Autumn gold of Korea

Lost in Hanok Village

My days in Korea fell right in the most beautiful season of this country. And autumn in this land, for me, begins with the ginkgo trees in front of my house turning yellow, and the persimmon trees starting to bear tiny fruits.

The autumn rain occasionally stops by the small village, drizzling dreamily outside the window. On a leisurely weekend, I meander through the riverside walkway where poppies of various colors and rows of clover are blooming, finding my way to the Hanok village. This is a village built during the ancient Joseon Dynasty, with moss-covered tiled roofs covered with yellow leaves.

Here, it feels like I am returning to a thousand years ago, like I am lost in the ancient wind with the naughty eunuch and the prince in "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" - a famous historical drama filmed in the ancient buildings here.

And under the row of hundred-year-old ginkgo trees with brilliant yellow leaves, many shy girls in colorful hanboks with hairpins, radiantly pose for a souvenir photo. The girls' smiles are like sunshine, making passersby turn to look, attractive enough, and brilliant enough for a passionate youth.

The streets are covered with yellow leaves.

Passing through the ancient roofs, walking into the tunnel, where the two main characters of the movie “Age 25, Age 21” met to say goodbye to each other – also the farewell of youth, sadly wondering about reunion and separation.

Then I walked into the forest of red maple leaves like sparkling stars, suddenly singing Vu's old song: "Autumn falls on me, on yesterday's dream", thinking about autumn passing and winter coming, and the dreams that autumn lulls to an incomplete state...

Holiday season

Autumn is also the season of festivals. It is Chuseok – the Mid-Autumn Festival – a day when families gather to watch the moon and eat Songpyeon – soft, round, sweet rice cakes.

Or the annual October Bibimbap Festival held on the streets of Jeonju – the culinary capital and birthplace of the famous Bibimbap. There, people parade along the streets, enjoy giant bowls of mixed rice together, and pray for a bountiful harvest.

Autumn is the season when crabs are at their best. As people often say, autumn is the season to enjoy chrysanthemums, watch the moon, and eat crabs.
Drive through the changing leaves of the forest, head south to Yonsu, a coastal city, and line up at the most famous small restaurant (in Korea, famous restaurants are often small and pretty places) to enjoy the famous soy sauce crab.

Peel off the shell, the transparent crab meat blends with the soy sauce, sweet but not fishy at all. Add a spicy green chili, and you can taste the flavors of four seasons.

Looking out the door, there was the blue sea of autumn sky, the Dolsan cable car was slowly drifting, and inside the warm restaurant was a steaming pot of kimchi crab hotpot.

Or one morning, go to Busan, watch the sunrise on Haeundae beach, the autumn sea has calm waves and light sunshine. In the afternoon, buy a Blue Train ticket to sit and watch the train slowly go up the mountain, open your eyes to see the whole view of Busan beach.

Then wander along the beach, occasionally watching fireworks that someone suddenly lights up, shining brightly in the night.

The familiar road I walk home every morning and evening with rows of red maple leaves and ginkgo trees with bright yellow leaves, I remember the story of the oath and the waiting of a teenage love in the Conan the Fan-shaped Wings story.

The old building next door, the persimmon tree is gradually falling to give nutrition to the plump round fruits. Take a deep breath, knowing that the earth and sky are in eternal cycle. But this autumn will dye my memories yellow, no matter how many other seasons pass in my life...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/vang-thu-xu-han-3141935.html