Ibike Korea People-to-People Program
 

 

Photo essay: Haein-sa to Daemyeon
    (60km, 36mi) Down valleys and along a lake shore
  While Haeinsa is particularly tranquil, the surround rural area is pretty sedate as well.  After descending from the mountains we were back into an assortment of picturesque agricultural valleys.
  Expressway toll booth It is a bit of a shock to come upon the toll booth at the entrance to the expressway, but it passed quick.  And, I am always happy to see vehicles heading off in a different direction and leave the country roads to the bicyclists.
  I am already struck by the esthetics of everything in Korea; the farms, mountains, villages, temples, bridges, etc, and then you come across rice bundled and drying in the field, waiting to be threshed.  Even this seems to be done with esthetic purpose, intent and flair.
  This hard working couple is using their iron donkey to help them thresh their rice (left).  We shared the experience with a camera crew from Korean MBC television (right), who is doing a feature story on the all aspects of bicycling in Korea.
  Every time I take another farmland picture I ask myself, "Why to I need another farmland picture?"  Answer: Because it is so beautiful it deserves to be acknowledged and honored with another picture.  These picture don't do justice to the beauty of the land.
  monument is made with rubber tires The base of this monument is made with rubber tires.  It is a reminder of how little garbage or anything related to solid waste disposal (i.e. garbage trucks, land fills) we saw.  Besides this use of old tires, we saw non-motorized trails made with rubber asphalt. For a variety of reason not much garbage is being created, and things that have exhausted their primary use are efficiently being transferred to second uses.  In Japanese Buddhism this would be part of the concept of "mottainai" -- done at a national level.  I have heard of a Korean concept of "salim", but it seems to be a little different and mostly applied to women and their ability to bring and keep "life" in so many things.
  While these picture could seem a little high school locker-roomish, they reflect on how accommodating the country is at so many different levels.  This facilities were along the road, probably 20 km (12 miles) from a town in any direction -- perhaps it is the center of some kind of recreational activity that is unseen to us.
  farmer hauling beans with a traditional "A" frame back pack A farmer hauling beans with a traditional "A" frame back pack.
  Okgye Seowon Okgye Seowon (a shine or a lecture hall) was originally built in 1725, by local Confusians to conserve the books "Gyengmongyogyeol" and "Haedongyeonwonrok" written by Yolgok Yi I.  The shine holds ritual ceremonies for a number of Masters.
  Family grave site Graves tend to be isolated or in small family groups.  Typically they sit on a cleared bench part way up a hillside.  The mound is the grave, which is usually accompanied by an engraved stele.  Wealthier people will also have a variety of statuary.
  Lake and hills There is an inverse relationship in bicycle touring in difficulty or speed of a ride and the number of pictures I take.  If the road is too steep or rough I tend not to take many pictures, and after I struggle up a hill and am about to go flying down the other side I seem to be reluctant to slow my new found progress to take a picture.  But when the route is flat, the pace is leisurely, the scenery like eye-candy and there is no traffic to it is easy to maneuver into ideal locations for photos, I take a lot more pictures.
  Cherry trees along road This section of road is lined with cherry trees.  It must be gorgeous in April.  It is a typical rural highway.  Even with the wide lane, there is usually also a paved space outside the edge-line. In this section the paved shoulder is narrower than most.
  Lake and trees Oh, another beautiful scene to catch on film (or storage media).  What more can you say about mile after mile of beautiful, scenic, gorgeous, nearly vehicle-free cycling. The spirit grows with every curve and new vista.
  Lake and hills Nice road, no traffic, plenty of time to look and another interesting scene to capture.  Hapcheon dam is in the distance.
  A room with a view:  Our modest hotel at the south end of Hapcheon reservoir had rooms with views to retire for -- it was sad when the sunset, but delightful to see again the next morning.
 

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