A Quick Getaway to the Korean Countryside: Gurye & Namwon

Another vacation flew by so fast!
I felt like I wouldn't have any time once the semester starts, so...
I'm writing this while secretly slacking off at work. Shhh!
Let's go on a *chon-캉스* (countryside vacation)!
Off to Namwon I go!
Last time, I went to Jeonju for a one-night, two-day trip and it was way too tiring.
So, I decided to take it easy with a two-night, three-day trip this time, haha.
The scenery along the way was so lush and beautiful, making the trip much less tiring.
Oh, right! The first day wasn't actually Namwon, but Gurye.
I had this prejudice that there wouldn't be enough to see in Namwon for three days, so (?),
I made a quick stop in Gurye on the way.
First meal: Sangnam Cheese!
They sell pork cutlets, pasta, and pizza, but
I forgot that I was planning to have pork cutlet again the next day and ordered... pork cutlet.
I should have ordered pasta...

The pork cutlet was unique, with cheese wrapped around the outside.
And it was slightly spicy.

I'm an open-minded Christian girl... (lol)
I heard there were many famous temples in Gurye, so
I went to Hwaeomsa Temple, which is said to have beautiful scenery.
It was fun to look around.
The sky was so pretty and it was fun taking pictures, so I was very satisfied.
But it was too hot, so I went down after 15 minutes.

The sky was crazy pretty!

Exhausted from the heat, I went to a cafe...
But wouldn't you know it, there were no seats!
I asked how long the wait would be, and they said
there were already people waiting, so it would take a long time...
Almost crying, I was looking at the menu to at least get takeout when...
Suddenly, the cafe owner started pouring food out in the garden
for the baby kittens to eat.
I was too busy petting them to even think about the menu.
How could I leave you guys?!

Are you hot too...?

Gimme paw! 🥺
So, I ended up eating at an outdoor table in the garden.
It was bearable since it was shaded,
and I could endure it because of the cats.
I took one picture of my drink,
and five hundred pictures of the cats.
Ah, so cute, the best, exhilarating!

After my cat therapy, I went to a souvenir shop.
It was the only souvenir shop I found in Gurye, but
it was a ceramics and tableware shop, which wasn't really my style, so
I took a quick look and left.
It was a renovated old post office,
and the interior was very pretty.

More cat therapy here.
Just lying there like that.
I thought it was a doll.

This is a large three-story used bookstore.
They have a lot of old books, and if you look, you can find new ones too.
The prices are cheap, mostly around ₩4,000~6,000,
and the inventory is so huge that it was fun to browse.
I bought two books and read a little before heading to the accommodation!

First meal: Yukhoe bibimbap (Korean beef tartare with rice and vegetables) at Ijo Galbi.
Ever since I had yukhoe in Seoul, it was so delicious that
I couldn't stop thinking about it...
This place was also delicious.
But I want yukhoe, not bibimbap.

An art museum that is a work of art in itself.
Actually, I think there's nothing to see except for the building.

Arrived at the cafe quickly.
There were a lot of people and quite a wait,
but there was no kiosk or staff to guide people, so
it was common to sit down without knowing anything and then have your seat taken by someone who was already waiting...
We were one of those people who sat down without knowing anything,
but they didn't kick us out without knowing...

So, we just sat there.
But the shaved ice took 30 minutes to come out.
But it was so delicious that I forgave them.
I resolved a misunderstanding and talked with my friend while waiting for the shaved ice, so
it's a lucky shaved ice, right?

Why are there cats in every picture?
I walked diligently while fighting the heat, but
it was Liberation Day, so they were closed...
Only a cat came out to greet us from inside.

I was so disappointed that I couldn't go that day, so I tried again the next day, but
they were closed again...
When are they ever open....?

I came to the place I was most looking forward to in Namwon.
It seemed impossible to go in the middle of the day at 34 degrees Celsius, so
I went around 5 p.m. after sunset and was very satisfied.
The sunset clouds
and the lights at night were even prettier.
I'm jealous of the people of Namwon for being able to use this as a walking path...
I had a proper healing experience.

The best *naengmyeon* (cold noodles)!

Had a delicious dinner
and had a snack party at the accommodation because it was the last night,
and binged *The Glory*.
Why is it so fun?
There were definitely a lot of movies we said we'd watch,
but once we turned on *The Glory*, we couldn't escape.

Tada! It's already lunch on the third day.
There was a small parking lot behind the building, so I went there, but
it was so narrow that I almost cried, sob.
The owner was saying something,
but I couldn't understand any of his dialect, an issue arose.
I just wanted him to do it, but
he said, "Come out here!"
The best....^^
The pork cutlet was so delicious too.

Found the best *neu-jo-ko* (feeling-good course) in Namwon.
I came here because it was a filming location for *Mr. Sunshine*, but
it's a beautiful place full of nature without any strange photo zones...
A place that makes you want to take pictures despite the heat...
It's a bit remote, so it seems difficult without a car.

Taking pictures of each other.
Seems like it's become a routine, lol.

It felt like a Japanese countryside and it was so nice!
Actually, it rained a lot this week, but
how did such a beautiful sky unfold the whole time?
I was so grateful for this trip.

To be exact, it's the *Seoanae Forest*!
I didn't expect much because it was said to be small, but it was better than I thought.
It was the only place that was cool despite being outdoors.
It's about the size of a garden, but the trees are so dense that
the air is good and it's very healing!
I wanted to lie down and read a book for a long time, but
it's the last day, so I'm sad...????

Just lying down on the bench.

Had a good rest!

I was going to *Japhakdasik* but it was sold out, so I went here instead,
and it was surprisingly the best cafe in Namwon!
It was calm and serene,
and you could tell that the owner put a lot of thought into the details.
Thanks to this, I finished my Namwon trip well!

We said, "Let's take film photos of each other like this!" but
I didn't know there was only one frame of film left.
I took a picture of my friend and it ended.
I'm glad I took a picture of my friend first...

I was grateful for the good weather throughout the trip
and grateful that I was able to go.
It was a relaxing and happy trip to Namwon.
I hope my friend who went with me felt the same way...














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