The azaleas patiently wait their turn in the line-up of blooms each spring. As soon as the ground below the cherry blossom trees is covered with a blanket of white petals,
the azaleas step in and start to do their thing.
This sidewalk is right near our apartment and Chuey and I try to walk it every morning when the azaleas are blooming.
These beauties are just across the street from our apartment.
There are stories of mountainsides completely full of these bushes. So one afternoon we set out to find this said phenonema at Cheonjusan Mountain, near Changwon.
We had a great start by parking right under this beauty.
It was just a short hike to the Cheonjuam Hermitage.
We continued our quest for azaleas.
Right on the side of the mountain was a foot path.
After hiking up for about 30 minutes we came to the Cheonjuam Hermitage Mineral Spring. I read this is called a yaksuteo and the water is considered good for one's health.
This stop also has exercise equipment. Because, ya know, why not stop to work out whilst in the middle of a hike?
All the contrasting shades of green are so pretty.
We made it to the peak! Cheonjusan has an altitude of 638.8m, and the name means 'a pillar that supports the sky.' 
I think this little observation deck is called Meeting Square.
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| Linda, Kate and Trish |
The first sign that we were on the right track!
The little birds are carved directly from the tree, still attached.
These bushes looked promising at first sight. But you can tell from the ones in the background that they have already bloomed and are past their prime. Yet we pushed on to the peak.
Eventually we came upon the place we were searching for. Unfortunately, we missed the blooming window. The cherry blossoms in Japan bloomed the earliest on record in 1200 years; apparently most of Asia is blooming a few weeks earlier, too. We went a week earlier than usual to accommodate, but to no avail. This whole hill becomes totally purple when in full bloom. You can tell just enough to see how pretty it would have been.
It was super windy near the peak. Look how crazy my hair was.
A few stragglers still had color.
I love how the mountains just keep going and going.
The main peak is Yongjibong-eun-ro, which has views of Changwon-si and Haman-gun below.
We enjoyed a little picnic lunch at the top.
That's me down on the deck below.
You can tell how amazing it would be if the jindallae, or azaleas, were in bloom. About a week ago that path was swallowed in blooms.
Just a few stragglers were still hanging on.
🍋We earned ourselves a lemonade once we got to the bottom.😋
[April 14]
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