Seoul’s on the edge of Cherry Blossom season. A little honesty- after 4 1/2 years here in Korea, I’m over it. I do not ever feel like fighting the throngs of couples lining every street that happens to have these beautiful, delicate trees to get the perfect photo op. Seeing the cherry blossoms are a bucket list item, for sure, but once you’ve dumped it in your bucket, it’s not worth being tangled up in the mess. Go see them once or twice and then, let the couples get their 100 pictures.
In 2014, my sister and brother in law visited me in Seoul. Not only was I thrilled because it the one and only time anyone from back home has visited me here, but I was excited just to show them everything I loved about Korea.
They arrived at the end of April so I told them we’d be lucky to see any cherry blossoms at that point. My sister really wanted to see the trees so I thought we would head to the National Assembly, where I heard there were many along the Yeouiseo-ro. The street is known as “Cherry Blossom Street,” and is the area where the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. The National Assembly street is lined with beautiful trees. Once we got there, I saw all the trees were just green, not a pink or white petal in sight. We decided to head up the big hill to see the traditional house sitting up there, and thankfully we saw a few trees still hanging on to their petals! And better yet, nobody was there!
We had a mini cherry blossom forest to ourselves.
There were also these gorgeous, fluffy pink flowers that I haven’t been able to find the name. If you know, please drop me a message. 🙂
Photos by Jodie & Aaron on their much superior camera.
The last of the Cherry Blossoms.
If you haven’t seen the cherry blossoms yet, can wake up early to get in and out of there before Seoul wakes up, or you don’t mind throngs of people then here is some information for you:
Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
National Assembly Station (Subway Line 9), Exit 1 or 6.
Dates: 04.04.2016 ~ 04.10.2016
Une Peach 