Photography at McKenzie House in Suncheon

I was very pleased to have been able to place my photograph, Dwindling, at the McKenzie House restaurant in Suncheon recently.  The master chef, Sue, who is one of the nicest of all the people I have had the privilege to meet, told me that the photograph will be moving around a bit in the restaurant in order to interact with the other photos there.

McKenzie House - Dwindling by Mark Eaton

© Mark Eaton

If you like good food, photography, coffee, and people, then I suggest visiting McKenzie House.  When you drop in, be sure to say hello to Sue.  She will always have a smile and a kind word to share with visitors.

Sue Shows Dwindling at McKenzie House

© Mark Eaton

 A few years ago I submitted Dwindling to the International Color Awards photography competition.  It earned a Nominee in Nature award.  Check it out, along with the other submissions, here.

For those who are interested, I only have five prints of Dwindling remaining. 

Art In Suncheon

Though a beautiful city, Suncheon doesn't have a large collection of art galleries in the city proper.  A few can be found near the fashion district, and there are a couple here and there outside of the city.  

My favorite art gallery to visit in Suncheon doesn't look like a gallery, nor is it near the fashion district.  It is located along the Dongcheon, which is the river that cuts through the city.  After the building was erected a few short years ago, I decided to go into the place after taking a long walk on the river walk, because all the signs said that it was a restaurant and a cafe.  I thought I would catch my breath and have something cold to drink.  The art hit me as soon as I walked through the doors.  All along the walls some sort of art can be found.  There were even a couple of small installations, too.

To make a long story bearable, I was able to meet the artist and his wife who own and operate the restaurant/cafe/gallery.  He has done a lot of work both inside and outside of the building.  Once the couple learned that I like photography, they said that they would show me their gallery located downstairs.  It is nice, and the work that is exhibited is very, very nice.  I won't spoil it for you, so you will have to take a look for yourself.

I've taken some of my Korean friends to the gallery, and they have asked me how I found out about it since it isn't obvious.  I replied that I found out about it the same way I learned about many places in this area:  I walk to it, bus to it, or have someone drive me to it, and I start talking to people.

Here are a couple of photographs of the gallery.

Resto Cafe

© Mark Eaton

Resto Cafe II

© Mark Eaton

It is located on the eastern side of the Dongcheon.  If you walk along the river walk, be it northward or southward, you will see it for this simple reason:  the river walk was constructed in such a way that it raises out of the river basin to the front of the building.  And then it drops back into the basin.  You can drive there, of course.

I would ask about seeing the art in the gallery only after the hostess seated me, and only after I ordered coffee or a meal.  It is a nice way for everyone to become familiar with everyone. 

Scenes Along the Dongcheon Part 2

Yesterday afternoon I took a very long and much needed walk along the Dongcheon.  The Dongcheon is a river that flows through the city in which I live, and it feeds into Suncheon Bay.  

I have hiked and biked from my home to Suncheon Bay by traveling along the river a few times; however, at the present time no one is being permitted into the bay area on the Suncheon side.  It is hoped that by preventing anyone from entering the coastal areas of the bay that the A1 Avian Influenza will not gain a foothold and/or not spread to other areas.  Along the trail I hiked yesterday, there was a young man guarding and preventing non-residents from passing the barrier that has been placed across the trail.

These are some of the scenes I found interesting during my walk:

Bird Atop the Machine

© Mark Eaton

The Two Bridges

© Mark Eaton

Perspectives

© Mark Eaton

Road Above the Road

© Mark Eaton

I have yet to grow weary taking in the scenes along the Dongcheon. 

Paradise Revisited -- Urban Hike in Final Form

My penultimate weekend here coincided with the long Korean thanksgiving holiday, and I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit paradise in Suncheon.  I originally wrote about this lovely place in the city on this blog last May that can be seen here.

The construction of this park has been completed and the foliage planted during the project has firmly taken root.  As read in my previous article, the trail was a bit treacherous due to the construction; however, the trail is now unhindered and safe to walk.  The old ajumma trails that would make a mountain goat feel at home have been completely eliminated and replaced by wide boardwalks or concrete pathways.

Waterfall Flows into the Pond

© Mark Eaton

The pond shown above is fed by the runoff water that flows from the large earthen dam that abuts the park.  I was very surprised to see that this park project also included work on and near the dam itself, too.

Boardwalk at the Earthen Dam

© Mark Eaton

At this time, the trail and park discussed here does not connect with the trail pictured above.  Except -- some enterprising soul has tied a series of ropes at the spillway to allow the brave to traverse down into the spillway itself.  Some careful stepping and a small climb up finds the intrepid on the new trail above the park.

The Intrepid Way

© Mark Eaton

As seen here and in my previous post about paradise in Suncheon, the view from atop the dam is nice, though the sky during this trek was very hazy.

 The Park from atop the Earthen Dam

© Mark Eaton

I was the only person in this area.  Ah, it was paradise.

Paradise in Suncheon

있잖아요!  저기는 순천대학교 뒤에 있는 정자 하고 저수지 하고 개울 하고 폭포 있는 곳인데 아주 좋아요!

One of the benefits of not being tied to a car is walking.  Thankfully, I enjoy walking, and with my Teva sandals I can walk anywhere.  Thankfully, my sense of adventure, curiosity, and exploration has not waned over the many decades of my existence on this orb.

Several weeks ago, during one of my treks along the Dongcheon in Suncheon, I was curious about all of the construction along one of the tributaries that feeds into the river.  As I walked along a new walking trail, I soon came upon a break in the action thanks to a new construction site.  At this place a crossing on the tributary itself, and a walking bridge overhead, were being constructed.  There wasn't anyway I was going to turn back, so I crossed over the tributary on the newly laid crossing and stepped deeper into the construction zone.  I was the only person anywhere near this area.  

In Korea, if a person is dumb enough to enter a dangerous area, being forewarned and all that jazz, and that person gets hurt, then it's that person's own damn fault.  I had to be especially cautious where I placed my feet in this area, because there were many obstacles just waiting to make their presence known to my naked toes.

At this point I had to climb out of the tributary due to its structure.  On top of the tributary there is a bustling little community with a lot of university aged students.  For a point of reference, this spot is behind Suncheon National University.  I received a couple of wide-eyed looks; 'where the hell did this guy come from?' kinds of looks.  One young business professional stopped me by a convenience store, and we chatted for quite some time.  I can't emphasize enough the importance of carrying business cards everywhere, all the time, always...and a smile...and a willingness to meet new people.  Just like that, I've a new client.

We parted ways, and about half a kilometer from our original meeting place, I heard my name being called.  I turned around and saw the same young man running towards me with a drink in his hand.  He had bought kiwi juice for me, and he ran all the way to give me the treat.  Life is so interesting.

I continued my walk up the tributary, but on top at this point.  There are a few places along the route with newly built stairways that allow people to walk down to the water.  Anyway, upstream I walked.

At that point where the urban ended and where the rural began, I saw a new park that was mostly finished.  Overlooking the park is a small apartment complex set in the mountain, and I thought to myself that there has to be some money there.  It is a narrow park due to the geography of the area -- it is a small canyon after all.

The park ended at the base of a large earthen dam.  A trail up the side of the dam took me to the top -- break left and one can hike up the mountain; break right and one can walk over the dam to the other side and to some sort of small village.  It appeared to me that the village route would continue the upstream adventure, but that must wait for another day. 

For a few weeks I have been telling my wife about this jaunt only to be met with the 'yeah, right, okay, sure dear' type of response that is often found in a marriage.  However, this past Saturday, my wife wanted to get out of the house, and I suggested a drive to the general area of this park.  A small picnic lunch with liquid refreshments was prepared.  My wife, while driving, was working hard to veer off course, but I kept a steady gaze on the prize.  We did find a couple of interesting places to revisit as I tried to get to the area looking from a driver's perspective.

Finally, we found a bridge to drive across thanks to a landmark I had deliberately committed to memory during my original trip.  We found a great place to park next to the tributary, but because the new park is ironically hidden due to geography, my wife was not enthusiastic about walking up a mountain on a very warm day.  And then we crested a gentle hill, and she saw what I saw all those weeks ago.  She laughed, and asked for the 1,000,000th time, "How did you find this?"

Except for the few workers working on the new landscaped grounds, we were the only people there.  In a couple of years when the new foliage has a chance to thrive, it will be a lush park.  The constructed pools have signs and banners telling people not to swim, and I'm sure no one will ever take a dip into those deep pools...ahem, cough.

I suggested to my wife that we stroll to the 정자 so we could enjoy some shade, eat our lunch, nap, and talk.

 정자

© Mark Eaton

We finally left during early evening.  But we will return.  When we left our home to drive to this location, I told my wife that it is paradise in Suncheon.  After setting up our picnic in the 정자, she exclaimed, "This is paradise in Suncheon!"  Sometimes I do get it right.

Pool

© Mark Eaton

View From Atop the Earthen Dam

© Mark Eaton

View From Atop the Earthen Dam II

© Mark Eaton

Apartment Overlooking the Park

© Mark Eaton

Atop the Earthen Dam II

© Mark Eaton

And the adventure continues.

Scenes Along the Dongcheon

The Dongcheon is the river that runs through Suncheon with its final destination being Suncheon Bay.  I have walked and biked to and from the bay starting from my home, which isn't too far from the river itself.  A pleasant trek aided by a nice walking and biking route that runs along the river.

Upstream from Suncheon, farms and other agricultural concerns are found.  This cow and calf captured my attention while I was spending some time upstream.  One of these days I'll make the effort to follow the river into the mountains.

Cow and Calf

© Mark Eaton

Hiding Place

© Mark Eaton

순천시 -- Photo for the Day

순천은 나의 집이예요.

순천시

© Mark Eaton