2. ..and I wonder Why?

8^C

Overcast following some light rain during the night. Winters Coming!!

The village of Gurae in the Sandong district of Yeongwol, in South Korea’s Gangwon Province is the most peaceful place I have ever visited. It’s single lane street, sandwiched by a single row of dwellings and a mountain stream, winds along the bottom of a deep mountain pass. Almost from the back door of each dwelling, forested mountains rise vertically leaving only a narrow strip of sky visible above. At present as winter approaches, the mountains are alive with the red’s, yellow’s, brown’s and shaded greens of Autumn.

Chilli’s, white radish, cabbage, beans, onions and capsicum grow on every available inch of the limited horizontal land.
Tended mostly by elderly villagers squatting between the rows, and then laid out to dry along the roadside.

Relief follows the realization that an early morning wake up by a loud speaker announcement, from a white van patrolling the street, was not the warning of an imminent nuclear catastrophe,
Merely, the “veggie man” selling his wares, followed during the day by the “fish man” and the “garlic man”.

Drinking water is supplied from three large strategically placed stone turtles, constantly spurting water through their mouths, piped from the mountain streams high above, from which villagers fill their containers.
Crime is unheard of, doors are left unlocked, petty theft, graffiti, and anti social behaviours are incomprehensible. Ladies with spare time sweep public areas of fallen leaves, litter does not exist.

The village elementary school educates 31 children, including an English course facilitated by a dedicated foreign teacher.
The initial surprise of seeing foreigners in their village quickly changes to greetings and friendly gestures.
A group of road workers pausing for refreshments instantly invite we passing strangers to share their food!
The village café treats us as locals, shows us to our usual seats and cooks our evening meal at our table in front of us.
The local fuel pump attendant refuses to accept payment for hot coffee, even without the purchase of fuel, as does the store keeper and café owner.

During daylight hours in the most peaceful place I have ever visited, the mountains echo to the sound of unseen military aircraft high above.

Other men driven by other agenda’s.

And it makes me wonder why?

By Guest Blogger: Brian.