[Haenam·Gangjin/1 Night] Humanities Healing Journey for Rest | Hwangchilnamu (Dendropanax tree) Picnic & Hinoki Cypress Singing Bowl 🍃
In the first week of September, I set off on a 2-day, 1-night trip to Haenam and Gangjin, dragging my body and mind, exhausted from city life in Seoul. To start with the conclusion, despite the short duration, it was a trip so packed with activities that I found myself thinking, "Is it really this fulfilling?" I loved the very first stop. At a place called 'Ganman-ui-sup,' we set up a parasol on the lawn and switched into full travel mode with our packed picnic lunches. At the nearby 30,000-pyeong Hwangchil Farm Forest, we played a color-matching game where we attached color charts to egg cartons and had to find leaves or flowers of the same color. Surprisingly, we found ourselves getting seriously immersed in it. It had been a long time since grown adults had returned to their childlike innocence to laugh and chat like children. Next, we visited Nogwudang, the ancestral home of Gosan Yun Seon-do. As we toured the tranquil Hanok veranda and special exhibitions, I felt the history of the space layered upon layer. Daeheungsa Temple was truly overwhelming! Standing in that vast courtyard, surrounded by the peaks of Mt. Duryun like a folding screen, gave me a feeling of my heart opening up—you really have to experience it for yourself to understand. The scenery, harmoniously blended with nature, was so breathtaking that it was difficult to capture it all in a photograph. For dinner, we had a hearty Jeolla-style barley rice set meal! There were over ten different vegetable side dishes served—enough to bend the table legs—and among them, the Haenam kimchi was truly moving. I truly realized why the generosity of Jeolla side dishes is so famous. Our accommodation was 'Ttanggeut Sanghoe.' It was a two-story Western-style house complete with a terrace; considering the spaciousness—enough for four people to stay comfortably—and the price, it was truly the best value for money. The view of the sunset and the pine forest from the balcony made me feel like I was in heaven. On the second day, we started the day with singing bowl meditation in a space with floor-to-ceiling windows surrounded by the forest. Breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sounds was a truly healing experience. It felt as if my body and mind were being completely cleansed; it was a complete healing that I hadn't felt in a long time. After filling up on a hearty breakfast of abalone-rich porridge, we headed to Saeuijae in Gangjin, the site of Jeong Yak-yong's exile, and Baegun-dong Garden. I loved the bamboo forest paths at Baegun-dong Garden, which were so dense they almost blocked out the sky. Learning the story of Lee Han-young, a master of Korean tea, added depth to the trip. The finale was a tea time at Baegun Tea Room! We wrapped up the journey with a cup of brewed tea accompanied by exquisite snacks, and I wondered if there could have been a more perfect ending. From nature, history, tea culture, meditation, to food—this course packed a day and a half with time dedicated to caring for both body and mind. It was a true journey of healing and relaxation, where I could fully rest at a leisurely pace without having to rush. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is feeling exhausted and weary. It doesn't feel awkward at all to be alone, but next time, I want to bring my mom to share this healing experience with me.