Took a hike up Mt. Apsan 앞산 last Sunday. It has been really a long time since hiked last time because almost every weekend had been spent just cycling. Daegu has Mt. Apsanlocated just south of the city, meaning front mountain.
It was a chilly and windy yet slightly warm day! The fresh air made it feel better without sweating. During the pandemic, the hikers need other gears like face masks. Seems the sunny weather made people rush out and hit the trail.
ApsanJarak-gil trail 앞산 자락길 in Daegu was opened to the public in 2009. It consists of 6 sections whose names have their own hidden meanings. They are linked at the southern foot of the mountain. The ridge trail to the summit is easily accessible from trailheads spotted along Jarak-gil trail. The hike began at Youth training center and ascends some 660 meters up a rugged ridge.
Hikers are rewarded with sweeping views of the Daegu Valley at several points along the trail ridge to the summit with multiple viewpoints of Mt. Apsan. With the telecommunication facilities installed, the summit had been closed for ages. Recently the facility was moved aside and the viewing platform was placed instead.
A HOT guy could be seen in short shirts on the top of the mountain, while all the others in thick warm, or goose jackets. It was a funny contrast between them in the cold season.
Joseon 조선 dynasty(1392–1910) had the institution of Naesi 내시 who was a eunuch official, having served at the palace as a court attendant. Kim Byeongik 김병익(1842∼1925) was a Naesi at the royal court in the late Joseon dynasty.
He came from the Kim family having resided in Imdang-ri village 임당리 in Geumcheon township 금천면, Cheongdo county 청도군 in Gyeongbuk 경북 province which had continued over 400 years, sixteen generations. His family line started a few years back before the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592.
Kim Byeongik, whose pen name was Ullim, was the 15th descendent of the Kim family. He held high office in the palace, in the later year, he retired to his home in Imdang-ri and built his own house, which has been well conserved until now. The house is called Ullim old house 운림고택.
Ullim house has a building structure that had been popular in the 19th century. Similarly, the house style of the wealthier Yangban 양반 family, the highest social class in the Joseon period, has separate quarters as influenced by the Confucian culture: male quarters, secondary male quarters, and female quarters. However, this house has extra gates to shut off access to the outside world for the women residing in the house.
Besides, gate quarters, servants' quarters, a main storehouse, a secondary storehouse, and a shrine are also located inside. The retired Naesi set his house facing towards north-west in the direction of the palace, not south, expressing his undying loyalty to the king in the palace. A south-facing home has been the most preferable in Korea.
This house has also unique and distinct features from other houses; the male quarters are unusually located to make it easier to see people passing through the gate at the entrance of the female quarters. The inner gate attached to the secondary male quarters is the only entrance to the female quarters. From the male quarters, all those who enter through the gate are easily visible, intending to minimize the likelihood of contact between the women living in the quarters and others, particularly men. With the only exception of parental death, the wives were not allowed to leave the house for their life.
The secondary male quarters, female quarters, and two storehouses, which are joined together by both of their sidewalls, form a square courtyard in the middle. The shrine and garden pond are located right in front of the main gate.
Naesi could not be a father, he was still allowed to marry a woman to form a family as the basic unit of Confucian traditional society and adopt a child from another family or an orphan or castrated boy to carry on the family line even though not sharing the same bloodline.
It was inevitable that their stepsons came from diverse families. The Kim family's genealogical record found recently at the shrine includes the names of the male line of descent from the 2nd to the 16th generation, and shows us its descendants had almost different surnames, appearing to be almost unprecedented in Korea.
The institution of Naesiwas formally abolished in 1908. The 17th generation descendent was also castrated but didn't work in the palace as a court attendant. Since the 18th generation descendent, they have maintained a normal father-son relationship.
In the mountain range in the far eastern region of DaeguliesMt. Guryongsan 구룡산. Legend has it that a daughter of the dragon king of the sea lived here with 9 children. Guryong 구룡 means 9 dragons, san a mountain. A few scattered villages including Guryong-ri 구룡리 are spotted along the road at the foot of the mountain. The top floor not that far from the villages affords a panoramic view surrounding the mountain.
About 200 years ago, anti-Catholic persecutions began to prevail across the nation. Some Catholics had to leave their home to escape religious persecution; this place became one of the best shelters for them moving across the country and then a religious community during the period of persecution wasestablished here like other shelters. Around 100 years ago, a catholic church station was built here after the persecution had ended. The station is designed to embrace the traditional Korean style.
The hiking trail runs through the summit of Mt. Guryongsan to Geoncheon 건천. Have ever hiked along the trail fromYongseong to Geoncheon a couple of times during the autumn.
The paved roads lead to the bottom of the mountain from Yongseoung on the eastern side and Unmun Dam 운문댐 on the southern one. The road condition of the upper side of the routes is not that good. This winter, a cyclist was attracted to this route which is exposed to steep uphill and downhill and typical winter landscape. It was a chilly and windy day.
The start and endpoints of the route were the parking lot of the Yongseong myeon(township) office 용성면사무소. Guryong-ri, the sky village, and the lakeside of Unmun Dam were included in the route. The path gets steeper with a maximum gradient of 28% as you cycle further until you reach the upper. Didn't encounter any other riders along the upper path. Cycling is much safer and more pleasant on quiet routes. That was a considerably calmer and more exciting route through the mountains, fields, and villages, while the traffic around the lakeside of Unmun Dam was a little busy.
It would be interesting for a cyclist to visit some places on the route for the first time in his life.
Autumn had gone and winter is on the doorstep. Before winter comes, planned to cycle around Hapcheon lake 합천호 for the first time last weekend. The Hapcheon dam is a multi-purpose one, constructed on the Hwang River, 51 km west of Daegu in South Korea. The dam provides hydroelectric power, supply water, and control flooding. Construction began in 1984, and 1988 saw the completion of the dam.
Loaded the bicycle into the SUV and drove to Hapcheon for about 50 minutes. Parked the car around Hapcheon public stadium and then got started cycling westwards. It was a perfect day for a bike ride that you could feel so cool without any sweating. But soon while the road approaching the lakeside goes uphill, sweating started slowly. The lake loop road covers approximately 52 km. The road follows gentle upward and downward slopes; it is rarely straight but goes constantly bending.
Among Korean cyclists, this lake loop road is famous for its rolling lakeside hills along with panoramic views. There are no bicycle lanes on the loop road and cyclists have no choice but to ride in traffic. Cyclists must be careful as usual when cycling close to cars.
Cycling in scorching hot day brings whole set of challenges. Most of the time, it is very common to feel extremely fatigued and heavy sweating. Plus, excessive sweating could be a sign they're stressed or anxious.
August 16th was one of the hottest days this summer. Cycling alongside the rural country road felt exciting and peaceful as well. However, the strong sunlight and high humidity increased Discomfort Index, almost too high to bear.
Anyway, decided to cycle around Geumseong myeon 금성면 that has an ancient name of Tam-ri 탑리. A five storied stone pagoda stands at the center of the town, which estimated to be built during Shilla dynasty.
Parked the car at a parking lot near the pagoda, started cycling eastwards, turned on the left and continued heading northwards. Sujeong buddhist temple 수정사 nestled in the middle of mountain valley is the uphill end.
So tired and had not choice but to get off the bicycle even if the destination was almost seen in the front. Took a rest for some minutes drinking water and then arrived shortly.
The temple seems to have been changed a lot since visited here long time ago. After taking a rest, returned to the turning point, cycled eastwards again. Chunsan 춘산 was halfway point. It was not possible to cycle any longer due to fatigue and heat exhaustion, and besides the bicycle had also a few troubles with noises, so decided to turn back without hesitation.
Drove to Geoncheon 건천 and parked the car near Geoncheon stadium and started cycling eastwards to Gyeongju 경주 along national highway No. 4. From the west side, you usually cross Seocheonbridge 서천교 to get to downtown of Gyeongju. Took a detour heading south to Bulguksa temple 불국사. The cycle trail leads along the bank of Seocheon and Namcheon river. Took some photos around Weoljeong bridge 월정교 recently restored and started south soon. Not far up from there, you can see rice green paddy fields these days.
The 80 km route covers the roads which runs up mountain pass of Mt. Toham 토함산 via Bulguksatemple and downhill to the point in which national highway No. 4 connecting Gyeongju and Gampo 감포 meets the road. On the way back, you can take the old road partly closed due to landslide and cross the scenic pass named Churyeong 추령재. The road runs along the river between the mountains and the edge of Deokdong 덕동 reservoir and finally connects Bomun 보문 resort, and then runs alongside the bank of Bukcheon 북천 and Seocheon river. Crossed Seocheon bridge and returned back to the starting point, Geoncheon.
Parked the car around HCW(Hapcheon-Changnyeong weir) and started cycling southward along the cycling trail on or by the bank of Nakdong River. The riverbank has beautiful views of the serene river surrounding mountains.
History reminds us that this area used to be a ferocious and bloody battlefield during the Korean War(1950–1953). The North Korean communist army had pushed into the west bank of the river from the north with increasing vigor and watched vigilantly for opportunities to cross the river. Then, the US army was deployed to defend the eastern side of the river and finally succeeded in deterring the enemy attack and preventing the enemy army from crossing the river toward the east.
The southbound cyclists will struggle to ride up a steep uphill named Parkjin pass 박진 고개. Some cyclists claim that this could be the toughest one throughout the whole bicycle trail along Nakdong river. Cyclists can see also various scribbles written in Korean and English along with the roadside blocks, which describe their or their lovers' names, wishes, and a little foul language expressing themselves during tough climbing.
Loaded a bicycle into a SUV and drove to Yeongdeok 영덕 about 2 hours to start cycling. It has been the long awaited dream to cycle around this rural coastal area where to be raised for a few years during childhood. Cycled northwardsfrom Yeongdeok Stadium and turned right past a village named Dogokri 도곡리 in the north and headed eastwards to Chuksan port 축산항. The route either to the southward, northward from the port leads you Yeongdeok's most beautiful coastal areas. Panoramic views along the coastline road, approximately 30 km long are fabulous. Hiking trails along the east coastline was also launched and named Blue Road. This scenic coastal hiking and cycling are well worth doing.
There are no subjects or doers with regards to Buddha and living things, the only one that exists is Karma for every living being. All existences are intrinsically empty. Buddha nature is emptiness and selflessness itself, which is ascertained by dependent origination(pratītyasa- mutpāda in Sanskrit).
Every living being without exception has the Buddha nature. Intrinsically endowed with the true nature, all sentient beings have already been enlightened regardless of their awareness of this truth.
Not formed by practice, no anguish to vanish,
Not to be gotten dirty by anguish, not to be purified through practice,
