Goryeong Bokbo - Nine Dragon Falls

A few hundred vertiginous steps lead us down to the famous pools, one for each dragon that are said to have descended from a rainbow.  The colours have faded but the pools are still beautiful, lying amongst vast granite rock walls and boulders.  We dip our feet in the super cold water for a refreshing natural massage, and share in the laughter from a party of hiking ajumas enjoying lunch on a flat rock above us.  

Dragonflies are everywhere, gracefully flitting in and out of the shade, setting down on warm rock to soak up the sun’s energy and rest their wondrous wings which remind me of stained glass church windows.  At rest, approaching from behind out of sight of their large eyes, they are easily caught and held gently between two fingers.  With an apology for the inconvenience, we send them up into the air again carrying our wishes for a long good life for us and them.

Heading back up, we meet a party of good humoured elderly Koreans, including two men in traditional hanbok clothes and hats, all of whom give us a cheerful welcome and shame us with their health and vigour.