I feel the need, the need for oxygen.
Initially I thought that the smog in Seoul wasn’t so bad and that it was tolerable. After spending a week, I felt that it was bothering me. Some days are worse than others. In those worse days, when I open my window to get some fresh air, I get smog instead.
After a month of this, I needed some fresh air. So, I headed over to Namsan. I had visited Namsan a couple of years ago about the same time of year and I felt that it was a nice place with a lot of trees. The trees in Korea are scarce but when they are found, they are more gorgeous than the ones found in the U.S.
I took the subway to Myungdong station on line 4 and headed uphill towards the Seoul Tower. It’s a broadcasting tower with an observation deck. After about 15 minutes of walking uphill, I came to the cable car station—up I go on the cable car. Whoopee! After getting out of the cable car, it’s another 5 minutes of uphill walking. I forgot about all that walking that was required. Note to self: wear comfortable shoes next time, not dress shoes. Doh!
Finally, I’m surrounded by trees and fresh oxygen. I take a deep breath…. Wow! I can feel the pollutants getting washed out of my lungs. I’ve seen these trees a couple of years ago, but this time it was different. They were more vivid and vibrant in color. I can almost feel the life energy in those trees.
I am reminded of a poem by Emily Dickinson that I studied while I was in college. “The nectar tastes the sweetest to the one with the sorest needs.” Yeah, after a month of breathing smog, I had a sore need for fresh oxygen—and boy was it sweet. I have found new appreciation for trees. Being a biological organism, undoubtedly I have need for oxygen. But, I had taken oxygen for granted, until now.
As I spend more time in Seoul, hopefully I’ll be able to tolerate less than satisfactory air quality. It would be nice if some of my genes mutate and create a new organ designed to filter out the bad air before it gets injected into my lungs. I can only hope.
By the way, the cable car ride roundtrip cost me KRW 6,300. Starting in May 1st, cars will not be allowed to enter into Namsan area. Instead, you’ll be able to take a shuttle bus from a subway station.
After a month of this, I needed some fresh air. So, I headed over to Namsan. I had visited Namsan a couple of years ago about the same time of year and I felt that it was a nice place with a lot of trees. The trees in Korea are scarce but when they are found, they are more gorgeous than the ones found in the U.S.
I took the subway to Myungdong station on line 4 and headed uphill towards the Seoul Tower. It’s a broadcasting tower with an observation deck. After about 15 minutes of walking uphill, I came to the cable car station—up I go on the cable car. Whoopee! After getting out of the cable car, it’s another 5 minutes of uphill walking. I forgot about all that walking that was required. Note to self: wear comfortable shoes next time, not dress shoes. Doh!
Finally, I’m surrounded by trees and fresh oxygen. I take a deep breath…. Wow! I can feel the pollutants getting washed out of my lungs. I’ve seen these trees a couple of years ago, but this time it was different. They were more vivid and vibrant in color. I can almost feel the life energy in those trees.
I am reminded of a poem by Emily Dickinson that I studied while I was in college. “The nectar tastes the sweetest to the one with the sorest needs.” Yeah, after a month of breathing smog, I had a sore need for fresh oxygen—and boy was it sweet. I have found new appreciation for trees. Being a biological organism, undoubtedly I have need for oxygen. But, I had taken oxygen for granted, until now.
As I spend more time in Seoul, hopefully I’ll be able to tolerate less than satisfactory air quality. It would be nice if some of my genes mutate and create a new organ designed to filter out the bad air before it gets injected into my lungs. I can only hope.
By the way, the cable car ride roundtrip cost me KRW 6,300. Starting in May 1st, cars will not be allowed to enter into Namsan area. Instead, you’ll be able to take a shuttle bus from a subway station.
posted by Jonathan J. Kim at
4/28/2005 06:36:00 PM
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