Day 22 | Andong

Sunday 3 November, 2024

Missed the previous post? Check it out here

Today was one of those days that turned out completely unexpected and one that we will remember for a long time. We start by heading to the traditional market for a walk around.

The main market area is busy but nearby is another market area that seems very quite and vacant. We’re not sure if those stalls have closed permanently or because it’s a Sunday.

We then decide to ride the bikes to the folk village about 30km away.

The scenery is just as beautiful as it was yesterday and we are in awe with every path and road we turn down.

We do hit two extremely steep hills along the way which are unexpected. Four if you count the return trip!

We originally thought it would be a flat ride today so these get our hearts pumping on what is otherwise a pretty effortless ride.

We eventually arrive at the Hahoe Mask Museum, which full of tourists and tour buses. We try and navigate our way around the crowds of people to continue the final 2km to the folk village but we are stopped by officials telling us we need to purchase a ticket to continue on the road. So we decide to turn around and ride back to a cafe we had seen earlier on the road as we want to stop somewhere for lunch.

About 20 minutes back we spot the cafe and hear its music.

The cafe’s name is 도락도닥 (Torak Todak) and it’s a very unique space where you pay 6,000 won for admission to enjoy the park, farm areas and seating in the cafe plus a welcome drink. The space is really nice with some gorgeous views, and they also offer pottery classes, farming and gardening experiences.

As we are ordering, a Korean lady who has also been cycling starts chatting to us in English whilst we try and reply in Korean. Turns out she has been learning English for six years, and she and her husband are locals in Andong. We spend the next hour and a bit chatting with them before they invite us to join them for dinner tonight.

By the way the cafe food and drinks were really good, only made better by the view.

We make plans meet them at a local Korean pub restaurant later that night and we all part ways and continue our cycling journeys home.

We head to the restaurant 들풀주막 (Deulpuljumak) at 6:30pm and spend the next five hours eating, drinking, chatting and being merry.

Sunny and 현욱 own the chicken and beer shop across the street and are locals to the area. We have a really enjoyable night, one of those nights we’ll remember for a long time. I think 현욱 thinks we are missing out because we are vegetarian and he loves meat so much. We feel bad for subjecting him to a mostly plant based meal tonight.

We hope to stay in touch with them and see each other on our future travels whether in Korea or elsewhere in the world. While some people take home souvenirs when they travel, these are the type of things we travel for – meeting new people, learning about and experiencing the culture.

Next post: Day 23 | Andong to Seoul