Like many other big cities and metropolitan areas, Gwangju has developed alongside a river. Now it is hard to tell that Gwangju River is in fact a river. As far as I know, rivers are very wide. I usually call it Gwangju Stream. Gwagnju stream originates from Mt. Mudeung and Hwasun(화순). If you go up along the stream you will get to Mt. mudeung. If you come down, you will finally get to Naju(나주).

Have you ever run along the stream path? You will find there are less people than you think there will be. The further you go, the less people there will be. Whenever I ride along the path, one particular area that I do not want to pass is the Yangdong-market underground parking lot. The lighting is very dim, it makes me feel frightened. Once I passthrough this underground cave, I feel like I am alive again.

During the hot and humid summers, I used to avoid Gwangju Stream because of its smell. After it was reconstructed with beautifully clean roads, even on stifling and muggy summer days, I go there and enjoy riding during the day.

One day at dusk, I was on the lower Gwangju Stream near Gwangju city hall. I saw something that I never imagined to see in Gwangju. A beautiful sunset on the banks on the Gwangju Stream. Whenever I show my friends the picture I took that day and askthem to guess where this is, they say Sunchun Bay(순천만, or somewhere in Seoul. Once they get to know that is Gwangju Stream they see the beauty of Gwangju Stream in a different way.

Another day that I found the attractiveness of Gwagnju Stream is one snowy night on New Years Eve. The downtown stretch of Gwangju Stream area is finely tuned. Rocks and stream are in harmony; moreover snow on the rocks and bank under the yellow halogen light was fantastic.

 Weather has changed. It is now spring. Everything has started to turn green. Light green and tiny little leaves are unfolding their strong hold of life.

(Photo : Ko Kwang soo)