At the end of last autumn, cycled around the mom's hometown, the far northern region of the province surrounding Daegu 대구. Mom's parents lived in a small village near Hwaseo 화서 when she was born, in which she had witnessed the historical moments like the independence from Japan and the Korean war. The grand parents now rest in peace at the nearby hill with a good view, and the uncle and aunt below them, too.
Parked at Hwaseo township office in the morning, and headed southwards towards Hwanggan 황간 along the typical rural road. It was a little bit chilly, chiller than Daegu. Passed small villages and arrived at the bottom of mountain pass. As other people, mother had to cross the high mountain pass named Subong Jae 수봉재 on foot to go and come to Hwanggan, where a railway station is located. She doesn't remember how long it took from her village to the railway station on foot, however, she said sometimes she must spend a night at her relative' home in a village on the way home. For her son, about two and half an hour were enough to reach the station from the township office by bicycle. The high mountain pass is under construction in order to lower the height and widen the road.
It was the second visit to Hwanggan, whose railway station, catholic church on the hill and downtown seem to be the same as before. The quiet town scenery keeps a visitor warm and secure as ever.
On the way back, ran eastwards to Chupungryeong 추풍령 that has the highest altitude railway station on the Seoul-Busan railroad line. A water tank tower in the place where steam locomotives stopped to refill water still remains. And then, headed northwards and passed through three villages, Modong 모동, Moseo 모서 and Hwadong 화동, and finally reached at the graves nestled in the hill where the grandparents, uncle, aunts and elder cousin sister are buried.
