Life can get excruciatingly real at times. And when things get tough, the tough go looking for silver linings. Momentary escapism isn’t such a bad thing after all. It’s what keeps us going. And as long as we have our feet stuck in reality — escapism is: a flicker of hope, the light at the end of a scary tunnel, a warm hug on a freezing day, and a fleeting instant of how life might be on the other side. Probably, that’s what drives flocks of wide-eyed dreamers to Seoul in autumn. The discerning traveller might still be sceptical. I hear you. I’ve yo-yoed from realist to dreamer. However, unless you’re willing to let go of reality, just for a moment, you’d never see how beautiful the world can be.

We’re at the end of September and soon the the leaves with start to turn. In Korea, autumn starts in the northern provinces and reaches Seoul by mid-October. However, there are a ton of interesting festivals to attend before that. Seoul Silver Grass Festival is held in World Cup Park’s Haneul Park between the first & second week of October (2019 dates have to be confirmed). We attended the festival in 2016 and 2018. Pink Muhly and Kochia Grass were the latest additions to last year’s festival.

The walk from World Cup Stadium Station (Exit 1) to Haneul Park takes you through huge parking lots, an overhead bridge, winding stairs, and a tarred road on a hill top. Magical places aren’t easy to find and the effort is totally worth it.

Love in Pink Muhly Fields

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are.

When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” 
― Paulo Coelho

“We loved with a love that was more than love.” 
― Edgar Allen Poe

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing 
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about.” 
 Rumi

Red Kochia Grass

“If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.” 
― Jean-Paul Sartre

“…for everytime I see the sky I’m aware of belonging to the universe than to just one corner of the earth.” 
― Ruskin Bond

Silver Grass Highs

“Humans! They lived in a world where the grass continued to be green and the sun rose every day and flowers regularly turned into fruit, and what impressed them? Weeping statues. And wine made out of water!” 
― Terry Pratchett

Golden Hour

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live.

In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.” 
― Carl Sagan

Since last year, Pink Muhly Grass has become quite the crowd-puller — especially in Korea. We were more enamoured by the vast spread of silver grass. We found many quiet spots to observe the beauty of transient nature and take in the sights that come along.

Sunset over the Han River

“Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.” 
― Rabindranath Tagore

Every sunset has a moonrise. There’s a bright side to every ending. And when things don’t seem to be going the way they should, I’m thankful for those silver linings in the sky.

“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.” 

― Marcus Aurelius

Posted by:twobrownfeet

16 replies on “Finding Silver Linings at Seoul Silver Grass Festival

    1. Seriously! I’ve been learning so much about plants, flowers, and grass here. Koreans love nature and have festivals in every season. I tried the new block editor and struggled with the layout. 🙂

    1. Now you’ve seen everything! 🙂 Pink grass is a rage here. I already have seen popular travel sites advertising places in Korea that are famous for Muhly.

  1. The pinks and reds are gorgeous! I miss fall. But I guess fall means winter is coming, and I don’t miss that. Enjoy your colorful world for the next month or so!

  2. I love your posts with quotes! So inspiring! The one from Sartre, on loneliness, reminds me of my time in Mumbai. There were some weekends that I was so peaceful and glad for being alone, I would go alone to my favorite cafe, seat at my favorite table there, eat food that didn’t taste so good (It was a cafe that had great ambiance but awful food), read a book and I kept thinking and fearing that I liked so much being alone that I would probably never settle down in a relationship. Ahahaha, look at how things have changed!

    1. So good to reconnect with you after so many years, Maria! And thank you for stopping by. Mumbai was a different world. 🙂 Expat life reminds me of you, Woori, and Fernanda. So many feelings and emotions. I like the loneliness, but sometimes it can get overwhelming. 🙂 We’ve all changed so much, haven’t we? I’m so happy you found someone who makes you smile! That’s the beauty of being in a relationship. I couldn’t translate your blog on my laptop. 🙁 Can’t wait to read your posts! <3

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