams with sake. Luckily, we had cheongju and butter.
Mom and I finished a bottle of wine on the very first day lol. A mother-daughter duo of heavy drinkers. Grandma even had a sip of wine hehehe.
The next day, Mom and I went for our morning exercise. A light jog, breathing in the clean air.
As we walked through the neighborhood, we found an apple orchard.
After our morning exercise, Mom and I quickly whipped up breakfast. Salad, and homemade fig jam to go with French toast.
They say it’s an up-and-coming tourist spot these days, so Mom and I took the bus to the Metasequoia Forest.
Tall and slender, a forest path that suited my tall mom. Perhaps because it was a weekday, there was no one else there. Just Mom and I; if I had been alone, it might have been a little spooky.
Passing through the village, we spotted a house with cute gourds growing. It reminded us of Heungbu and Nolbu, and Mom and I chatted away.
Here’s another cute one. We came to Sulbing, and a baby was peeking out the window.
A hearty lunch of grilled flatfish. In Yeongdeok, I ate all three meals a day, and rested deeply without a single worry.
On a hungry night, plump nogari with white wine.
Every morning before going to the welfare center, Grandma’s breakfast. She eats a boiled egg with pineapple, has a hearty glass of saengsik, and takes her morning medicine.
Our Grandma, who is ninety. She’s still spry, except for her poor eyesight and slightly uncomfortable gait. My grandma has a cute side to her hehe.
Mom and I went out to Ganggu Port in Yeongdeok. The deep blue sea is always refreshing to see!
Squid neatly laid out to dry.
We came to the grilled fish restaurant that Mom said was delicious. Daytime beer is a must, of course.
I went to Pohang to meet my cousin. Pohang, just a 30-minute train ride away. We went to Yeongildae Beach.
POSCO Steelworks seen during the day.
My cousin took lots of pictures for me hehe.
The meat restaurant we came to for dinner. I kept making eye contact with Somteol, who was tied up outside.
After dinner, Yeongildae Beach as night fell. The night sea is the best! And with the twinkling lights of the Pohang Steelworks, it was truly dazzling.
Back in Yeongdeok on the last train. Even though I’d just had meat, I had more meat with Mom, who hadn’t eaten dinner yet. And wine too.
The next morning’s breakfast was manduguk!
After a hearty breakfast, we went straight to my aunt’s workshop next door. I did some ceramic painting, which I’ll post about separately!
When you focus on work, you get hungry again, don’t you? Lunch was Jeyuk-bokkeum Ssam-bap. We really ate well, so well. This kind of life is the best.
Mom and I went out to Pohang. I haven’t watched the drama ‘When the Camellia Blooms’, but we came to the Japanese House Village, which was a filming location.
A day when the sky and clouds were a work of art.
Me, endlessly monotone, next to colorful wallpaper.
One evening, I made gambas al ajillo. Lots of garlic thrown into olive oil.
To eat with baguette. Of course, we drank wine too. Seriously, how many bottles did we drink since coming down to Yeongdeok hehe. I’m the regular customer for convenience store wine.
My aunt said Uljin Beach Skyrail was really great, so she brought Mom and me there.
It was truly beautiful. We rode the monorail, drank coffee, and chatted quietly, and outside, the beautiful sea sparkled.
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This time, when I came to Yeongdeok, I really wanted to take a picture with Grandma and Mom, so I captured the moment with the Polaroid I brought.
Looking back, those were truly precious and warm times. Me, spending part of my vacation in Yeongdeok, I’m proud of myself once again!
I’m gradually realizing the preciousness of times that won’t return.