[HiKorea Hostel(Guesthouse) in Haeundae, Busan] The Cherry Blossom Shines With the Night Sea

 Busan is warm. The cherry blossoms have already burst into bloom and the green leaves already make appearances. While the petals were fluttering at the full, I went on a belated flower-viewing to Gwanganri. The sea breeze was still chilly. Gwanganri was showing off its splendid night view as ever. The dogs seemed to be excited walking along the well-organized paths. There are people who just stare at the sea sitting on the sand, and there is someone who is shouting out, making me curious what made him feel so heavy. I could see the romantic lovers who were in dead on the fireworks. The flashing neon signs grasp your sights, but actually only the sounds of the waves fill up the place. The sea and the sky have lost their border lines due to the darkness. It’s scaring as if it would swallow me up, but at the same time cozy as if it would wrap me up. I think this is why many people always visit Gwanganri all the time. The Gwangan Bridge stands motionlessly to watch these sights.

There are famous restaurants lined up following the beach at Gwanganri. I went in the restaurant called the ‘Daegwol Ssambab(rice wrapped in greens of the palace)’ located in an alley to satisfy my hunger just in time. It was a very famous Ssambab restaurant in town. An abundant table is from 8,000won to 10,000won. From a generous heart stuffing the food, full hearted side dishes, fresh vegetables lined up on the left side of the table, beef bulgogi, duck meat and to the main dish. It is a fabulous, flawless dinner table. As I keep on saying ‘delicious’ and using my chopsticks briskly, I find my stomach full. I freshen my mouth with a glass of cool sujeonggwa(persimmon punch), and leave the place to find the cherry blossom in earnest.

As you walk straight until the beach comes to an end, you can see the ‘Samik Beach Town Apartment’ complex. It might be unfamiliar to the fact that the apartment complex is the attraction for cherry blossoms. But if you see the ‘cherry blossom tunnel’ here you might nod your head. Indeed the cherry blossoms are in full glory. The black asphalt is covered with white petals, and as the wind blows once the scenery that you may have seen only in movies spreads in front of you. Standing between so much cherry blossoms, it feels like I’m in a world of cartoons. Take a look at the sky under the cherry tree. The white flowers fill your sight. The Gwangan Bridge far away adds beauty to it. Couples, families and friends are out to enjoy the air of spring. The Samik apartment is an old apartment that had residents move in from 1980, and has kept its place for almost 30 years. The cherry blossoms here must have spent the time together until now. They are the cherry blossoms of the Samik apartment, that have spent their time together for 30 years on this place full of people, and blooming every spring as ever. Why does it feel so affectionate? I thought it was a flower just like a pure little girl, but the cherry blossom at night is somehow vague.

Oh, I think I know it now. The cherry blossoms that had bloomed like that every year must remember the unforgettable memories of us. When the night falls, the memories that we made when the cherry blossoms fluttered around arise, and maybe that’s why this white faces are so affectionate and vague. Maybe this is why they shine like that, and our hearts ache when the petals start to fall down one by one. Someone might be making a pretty memory under this cherry blossom tonight also. Looking again, the cherry blossoms that shine brightly are full of yearning. 

Spring is such a beautiful season. It is somehow lonely, pathetic, but fluttering without reason. Even adults sink into moods like adolescent girls due to riddling yearnings when spring comes. The spring sea of Busan surges holding that mood of spring. The fluttering petals will remember all those hearts. And when the warm spring comes they will bloom beautifully again. The white cherry blossoms with the night sea and the white petals that have put peoples’ hearts in the night sea are dazzlingly beautiful.