Travel

This morning, as I strolled across the terminal, I witnessed an elderly lady striking a cool pose with her bus ticket held high, capturing the moment. 🎶 Searching for the perfect soundtrack, I hit play on Sunwoo Jung-a’s ‘City Sunset.’ I wanted to stretch her joyful moment into a slow tempo, hoping to share a piece of that happiness. 

‘City Sunset’ is a minimalist gem that I turn to when I crave calmness or just want to bask in the sound of a piano. It’s part of the soundtrack for the drama ‘On the Way to the Airport,’ which, unfortunately, I haven’t seen. The album cover features Kim Ha-neul leaning on a railing, gazing into the distance with eyes full of longing and regret. Looking at that picture reminds me of her iconic line from the drama ‘Romance’: ‘I’m the teacher, and you’re the student!’ That scene left a lingering feeling, as it wasn’t followed by any explanatory dialogue. While most might think, ‘I’m the teacher, and you’re the student! (It’s not meant to be!),’ perhaps it was more like, ‘I’m the teacher, and you’re the student! (We don’t even check compatibility!)’ I never got to see the drama through to the end, so the conclusion remains a mystery to me…

Anyway, today, the joyful selfie of the lady before her trip and Kim Ha-neul’s longing look from the album cover overlapped in my mind. Now, every time I listen to this track, I might just feel the urge to change directions and head somewhere new. 

The lady boarded her bus, and the song ended, so I shook off my reverie, wondering if I’d make it to my appointment on time. Still, with such beautiful weather – unrelated to the lyrics – I hoped she would have a delightful journey. After all, travel is about wanting to go somewhere, even when you’re already in high spirits. 🚍✨