FROZEN AT THE GARDEN OF MORNING CALM
I
had no idea South Korea is dubbed as the Land of the Morning Calm until the
billboards and tourism campaign materials distributed at downtown Seoul say so.
Standing
at one corner of the Cheongpyeong Subway Station (Gyeonchon Line-Exit 1),
specifically adjacent to the Tourism Office, we noticed an image of a vast
garden illuminated. We asked the tourism
officer of where the photo was taken and in a matter of minutes we
spontaneously decided to hop on the Gapyeong City Tour Bus. An hour later, we are now at the famed Garden of
the Morning Clam.
Making
the research after the visit, I learned that the garden is the oldest private
garden in Korea. It is an artistic space
with a beautiful balance between the Korean concept of natural curves with
asymmetry, and plants with synthetic materials.
In
addition to the amazing foliage at the Garden of the Morning Calm, there are a
variety of festivals and displays held throughout the year. Grand festivals
include the Spring Garden Festival (Spring); Festival of Roses; Hydrangeas and
Roses of Sharon (Summer); Festival of Chrysanthemums and Autumnal Tints
(Autumn) and in time for our visit, the Lighting Festival (Winter).
I
don’t know if we were underdressed for the winter season but I was literally chilling. The winter breeze hovers and I could feel the
same penetrate my skin to the point of being numb.
We
were actually on the mountains, a high elevation where chilling is inevitable,
more so that we were there on a winter season.
A coffee shop in the middle of the mountain amidst a vast acre of
well-landscaped and fascinating horticultural display became our comfort
zone. The installed heater was such a
relief.
Gardens
and similar landscapes are definitely bland in a winter season. But the Lighting Festival makes up for it.
The
Lighting Festival is the biggest festival of lights in Korea, covering a
thousand hectare of land illuminated by 30,000 lights. The main gardens include the Hakyung Garden,
Hometown House Garden, Bonsai Garden, Moonlight Garden, Sky Path and Garden of
Eden, with colorful lights adorning the trees.
It was such a good experience to witness the garden lit up
notwithstanding the shivers and the threat of cracked lips if we stay longer.
A
certain corner also caught our attention where younger generations of Koreans
pin down notes or letters (love letters I suppose?) in a heart-shaped
installation lit up as well. The concept
is similar to that of the famed love locks.
Though
almost frozen at the Garden of the Morning Calm, the backdrop nevertheless
helps to reduce the slight discomfort. Unplanned,
it becomes one of the highlights for this South Korean trip.
HOW TO GET THERE
By Bus:
From Sangbong Bus Terminal
or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal take a bus bound for Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal.
Or
Take
Bus No. 1330 at Cheongnyangni Transfer Center (in front of Lotte Department
Store) and get off at the Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal.
From
Cheongpyeong Terminal, take a bus bound for the Garden of the Morning
Calm. Alternatively, take the Gapyeong
City Tour Bus.
By Subway:
Cheongpyeong
Station (Gyeonchun Line), Exit 1.
Go
left until you reach the 3-way intersection and turn right. Continue straight toward the Cheongpyeong
Catholic Church. Pass by Cheongpyeong
Elementary School, turn left and you will see the Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal.
From
the terminal, take a bus bound for the Garden of the Morning Calm. Alternatively, take the Gapyeong City Tour
Bus.
1 comments
The place looks very beautiful specially the trees with the lights on. nakakamangha! Anyway, I am interviewing top pinoy travel bloggers and I found you. Are you open for an interview? Kindly let me know if you're interested, email is jacarandatravels@gmail.com. Thank you :)
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