📍One Year Ago Today: A Walk Through Azalea Petals on Guryongsan

The beauty of spring after the rain – a memory worth keeping

Hello, this is Jeong-Yoon :)

My blog reminded me of “one year ago today,” and I was honestly surprised.

Exactly one year ago, on April 23rd, I hiked up Guryongsan and reached the top of Guksu Peak.

I had thought it happened in May, but nope—late April it was.

It was right after cherry blossom season had ended, that slightly quiet pause in spring.

I remember wanting to move my body again, and that’s when my first hike began.

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🌧 The air after rain – everything feels new

It had rained the entire day before, and the next morning, the sky was impossibly clear.

I’ve always loved how the sky looks after rain in Jeju, but it turns out,

that same magic exists here in Seoul too.

When I got to the peak, I was greeted by

crystal-clear skies, dust-free air, and a sweeping city view.

You could see Lotte Tower and even the Yeouido skyline in full detail.

But what took my breath away was the ground—

the path was blanketed in fallen azalea petals,

a soft, pink carpet laid out by nature itself.

I just stood there, stunned by how beautiful it was.

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🥾 “When was the last time I felt out of breath like this?”

That hike made me think:

“When was the last time I worked out hard enough to feel this winded?”

And the answer? Probably in my early 20s on a treadmill at the gym.

Even though I’ve walked 10,000 steps a day for years,

most of those steps were done in heels after work,

just trying to hit a number—

not exactly the best kind of movement for my feet.

But with hiking, I feel my whole body wake up.

Wearing proper shoes, breathing in fresh mountain air—

it’s a completely different kind of exercise.

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🏡 Living in Yangjae: Blessed with a mountain

One of the biggest blessings of living in Yangjae, Seocho District,

is having a mountain I can hike any day I want.

The Guryongsan trail is perfect for a daily routine—

a solid hour of walking, enough to break a sweat,

and most importantly, a chance to feel the seasons change with my own body.

And on days I feel lazy or miss the hiking window,

I can always take a safe stroll along Yangjaecheon.

It’s a neighborhood that truly makes healthy living feel effortless.

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🌿 Just four days later – nature already transformed

Today, I returned to the trail after just four days,

and I was shocked by how much the leaves had grown.

Last year, I remember being in awe of how quickly spring arrives,

but I had no idea that hike would turn into a regular habit.

I did go almost every day in the summer,

but once it gets a bit colder, hiking suddenly feels like a chore.

So this time, I’m making a quiet promise to myself:

“Let’s keep going until November.”

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📸 A habit of remembering

Going back through the photos from that day,

I’m reminded of how I felt, what I noticed,

and how much beauty was waiting for me up there.

Documenting our lives doesn’t have to be grand.

It can be as simple as snapping a photo or jotting down a few words.

It’s our way of saying,

“Hey, you’re living a good life—and here’s the proof.”

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I’m so thankful I can still walk, feel, and remember days like this.

Funny how last year’s version of me left a gift for today’s me to open.

Here’s to another beautiful season with Guryongsan 🌿

Let’s hike our way through spring again.