I went out the other day to go to the Gwangalli Eoban Festival. Yes, I was taking chances. There have been a lot of event cancellations around Korea this year because of the ferry disaster.
The internet said this festival was cancelled, but I figured I would go and see myself since I had heard that the Lotus Lantern Festival was cancelled too, but I went to the park where it was supposed to be held it was still going on.
The Eobang Festival is another fishermans festival, like the Gijang Anchovy Festival I tried to go to the other day (which was also cancelled). It sounded really interesting and I was really looking forward to it. Especially after seeing Andreas’ post in her blog about last years.
So, who knows? I tried it. I got there and – no festival! Oh well. It was a pretty decent day. A little overcast, but that was good for me since I get sunburned really easily. The beach was nice.
There were a lot of local people out enjoying the beach but it wasn’t too crowded. People were out flying kites and walking their dogs. I saw a couple of fishermen. A vollyball game was going on and looked like fun. Lots of picnics were sprinkled around the sand.
People were skateboarding and bikeriding along the promenade. The other side was lined with bars, restaurants and coffee shops. I stopped and had some coffee and watched the scene for a while.
I’ve been in Korea for the last week or so. Seems I still can’t get away from the ocean. 😉
I’ve spent a lot of time going to the local markets. They have a LOT of seafood in their markets here!
Yesterday I went to Gijang. They were supposed to be having a festival yesterday. The Gijang Anchovy Festival. It said on the internet that it was cancelled. I went anyway since it also said the Lotus Lantern Festival was cancelled and it was still on. 🙂
I figured it would be an interesting day out anyway. Yes, the festival was actually cancelled. Yes, it was still an interesting trip. 🙂
I took the metro up to Haeundae Station and then the local bus (181) from there to the harbor where the festival was supposed to be. The town was obviously set up as a place for people to come and buy and eat fish, (more kinds than just anchovys), but I saw no signs of any kind of festival. I guess it really was cancelled (due to the ferry accident).
I wandered around for a while and took a bunch of pictures. I’ll have to take a look at them later and will put some in a later post. I’m trying to stick to my goals for the Blogging 201 Challenge, one of which was to get back on track with my “editorial calendar”.
So I am posting today another Song of the Sea. All that wandering around the fish market and the fishing boats made me think of this song by Billy Joel. It’s about the fishermen in the USA (NE Coast), but fishermen around the world are all the same. 🙂
It’s always hard work and the pay is never enough, but of course it’s still totally worth it!
I hope you like the song as much as I do. Enjoy. 🙂
The Downeaster ‘Alexa’
Well I’m on the Downeaster Alexa And I’m cruising through Block Island Sound I have charted a course to the Vineyard But tonight I am Nantucket bound
We took on diesel back in Montauk yesterday And left this morning from the bell in Gardiner’s Bay Like all the locals here I’ve had to sell my home Too proud to leave I’ve worked my fingers to the bone
So I could own my Downeaster Alexa And I go where the ocean is deep There are giants out there in the canyons And a good captain can’t fall asleep
I’ve got bills to pay and children who need clothes I know there’s fish out there but where God only knows They say these waters aren’t what they used to be But I’ve got people back on land who count on me
So if you see my Downeaster Alexa And if you work with the rod and the reel Tell my wife I am trawling Atlantis And I still have my hands on the wheel
Yeah yo [x4]
Now I drive my Downeaster Alexa More and more miles from shore every year Since they tell me I can’t sell no stripers And there’s no luck in swordfishing here
I was a bayman like my father was before Can’t make a living as a bayman anymore There ain’t much future for a man who works the sea But there ain’t no island left for islanders like me
