Hwaseong Fortress

Sunday a group of us took the bus to Suwon to meet my aunt's cousin. Initially, the trip was going to be a hike of Mt. Gwangkyo, but that particular day was the first official snowfall of the season; both the roads and mountains were dangerous. We opted instead to visit Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Haenggung (pictures). While in Hwaseong Haenggung, we took lots of pictures and were very touristy. We even enjoyed playing some of the traditional folk play (seesawing, yut, and tuho).

It was an unexpected trip that turned into one of the best days I've had in Korea (seems that's how it always happens)... We were able to see an amazing restoration of a palace and walk the 2-3 hour hike along the fortress walls around the city.

The day was crisp and with the snow falling, it was a beautiful experience. By mid-afternoon, the sun was out and we were enjoying a snack of tangerines and sipping on yuja cha.

The bus ride back was quiet. There seemed to be a silent agreement between the five of us, that we had just had a pretty wonderful day. It was filled with peaceful walking, fresh, crisp air, and the surreal experience of walking along a fortress wall while seeing the modern city of Suwon on the other side. A little slice of heaven on 12.20.09.