🍂 Autumn's End, A Day in Yeoncheon

#May Travel Support Fund Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024 Weather: Clear and cool autumn breeze Transportation: Private car (Seoul → Yeoncheon, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes) ⸻ 🚗 9:00 AM – Depart from Seoul Early morning, the clear autumn sunlight shone through the window. As I left the city and entered the highway, the car was filled with autumn air. The ginkgo leaves on the roadside were turning yellow, and I could see the changing colors of the season through the car window. ⸻ 🍃 10:40 AM – Arrived at Yeoncheon Imjingang Daepsari Park As soon as I entered the park entrance, the endless Daepsari colony filled my field of vision. At the midpoint where it changed from green to red, the Daepsari swayed in the wind, and its appearance was like an oil painting. There were people lining up at every photo zone, but there was no need to compete to take pictures. It was enough to just walk slowly and soak in the red scenery. A quiet walking path stretched between the deciduous trees, and my steps naturally slowed down. ⸻ ☕ 12:30 PM – Taking a break at the Hanok Cafe ‘Serabee’ A 15-minute drive from the deciduous tree park, the Hanok Cafe ‘Serabee’ was impressive from the entrance. The neatly placed jars in the yard, the well-trimmed stone wall, and the quiet garden sat quietly in the autumn sunlight. The interior was simply decorated, and the yard was visible no matter where I sat. The mugwort latte and pumpkin cake I ordered went surprisingly well with this space. The deep, rich scent of mugwort and the soft sweetness of the cake filled the afternoon void. Sitting at the table, I felt like I could spend hours without saying a word. The sunlight seeped into my hand holding the coffee cup, and the wind shook the leaves beyond the kimchi jar. ⸻ 🌼 2:00 PM – Yeoncheon Chrysanthemum Festival The chrysanthemum festival I stopped by after leaving Serabi was not very large, but it had a neat beauty. Chrysanthemums of various colors were in full bloom, and a walking path was connected along a small hill. There were a lot of people, but it wasn’t noisy. I walked while smelling the scent of the flowers and took a few pictures. Small sculptures made of chrysanthemums were lovingly arranged, and yellow light spread through the red chrysanthemums. Some walked through the space with their families, some alone, and some with their lovers. I was one of them, slowly passing through autumn. ⸻ 🌇 4:00 PM – Returning to Seoul There was less talking in the car on the way back. Only the soft music flowing from the radio filled the background. Because it was a day filled with autumn, the lingering feeling was greater than the regret. The sun was setting outside the car window, and the scenery I saw today slowly passed through my mind again. The red waves of the radish, the hanok yard with a jar stand, the scent of chrysanthemums, and the sound of the wind. ⸻ 📝 Today's memory Yeoncheon was a place where autumn came before the city. 'Serabee' was more than just a cafe; it was a spatial experience. The season deepens in an instant, and the day lasts long enough. Today was like a letter sent by autumn. #YeoncheonDaepsariPark #YeoncheonChrysanthemumFestival #YeoncheonSerabee