Seoul Forest Park (Sky and Hydrangea Path)

For this date, we made a reservation for afternoon tea at a private café in Seongsu. We arrived at Ttukseom Station around 1 PM, leaving us about an hour until 2 PM. Since the weather was hot, we considered going to Starbucks again, but having already had two cups of coffee and planning to drink tea during the afternoon tea, we decided to take a stroll in Seoul Forest instead, despite the heat. Hot weather means the sun is shining brightly, which also means the sky is clear and perfect for taking photos. It’s been a long time since I last visited Seoul Forest, back when it first opened. The previous day, it rained heavily, so I brought an umbrella. To shield myself from the sunlight, I opened the umbrella. When it rains, the sakura design on the umbrella blooms, but on regular days, it’s just a pink umbrella with a lot of charm. Opening the umbrella definitely helped block the heat. The sakura umbrella functions like a parasol, unlike plastic umbrellas, which are completely ineffective. The residential streets leading from Ttukseom Station to Seoul Forest are quite charming. They reminded me of the alleys in Yeonnam-dong or Sangsu-dong, with shops, cafés, and restaurants bustling with customers during lunchtime. Entering Seoul Forest, the lush greenery of summer greeted us. The vibrant green was dazzling. The hydrangea path caught my eye first; the flowers were at the end of their bloom, just beginning to fade. Still, they were incredibly beautiful. The pond was filled with water lily leaves that hadn’t bloomed yet, and the reflection of the blue sky on the water made for stunning photo opportunities. There was a structure reminiscent of the jungle gym at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, which was impressive. Meeting a napping cat was also delightful. Even though I started sweating despite using the umbrella, I felt content. Everywhere I looked, colorful flowers were in full bloom, welcoming us with their vibrant hues. It felt like paradise on earth. The sunflowers, in particular, seemed to bask in the sunlight, shining brightly. Thank you for this beautiful day.