Vagabonding in the Rain- Namhae!

It's a rainy Friday afternoon in Seoul and there is nothing but rain, rain and more rain in the weather forecast all weekend long. The choice was simple- I'm heading down to Namhae rain or shine as I was sparked by a TV documentary highlighting this island on Korea's south shores I had seen several weeks before. Taking my bicycle along was a last minute decision but I'm glad I decided to take it along as public transportation is not very frequent on this laid back island. Indeed Namhae provided a much different face of Korea I have never seen before.



Riding through Namhae's "Green Village" (녹색 마을)







Hiking up 금산 in the pouring rain.



Taking a break after hiking in the rain.

I was lucky to have found some of the nicest minbak owners ever- they cooked me a full breakfast in the morning and took me out to dinner in the evening and refused my money when I tried to give them some extra cash for their generousity. They thought I was completely out of my mind for riding my bike all day in the rain. "Korean people don't usually travel in the rain," they said when I showed up on their doorstep soaking wet. I told them that American people also don't travel when it rains either, but I am just a very special person. I was lucky enough to even meet some of their friends, including an older retired "grandfather" who had lived in the states for around fifty years. He came back to Namhae and started an American Village along the island's shores. The American Village now gives Namhae an even more international feel as there is also a German Village on the island, made up mostly of retired people who enjoy Namhae's laid back atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, even though much of the beautiful scenery I had seen on TV was nowhere to be seen as fog covered most of the ocean shore and mountain landscapes. I will have to return again soon to see the rest of Korea's "treasure island."



One of Namhae's many beaches



Korea's treasure island provides plenty of places to explore.