A WINTER SONATA IN Gangwon
BORN IN A TROPICAL COUNTRY, I USED TO THINK ABOUT "SNOW" AS A STRANGE, DISTANT CONCEPT. THEN MY TRIP TO GANGWON, WHERE THE WINTER SEASON IS NATURALLY PEACEFUL AND LIVELY WITH COLORFUL FESTIVALS, WAS TRULY A GIFT COVERED IN WHITE SNOW.
THE BRILLIANT HIGH NOTES
The first activity in my 4-day trip in Gangwon was skiing. I couldn’t help the excitement of the first time seeing the white snow. The most notable skiing area in Gangwon is Alpensia Ski Resort, located on a mountain of 700 m above sea level. Alpensia is like a small town, fully equipped with winter sports area, golf course, restaurant, casino and high-class hotel system. With 6 ski peaks and a capacity of over 3,000 people, Alpensia was the venue for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Excitedly dressed in a bright red ski suit, I slowly walked step by step on the heavy boots and followed the instructor. Stepping out of the
Ski House, striking me in the face was the -8°C air and the snow-white scenery stretching to the horizon. But the chill quickly disappeared when the instructor told me how to warm up, how to attach shoes to the snowboard and how to slide for the first time. There were only a dozen people - all tourists - soon all filled with excitement. After a bit of fear and anxiety, I finally decided to ride the lift to the top of the slope where the whole ski area was now in my sight. For the first time in my life, I dropped myself on the white snowy slope at an unbelievable speed in thrilling joy. Every fall I had on the snow was a quiet puff as I was “hugged” by the snow. I lay still in the snow, looking up at the cloudless blue sky. My childhood dream of lying on the snow was really happening, like in a fairy tale, or a wonderful experience that Gangwon has given me.
THE SMOOTH LOW NOTES
As the sun was fading, I quickly packed my ski gear to ride the cable car on Balwangsan Mountain. This is the longest cable car ride in Asia with 7.4 km in each direction, providing spectacular views of the mountains and forest in Balwangsan. After spending nearly 20 minutes in the cabin to watch the scene outside, the cold air once again welcomed me on the top of Balwangsan along with the brilliant yet melancholy sunset of a winter day. Every sparkle of snow reflected the light and created a magical scene that immerses people in that brilliant moment of the fading sun.
To end that long snowy day, enjoying
Hanjeongsik, a traditional Korean meal, was the best choice. Looking at the dishes arranged in order with all colors can make any diner feel hungry like a wolf.
There was also another way to enjoy the beautiful Gangwon winter: ice fishing for salmon at Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival. Held at the end of January every year in the upper reaches of the Bukhan River, ice fishing for salmon has become the most participated activity for a true winter vacation. A fishing rod, a pair of gloves and some patience are all you need. Sancheoneo is a native freshwater salmon, living in cold water of -20oc. My Korean friend told me, “The water where sancheoneo live is very clean!” I’m not sure how long I’ve been sitting still, but what’s really appealing to me is not catching so many salmon but enjoying the crystal-clear water.
AND SOME SILENCE
“Gangwon is so cold, do you want some hot coffee?” - that was the reason for me to visit Anmok Gangneung the famous coastal coffee street. For just a small fee, you can make your own cup of “handdrip coffee” under the guidance of professional baristas. The coffee aroma blended in the air makes everyone feel comfortable on a cold day. Holding a cup of hot coffee and looking far away, watching the blue sea in the sunshine, I feel that everything is so calm and peaceful. Another pleasant experience that I enjoyed was when visiting Woljeongsa Temple - a complex of Buddhist relics from the 7th century under the reign of King Shilla. Nestled amid the coniferous forests of Odaesan Mountain, Woljeongsa Temple brings peace to visitors with its special experiences: tea ceremony, reflective meditation, Buddhist ritual practice and prayer beads making. Nearly two hours of performing 108 prostrations to string 108 prayer beads gave me a lesson in patience and calm. Every single bead I made was a sorrow that was removed from my heart.
In the golden afternoon sunlight, I walked along the priest on a small path amid the coniferous forest. There were the sounds of softly rustling leaves, the sounds of whispering streams through layers of ice and the sounds of a breeze blowing silently, bringing me to serenity. This quiet tranquility is really hard to find the middle of the noisy everyday life.
HOLDING A CUP OF HOT COFFEE AND LOOKING FAR AWAY, WATCHING THE BLUE SEA IN THE SUNSHINE, I FEEL THAT EVERYTHING IS SO CALM AND PEACEFUL.