As I write this, Korea is falling deeper into winter. It feels especially cold today and I’m missing the warmth of summer more and more. One beautiful thing about photography is how it can transport you back to another place and time, giving warmth and comfort when it’s needed. That’s what I’m doing today. Join me as I go back a few months to a summer day in Tongyeong, South Korea. Destination: Hansando.
Hansando (한산도) is one of the many islands that surround Tongyeong. It is also an island of historical significance, as Admiral Yi Sun Shin made it his naval base following his victory against the Japanese. Accessible by ferry, it is home to numerous Tongyeong citizens and a popular destination for tourists. We loaded the car onto the ferry and got ready to set sail.
It was clear and sunny near the mainland, but the mist rolled in as we headed towards the islands.
Half an hour later, we arrived at Hansando. We then drove a few more kilometers to our main destination for that day: Bongam Mongdol Beach (봉암몽돌해수욕장). The name translates to ‘pebble beach’, for obvious reasons. The mist made the beach even more interesting that day.
After setting up camp under the mesh tents, I decided to explore the island for a bit. I didn’t have to go far to find this “enchanted” forest.
As I walked around the island, the mist began to clear. The combination of blue water, blue sky and white mist made for a dream-like scene.
I returned to my family and proceeded to enjoy our day on the beach. As I was eating my pork samgyeopsal :), one more photo opportunity came up. This time it was in the form of a maintenance worker cleaning the beach with his net. These are probably my favorite photos of the day.
I hope you enjoyed this little photo trip to Hansando. Those who are in cold countries like Korea, stay warm! Those who aren’t, I envy you! 🙂 For more information on Hansando, please check out Visit Korea. Here it is on the map:
