The majestic mountain range surrounding Gyeongsangbuk-do is likely a blessing embraced by the city of Daegu. The scenery of Cheongdo, which unfolds just about 40 minutes after leaving downtown Daegu, is lush with the fully bloomed greenery of June.

Dongsan-ri, Maejeon -myeon, Cheongdo. The narrow single-lane road leading into the village brings back fond memories of the time I used to go to my grandmother's house when I was young.

Stayderdam , a small house on one side of the village with unremarkable roofs touching one another without any pretension . I walked along the stone path into the mud-walled house beyond the low stone wall.

The main house, the annex, and the small courtyard revealed between the swaying small flowering trees.

I intend to enjoy a single day of leisure in this neatly refurbished little country house. The end of a long journey always soothes fatigue with the comforting thought, "I'm glad I came." Lately, my daily life has been incredibly hectic. Adjusting to my new home in Seochon, welcoming welcome guests, and rushing to meet manuscript deadlines were a continuous series of joys, but they did not leave any room for peace in my heart. Perhaps that is why I was just beginning to feel the urge to physically leave Seoul for a while.

The house with its spacious veranda was simple, yet it was well-equipped with everything it needed. A pure white, plush bed, a small dining table, and even a wide window that drew in the mountain scenery in front. I sat on the veranda for a moment and sipped a glass of water. Wooden pillars and solid mud walls, which looked at least sixty years old, stood as one unit supporting the house. Is there anything that resonates more deeply than the sight of ancient materials intertwining with time and converging into a single entity? The rough voices coming from the neighbors, the hum of farm machinery engines, the refreshing sound of spraying water toward the fruit trees. And on top of that, a young cat that had made the space beneath the veranda its home, keeping a certain distance as if to defend its territory while showering us with affection. It was a time when both my eyes and ears became sharp.

A neat jacuzzi sat in the annex that used to be a cowshed, and during the early country nights, I lay in the steaming water to melt away my fatigue. I gently nudged the LP placed beside the jacuzzi, and an old Beatles song began to play. I listened to music while taking a half-bath, accompanied by the damp night air. Unlike the daily life in the city, filled with excessive visual experiences, here my senses of touch, smell, and hearing became acutely sensitive. The cold, gleaming veranda, the sound of a cuckoo, the hot temperature of the water against my skin, the sweat trickling down, and the fresh scent of the night. It was a moment when I came to believe that the essence lies within monotony.

Stay Dam

'Stay the Dam', a place of rest amidst the gray city center, offers a cozy and comfortable rest in nature with the slogan, “We capture our stories within the warmest community in the world.”

Stay The Dam (Dongsan Branch), 10-5 Saeteo-gil, Maejeon-myeon, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk

@staythedam

When I opened my eyes in the morning, all kinds of green trees and grass were squeezing in through the round window beside the bed. That youthful vitality was swaying as if beckoning me to look at it. I simply loved the fact that I was lying here. I wandered around the yard, slowly looking around at the mountains in front and behind. The massive mountains seemed so close, as if I were looking at a zoomed-in screen. Even the shape of the ridges was rhythmic. I wondered if this is what it means to have beautiful scenery. Perhaps, just as the city is losing something, the countryside preserves its original form even more richly and beautifully. A night at Stay The Damm is made even more special by these "most simple things." It seems that a complete journey and rest are possible only because of this local purity and the generous nature.

Park Sun-young

Park Sun-young studied art theory at the Korea National University of Arts and has consistently written about art, design, architecture, and travel. She began her career as a columnist in 2008 while on a leave of absence as a graduate student living in Paris; she personally recruited and interviewed people she could only meet there, contributing articles to *Harper's BAZAAR Korea*. Since then, she has written for various media outlets, including *VOGUE KOREA* and *Noblesse*, featuring her unique deep perspective and elegant writing style. She also plans exhibitions and events within and outside the realm of culture and art, bringing people together in one place. As a personal lifestyle advisor, she conveys the sensations of the unfamiliar time and space of "travel" through detailed writing that feels like a delicate weaving.