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Continued from Solo in Jeju Again – The Main Story . I'm a P to begin with, but I become even more of one when I travel. I decided to take this trip three days before leaving, and didn't start looking into accommodations, transportation, and everything else until the day before. To be fair, I'd done the same thing on my last bike trip around the island without any problems, so I wasn't worried. But wouldn't you know it: there were no spots left in the Hallasan hiking reservation system. With a daily limit of 1,500 people, I never thought it would fill up. Apparently more people like mountains than I'd realized. I poked around for a few minutes, but there was no sign of a spot opening up. After a moment of wondering what to do... I ended up writing a macro. It repeatedly sent POST requests to retrieve the capacity and number of applicants. I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, so I made sure it wouldn't put too much strain on the server. Whenever I felt like it, I'd run it once through every date–time–trail combination in my schedule, then let it stop. I also put a 0.5-second gap between requests. When the capacity and applicant count differ, it helpfully lets me know like this This does bring to mind a writing assignment from last semester's Computer Ethics and Social Issues class... But I didn't run it constantly, and I made the reservation manually, so please let me off just this once. And it worked! Before long, I found an open spot and snapped it up. I ran the macro a few more times in hopes of getting a better date or trail. From what I saw, cancellations seemed fairly common—the spots just filled up again in the blink of an eye. With my spot secured, the trip was on, and before I knew it, hiking day had arrived. Here's what I packed: Polyester T-shirt - hiking jacket - hiking windbreaker - lightweight puffer jacket Knee braces - Heattech leggings - hiking pants Hiking socks - hiking boots Crampons , trekking poles , gloves , sunglasses , hiking backpack , stick-on heat packs Long energy bars × 4, bite-size ones × 8 500 ml bottles of water × 4 I'm not a regular hiker, so I borrowed a lot of things from my dad . I rented the snow-mountain gear from a local shop , and some things were given to me by the older guys staying at the guesthouse the night before . Not that I'd asked them for anything... There were three middle-aged men in my room, and when I first arrived we just exchanged quick hellos. But as soon as I started packing, all eyes turned to me. It began with simple questions like, “Going up Hallasan tomorrow?” and “Did you make a reservation?” Then it became, “Have you packed this and that?” and “You'll be in trouble if you wear a cotton T-shirt underneath—it'll get soaked with sweat.” Eventually, we unpacked everything I'd already packed and started over together. When they gave me the T-shirt and energy bars, it felt less like “These might come in handy” and more like “You'll be in serious trouble without these.” They also gave me loads of advice about the hike—too much to list here without getting boring. Most of it was incredibly helpful, but some of it wasn't quite right. So throughout this post, I'll be testing their advice and marking it True or False . Surprise Mystery TV Cute --> The first piece of advice was... Your entry time doesn't matter! Sprint up like a ninja the moment the clock strikes six and claim your photo with the summit marker. My entry time in the reservation system was 8 a.m., but according to the guys, only the date mattered. Besides, if you arrived late, you'd face a long line for a photo in front of the summit marker, so getting to the top before everyone else was crucial. I found it strange that this wouldn't be a problem when they clearly scanned your QR code, but all three of them agreed... So I took their word for it and left the guesthouse at 5 a.m. It was before the first bus, so I paid a whopping 18,000 won for a taxi and reached the entrance to the Seongpanak Trail at 5:55. I got in line, and then it was my turn. I zoomed in on the QR code before showing it to the attendant—5% so it would scan properly, 95% to hide the entry time printed underneath. But the attendant promptly asked to see my entry time and turned me away with, “Come back at 7:50.” I'd had my doubts, but still... I ended up waiting at the information center for about two hours. So the very first piece of advice was False! While wondering how to pass the time, I remembered that <Love and Leashes> was coming out on Netflix that day, so I opened the app. It wasn't available yet. Turns out the release time was based on Pacific Standard Time. Two disappointments before the morning was even over—not a great start. I tried watching it back at the guesthouse that night, but this time I couldn't handle the cringe and gave up before the 30-minute mark. Still, time flew by while I watched YouTube. I gathered myself, and now it was time to actually set off! 7:50 a.m. Entered via Seongpanak I still wasn't sure whether I wanted to wait ages for a photo with the summit marker. But if I did, I figured new hikers would arrive faster than people finished taking their photos and left ( ṁ in > ṁ out haha... ), so I headed up quickly for now. The cold drains your phone battery fast. If you want to take photos at the summit, turn your phone off as soon as you start hiking. That was another piece of advice. So I didn't take any photos on the way up and focused solely on walking. The first time I switched my phone on and took a picture was in front of the Jindallaebat Shelter, about two-thirds of the way up. 9:47 a.m. Jindallaebat Shelter <

Work in progress Continued from Jeju Island Solo Again - The Main Story . I found Hallim Park while looking for things to do in Hallim. It was winter and there was an admission fee, but the reviews were so good that I decided to go. I was very glad I did. I should have known when they said it covered 100,000 pyeong Apparently, many of the park’s trees, including this palm, grew from seeds planted when the park first opened. The park was established in 1971, so this tree is the same age as my school. Mr. Buffett preaching the importance of long-term investing With someone who has such lovely hair,,,^^ All the signs are made of pottery with blue lettering written in permanent marker. They remind me of white porcelain and are really pretty. Next up, a cave. It’s surprising enough to find a cave inside a privately run park, but Hyopjae Cave is apparently of great academic value: shell powder blown in from the sea gives it features of both a lava tube and a limestone cave. Cave coral like I saw in <Survival in a Cave> when I was in elementary school 🌻🌻🌻 🌻🌻🌻 That’s just mean They even misspelled “bald.” They didn’t know how to spell it; they just wanted to make fun of him somehow.. bayum~

Back to Jeju. Since my first visit after COVID broke out last August, this was my third trip in six months—and my second solo trip. Like my last bike trip around the island , I had a clear goal this time: climbing Hallasan. But making a round trip to Jeju just for that seemed like too much trouble, so I made time to spend three days in Hyeopjae before the climb. Hallim Park , which I visited while staying in Hyeopjae, and Hallasan each have enough material for their own posts. This post covers the rest of the trip. Day 1 Let's go → Hallim Strange graffiti I spotted on the way to my accommodation Turns out it was a brand-new piece What a view from my room But the wind was absolutely wild... From the next day on, I had little choice but to skip the hair wax and layer up with a hoodie It was already 4 p.m. when I arrived, so I decided to just visit the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road and rest at my accommodation on the first day. The timing was awkward, so my first meal was ramen I walked about 3 km to the Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road. I felt pressed for time with sunset approaching, but the evening light ended up giving me the best possible view. It's a strange feeling to realize I've already traveled most of the roads marked by that blue line at least once Bomal kalguksu on the way back Day 2 I had black pork noodle soup for brunch, looked around Hyeopjae Beach for a bit, then headed to Hallim Park. See the separate post for Hallim Park. Hallim Park preview 1 Hallim Park preview 2 A Geumneung Sandwich after leaving the park I grabbed my MacBook from my accommodation and headed straight back to Hyeopjae. I stopped at a café to enjoy the view somewhere warm and sort through my photos. I ordered a Udo peanut croffle . Just as I thought when I tried a croffle for the first time, it was insanely sweet. Which made it delicious. My last meal on day two was a salmon and avocado rice bowl at a place with great reviews . With an extra serving of rice, it was just the right amount, and the fresh salmon was delicious. The interior was very cozy too, but there were a lot of people, so I didn't take a photo. They also have a solo dining set with sashimi and drinks, so it might be worth another visit if I come to Hyeopjae alone again. I'd assumed the guesthouse had fixed rooms for men and women, but they switched between its two differently sized rooms depending on the guests. On the first night, I shared the larger room with three others. Several women were arriving the next day, so as the only guest staying a second night, I moved rooms. In the new room, I met a 31-year-old vocational high school architecture teacher and a 23-year-old university student. The student seemed distraught from the moment he walked in and soon admitted he'd had an accident in his rental car on the way over. I'd heard plenty of times that driving in Jeju was difficult, but I hadn't expected to meet someone who'd had an accident so soon. Fortunately, it was a minor one: he'd scraped a wheel against a landscaping stone by the road. It was his first driving trip since getting his license, and he must have been looking forward to it. I hope he didn't let it ruin the rest of his trip and managed to have fun... Day 3 Geumneung was every bit as beautiful as Hyeopjae Soy-marinated shrimp set meal Seven-layer ganache cake Yesterday I'd visited a café to try something new. Today, with my suitcase in tow after checking out, I went into a familiar Starbucks . With a sweet slice of cake, I breezed through <If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light>. Time to head into Jeju City.

Watched on February 6. ⭐️ 8/10 Watch on Netflix I don’t usually watch Korean films, but this one was really fun. I can’t deny that I watched it for Chae Soo-bin and Jung Soo-jung. As I’d hoped, both were charming, and Krystal’s performance in particular was right up my alley, humor-wise. Jang Ki-yong, whom I’d only seen once before in <My Mister>, was also remarkably convincing in a role completely unlike the one he played there. But there’s another reason I liked this film most of all—you’ll have to see for yourself. The background music is great too, though you’ll appreciate it more after watching the film.

Show captions --> February 1 Taking selfies is more fun than I thought --> February 3 Looking at this now, I should've cut my hair sooner... --> Boing! February 4 February 5 Lately I've gotten into discovering good burger places, and I happened to find a well-reviewed place near home . I found it yesterday and went straight there today to try it. It was even better than I imagined. It's on the way to the station, so I could stop by for a filling meal before heading out. I got my COVID booster shot today. After putting it off again and again, I got my second dose on the last day I was eligible for it This is how a booster shot shows up in the COOV app. For anyone who hasn't gotten one yet. It's been ten hours since the shot and I feel fine, so it looks like it'll go as smoothly as the first two doses, when all I had was a sore arm. February 8–12 Trip to Jeju Island — see the post . February 13 Cut my hair after growing it longer than I ever had before Jokbal (braised pig's trotters) Eating our way through every kind of cake slice February 14–15 Glamping in Gapyeong — see the post . February 17 Screenshot of a story from the IOC's official Korean-language account Honestly, even watching Yuna Kim skate had never moved me all that much, but I was completely captivated by Young You's performance this time. It felt like the pinnacle of where sport and art meet. The music was exactly my taste, but more than anything, imagining the work behind every single jump gave me goosebumps. I don't think I'll ever forget the sound of the singer beginning to sing and the skates cutting across the ice. If you haven't seen it yet, please watch it . Thank you, Young You, for such a wonderful performance despite your young age and everything going on around you. And to all the athletes who competed in these Olympics: you worked so hard. I've been following the official account's stories since the Tokyo Olympics because the photos are so beautiful and cleanly composed. I'm really grateful they're saving them as story highlights now, too. February 19 Kimchi fried rice February 20 Kimchi and pork dumplings made with heart and soul — see the post . February 21 My first time climbing The sky reflected in the windows looked beautiful What are the odds that I'm standing right where the doors will be for a quick exit? Kimchi and pork dumplings again February 22 Got the screenshot! I meant to take another one at 22:00, but I forgot. February 23 It's been a while, Ilsan! <img src="https://files.gunh

Work in progress -->

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On the 18th, I went to the Lee Kun-hee Collection special exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. I’d heard about the exhibition last year and had been meaning to go. Part of the appeal was the incredible collection of works gathered in one place, but honestly, what I wanted most was a photo of myself at the entrance, next to an exhibition title with my name in it. And I accomplished what I came to do. Everyone said getting a reservation was difficult, but I found it easier than I expected. The harder part was having to book two weeks ahead, which meant fixing a plan in my schedule that far in advance. I like spending my breaks without a plan (not that I’m especially meticulous about planning the rest of the time, either...), and I tend to deal with things as soon as they come up. Two weeks felt like forever. Fortunately, I managed to wait it out and finally set foot in the gallery. The exhibition title sharing my name was a big part of what drew me in, but I was genuinely interested in the art, too. Besides, I really didn’t want to be someone who just went around taking pictures, so I decided to take my time and look closely at each painting. Because of COVID, the docent guide was available through a mobile app rather than a separate device. It had explanations of about two minutes each for around twenty works. Allowing time to look beyond the explanations, not to mention the works without guides, I figured I’d need at least two hours. My reservation said 3:00 to 4:00, but I assumed that was just a formality. How could they possibly keep track of when every visitor entered and make them leave on time? So I was taking my time with the works when I noticed that the other visitors seemed to be approaching things very differently. They’d snap a few photos in front of a work, then hurry on to the next. Watching them, I felt like I’d found people who cared more about having a photo of themselves in front of the art than appreciating the art itself. To be honest, it didn’t sit well with me. Before long, though, I realized I was the foolish one. At exactly four o’clock, a staff member at the side of the gallery began ushering people out. I took out the earbuds I’d been wearing to listen to the guide and asked again, partly because I couldn’t believe it. Yes, I had to leave so the next group could come in. Unless I’d booked multiple time slots, whether over several hours or several days, I’d have had to hurry through like the others to see every painting. In the end, I left feeling as though I’d been chased out. It was my fault for being so casual about such a popular exhibition. I’d asked a passerby to take my photo in front of the gallery before I went in, and suddenly I felt bad about that, too. See you again next time... It was right there on the sticker they told us to put on the backs of our hands. How did I miss it? I didn’t even get to see twenty works, but of the ones I saw, a few stood out: Lee Sang-beom, <High Mountains, Long Rivers> Byeon Gwan-sik, <Spring Colors of Muchang> — This place, where we quietly live our lives, is paradise. Kim Jung-hyun, <Farmers’ Music> Chang Ucchin, <Playing Gonggi> Those were the ones I especially liked. I still want to see all the works, so I made another reservation for early February and decided to go back with a friend. I’ll be a bit more strategic about it this time. I’ll update this post after I go.

Photos Every Day (iPhone 5) ♫ Rob Simonsen - Blue The City (Portrait Mode on iPhone 7 Plus) ♫ Walter Martin - Sing to Me (feat. Karen O) Innovation in Every Dimension (MacBook Pro with Retina Display) ♫ Kidstreet - Song (String Version) Wonderful Tools (Apple Event, Opening Scene - 2019.09.11) ♫ Les Gordon - Flirting With June WWDC 2020 Special Event Keynote ~ 1 minute 20 seconds ♫ AURORA - Daydreamer

Visited on January 9. The garden in front of the Leeum Museum of Art M1 Second floor Kim Hong-do, Gathering of Immortals, 1776. A painting of immortals by Kim Hong-do! It was a far cry from the scenes of everyday life I was used to seeing from him, but the lively expressions on his characters’ faces were unmistakable and made it a pleasure to look at. In the central group, one immortal rides backward on a horse, absorbed in a book, while another diligently measures something with a ruler. The servant beside him looks grumpy, perhaps because his load is heavy. The bat flying off to one side is worth a look, too. I had the same thought when I saw Shin Saimdang’s paintings of magpies and sparrows: how could they depict animals so accurately in an age without photographs? Bats aren’t exactly animals you see every day, either. Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha. I had often seen this statue in textbooks, but it struck me differently in person because I noticed the folds in the Buddha’s robes—something I hadn’t fully appreciated in photographs. The loose fabric hangs beneath the raised arm and drapes over thighs that protrude slightly beyond the torso. That delicate rendering suddenly reminded me of marble sculptures I had seen while traveling in Europe. I remember being astonished by the way they portrayed skin and thin cloth. I wouldn’t say this Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha is their equal in scale or intricacy, but it felt good simply to find a work in Korea that brought them to mind. Tokujin Yoshioka, Water Block, 2002. It’s neither an antique nor a Korean work, but because it takes the form of a bench where visitors can sit and rest, it stands in the middle of M1’s first floor. A thick glass block with a rippling surface rests on a simple stainless-steel frame. As the description says, it looks like ice without a single air bubble, giving it a wonderfully cool feel. M2 Perhaps I haven’t yet developed the eye to appreciate abstract art, but most contemporary works I like depict real objects, or at least evoke them. The only work I’ve ever found thrilling without connecting it to any recognizable concept was a Mark Rothko painting I saw in middle school. So none of the works I discuss below should be so difficult that I can’t begin to make sense of their intent. Mark Rothko, Ochre and Red on Red, 1954. Second floor Byron Kim, Deep Night. I’m recording this work in particular because it looks so much like a photo I took of the night sky. In my photo, which I once posted on Instagram , the cloud in the center looks almost like the Milky Way. There’s no cloud or little star beside it in Byron Kim’s painting, but looking at the bare winter branches and the blue of the open night sky between them, I suspect he felt something much like I did. A photo I took. Bae Young-whan, Pop Song—Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, 2007. Beyond the bars, a video of young people playing in the water at a distant beach is projected, while Bob Dylan’s <Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door> plays in the background. The video is black and white, and dense bars stand between me and them. Their happiness feels very far away. Though I lack little in my own life, they seem to possess something I don’t. The languid song even makes me wonder whether what I’m seeing is real, or perhaps a dream. If I could catch a brief glimpse of heaven, might it look something like this? It’s interesting that I can relate to the artist’s depiction of heaven, a world no living person has experienced. It’s not as though I’ve acquired a concrete idea of heaven through religion. Even more intriguing is that I felt something very similar in a work from another culture: the music video for <Afterlife> by the Canadian band Arcade Fire. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it. I don’t think the band is particularly well known in Korea, and I came across this one song by chance. I liked the song itself, but the video made me love it even more. The story. The father sells flowers by the roadside. He doesn’t seem especially good at it. He holds up bouquets and gestures to passing cars, but they simply speed by. After a hard day, he has dinner with his two sons. Their mother is nowhere to be seen. In the silence, they exchange a few short, dry words. The older son asks his father what he did that day, suggesting that the father has no regular job and that they don’t talk often. After the quiet meal, the three men go to sleep separately. Their dreams give form to the longings left unfulfilled by the absence of a wife and mother. The younger son finds himself in a laundromat. An unfamiliar woman puts him in a cart and wheels him away, then stuffs him into a washing machine and shuts the lid. Terrified inside the machine, which looks ready to start spinning at any moment, he finally wakes up. He goes to his sleeping father and tries to fall asleep again beside him. Only there does he find the comfort of being held by his mother. The older son, in fact, has secretly gone to a friend’s party instead of sleeping. But he can’t let loose there either; he lies down in a field and falls asleep. In his dream, he walks down a corridor past girls his own age, paying them little attention. Farther on, he reaches a courtyard where a group who appear to be a family are gathered around a swimming pool for a child’s baptism. He approaches the pool, but high fences enclose it on every side, leaving him no choice but to watch the ceremony from outside. The father’s dream is more distorted still. Passing through a strange space of leaning streetlights and scattered construction materials, he heads to an underground ballroom. Couples dance in the spacious room, while a woman stands mot