A Letter for You: Spring and Cherry blossoms!

Dear Mom and Dad!

Spring is here! At last! It's been a cold winter here, although I know it doesn't compare to the winter that you guys had. But still, cold is cold and I'm not a fan! So when the cherry blossoms (벚꽃 ~ bot kote) and and plum flowers (매화 ~ maehwa), pears (배 ~ bae) and apples (사과 ~ sagwa) start blooming, I'm a happy camper. And I have a wonderful Korean friend who feels the same way. She visits my city on the weekends and we'll jump in her car and go for a drive through the country side to check out the flowers in spring time. When we started it was a little too early, but we've gone every week since and have gotten to see some really fantastic views all over the south western half of Korea. It even seemed that on some days we could actually see the flowers blooming throughout the day!

And pictures too! Lots and lots of pictures. It seems that all of Korea comes out to see the flowers at their height and impromptu festivals pop up in towns all over the country following the blooming season as it creeps north. Traffic jams for flowers! I can think of no better reason for a traffic jam! We had great times; some days overcast, some sunny, some cool and windy, some rather warm, but they were all fun! And even better with great company along the way. We would pack a picnic lunch and stop along the way, enjoying the fresh air and chatting about anything and everything. And as the plums faded, then came the cherries; and as the cherries faded then came the azaleas. This time of year for a little over a month, Korea is splashed with color from delicate white and pink, to vibrant rose and fuchsia, with dots of yellow forsythia all over. I love spring! It's almost as if Mother Nature is apologizing for her bad behavior and promising she'll behave for a while. At least until summertime!! Here are some of the pictures we've taken this spring! Enjoy!