A Perfect Escape: Majang Lake and a Cozy Café

 

Just outside of the city in Paju, Majang Lake (마장호수) Suspension Bridge offers the quiet escape that feels far away from Seoul's fast pace. This place is where the day naturally slows down and turns a simple stroll into a memory.

The bridge stretches across the lake, gently swaying as you step onto it. The small thrill quickly goes to a calm as you look at panoramic views of the lake and mountains. The 220-meter bridge features a section of glass floor and steel mesh floor with a view of the lake below. 

This place has its charm in every season. In spring and summer, the area is lush and green, filled with blossoms, while autumn brings warm hues of orange, red, and yellow that make the landscape glow. Even in winter, the stillness of the lake offers a calmer and more reflective experience.

Just a short distance away, a stop at Red Bridge Bakery makes the visit more memorable. Known for its scenic views and cozy atmosphere, this café-style bakery is the perfect place to relax after you walk. Large windows frame the surrounding nature, while the scent of freshly brewed coffee and bread fills the air. You can take a moment to sit back and enjoy the slower pace as you sip on your coffee and enjoy the scenery. 

The admission to the trail and bridge is free and the area includes cafés, restaurants, and a local market. You can also enjoy some watersports during warmer weather.

This stop is an ideal way to slow down and escape the hustle and bustle of Seoul life. You don't have to go far to find something memorable. Sometimes the best trips are the simplest: a walk with a view and good cup of coffee.

A Sea of Lanterns: Spring Nights at Samgwangsa Temple

Tucked into the hills of Busan, Samgwangsa Temple (삼광사) becomes a glowing beacon each spring. While it is peaceful year-round, the temple transforms into a magical display during the annual lantern festival in May celebrating Buddha's birthday.

As dusk falls, over 40,000 lanterns flicker to life, blanketing the temple in an array of colors. As you come closer to the temple grounds, the lanterns light up the sky like a beacon in the night. The lanterns stretch across, creating a canopy of red, pink, yellow, green, and blue. Seeing the lanterns cast a soft reflection off the stone paths and temple roofs makes it feel like a peaceful, but beautiful dream. Each lantern is numbered and carries a wish or prayer, adding significance beneath the beauty.

South Korea holds a Lotus Lantern Festival (연등축제) every year in May with parades and decorations; temples around the country decorate and light up with colorful lanterns. When you visit Samgwangsa Temple, you aren't just watching, you are immersed in the general splendor of the calm, colorful atmosphere the temple exudes.

If you want to visit Samgwangsa Temple in Busan to see the lanterns, come in May. No ticket needed to enter. (P.S.~ I visited the temple at night while it was raining. The reflections from the lanterns off the water from the ground made the display so much more magical. As glorious as it was, though I would not recommend going while it's raining.^_^)

Walk Among the Clouds: Space Walk in Pohang

Built above the coastal city of Pohang in South Korea, the Pohang Space Walk feels like a dream. At first glance, the structure resembles a roller coaster frozen in mid-air.  Instead of riding it, you become part of the whole experience by walking it.

The Space Walk opened in 2021, made of over 300 meters of steel, 717 stairs twisting in a unique design for visitors to get an experience of walking among the clouds and, at the same time, to breath in the Pohang skyline.  The hint of thrill fills your every step.  

By night, the Space Walk glows against the dark sky, turning into a structure fully representing Pohang's identity, "the city of light and steel." VisitKorea  

In the world of ordinary, this experience will give you a chance to interact with the extraordinary and walk among the clouds.