Day 6 – Solo Korea Car Camping Trip: Yeosu → Geoje Island

2021.05.29(Sat)

Today, I crossed from Jeolla-do into Gyeongsang-do.

As someone who has always had a little admiration for the Gyeongsang-do dialect, it was a moment I had been looking forward to.

My destination for the day was Gujora Beach on Geoje Island.

Though I had only spent a few days there, I said a bittersweet goodbye to Jeolla-do, which I had already grown attached to, and after about two hours of driving, I finally arrived in Geoje!

Since I had never been here before, I imagined the island would be a quiet countryside town. But to my surprise, there were tall buildings, plenty of cars, and everything you’d expect in a small city. It felt more urban than I had imagined.

When I finally arrived at the beach, my jaw dropped. Maybe it was because it was Saturday, maybe because the weather was beautiful, or maybe simply because it was a popular tourist spot—but the vibe was the complete opposite of the beaches I had visited so far.

The place was lively, crowded with people. Tents lined the roadside, and for the first time on this trip, I even saw several foreigners.

It had been such a long time since I had felt the energy of such a vibrant beach.

And what I loved the most!

It was seeing some people in swimsuits and bikinis.

When I lived in Australia, going to the beach in a bikini and tanning was as normal as having a meal. But in Korea, I’d often heard that many people still think bikinis are only for those with perfect bodies, so I had never dared to try.

Lately, though, I’ve been reading The Courage to Be Disliked, which says, ‘There’s no need to live up to the expectations of others.’

And it struck me—wearing a bikini with this body of mine is neither a crime nor something that harms anyone else. So why should I hesitate?

I laid out a mat right in the middle of the beach, slipped into my bikini, and enjoyed tanning. Once I actually did it, I realized it was nothing at all—and everyone else seemed too busy having fun themselves to care.

Just a few years ago, I would never show my bare face in public, and I was always stressed about my weight. But at some point, I came to realize that people don’t pay nearly as much attention to others as we think. Since then, I’ve let go of the anxiety about how I might appear in their eyes.

Fat or thin, flat nose or small eyes—everyone has their own uniqueness. At this point in my life, I believe it’s far wiser to spend my time and energy nurturing my inner self rather than obsessing over my outer appearance.

So I spent hours tanning, napping, reading, taking photos, playing with sand, and splashing around in the ocean. It felt like I had returned to the carefree spirit of childhood.

And then it hit me—I’m actually much better at enjoying time alone than I ever thought. I couldn’t help but admire myself for it. Through this trip, I discovered yet another one of my strengths.

Until the sun set, I stayed lost in that childlike joy, savoring my own company.

---------------------------------------------------------

5. The elderly are great.

:If even my eighteen-year-old self could draw lessons from life, then how many more must the elderly have gained, living decades longer than I have?

From elementary school until my second year of middle school, I lived with my grandparents. I was especially close to my grandmother. She had magical hands—those of a chef who could whip up anything in an instant, of a hairdresser who would braid and style my hair with care before school every morning, and of a healer whose touch seemed to ease my pain whenever I was sick. Her wisdom, skill, and know-how weren’t only from being naturally smart, but also from years of experience and the mastery that only time can give.

As people age, the body inevitably declines—we can’t escape the laws of time. Memory fades, too. But I believe the strength of thought, the depth of heart, and that intangible, genuine essence that wells up from within do not diminish. If anything, they continue to grow, becoming greater and wiser until the very end.

Studying at a desk can certainly make a person knowledgeable, but wisdom is another matter. True wisdom, I think, comes from the layers of time—woven from experiences, from both failure and success—allowing us to see the world clearly with a kind of third eye.

These days, conflicts between generations often lead young people to dismiss the elderly as out-of-touch “boomer types,” rejecting them outright. But I don’t see it that way. Of course, not every older person is wise. Yet, the fact remains that we exist because they existed first, and they have walked through decades of life before us. Surely we gain more from them than we lose.

In a way, life is fair. As physical ability fades, the elderly gain insight and wisdom in return.

They are great. And for that reason, we should honor and respect them—because, in the end, they are a mirror of our own future.

---------------------------------------------------------