Well, it’s almost a month since we returned from Korea. Regrettably, a lot of details that happened during our trip have become increasingly blurred with the lapse of time, like the names of the places that we had been to. But as I briefly glanced through the 1000+ photos (from my camera and my sister’s camera) that we took during the trip, I know certain memories won’t be lost, like how Korea was our first ever overseas trip together. Just the 3 of us spending time together, sharing an abalone feast, gasping at the wonders of nature in Jeju, doing funny poses in the trick art museum and our crazy shopping in Myeongdong.
Us travelling to Korea for the first time
One of the many waterfalls we visited in Jeju
Being close to nature and loving it
The abalone feast that costs us 100,000 won
If I have to choose a word to describe this trip, the most appropriate word would be eventful. We are not just talking about a tightly-packed itinerary. I have never tried missing my flight and bus all in the same trip. From the day we touched down till the night of our departure, we have had so many encounters to share. Somehow, I feel the transport system in Korea seems to be very much against us three… We were sold the wrong bus tickets to Lotte Hotel World, we missed our original flight to Jeju and then we also missed the airport transfer on our night of departure. From day one to day eight, it’s nothing short of shocks and surprises for us.
But if you throw all these aside, this summer trip was still pretty amazing. I broke my personal kimchi-eating record by eating kimchi on a daily basis, I burnt a hole in my own pocket with my spending, I fell in love with Jeju in the embrace of nature and in the company of our friendly tour guide, and most importantly, I fulfilled a 2013 wish to lend my support to the comfort women personally at their weekly Wednesday protest. To be physically in Korea, to have seen what I saw, to have done what I did, to have met awesome people, I am blessed to have the encounters that I have had in this country, both sweet and the not-so-sweet…
Yongmeori Coast
Felt so tiny in the arms of Mother Nature
The comfort women statue opposite the Japanese Embassy
My tiniest effort in this long fight for comfort women rights. I believe they deserve an apology.
As I scroll through the photos, a wave of thoughts and emotions just came back to me naturally, like what happened at the particular moment at that particular shot, like how did I even end up in that particular pose in that particular spot. That’s the beauty of photography I believe, to tell the story behind each frame.
My victorious moment after retrieving the hat!
With that, I will use these photos to revisit those memories, to re-live in those moments, to re-feel those emotions, and most importantly, to be thankful that I have had the chance to step foot in Korea in 2014 with my 2 sisters.
Our sisterly shadow pose!