Shall We Stroll the Underpass?

Seoul is a huge city with 12 million people. As such, space is at a premium. The other day I discovered a rather efficient use of city space while I was looking for a restaurant. Near my apartment there are a couple of overpasses to get on the highway. The area underneath these overpasses has been made into a bike/walking trail. The trail is rather elaborate with a creek running down the middle and two paths on each side. To get to the path you must walk down a flight of steps which are placed at varying intervals along the streets.

The weather here has turned hot and humid. A path next to water and in the shade is absolutely perfect. There are several places you can cross the stream via stepping stones or bridges.

There is also a nice waterfall along the way. I checked the collecting pool for coins as it seemed natural to make a wish. No coins; that is just not done here.

The trail runs a long way and eventually leads to a tunnel. The sign above appeared to prohibit bikes, but that seemed to be more of a suggestion than a rule. I had to dodge a few bikers in the tunnel.

I like the tunnel a lot. It muffles the sound of the insane amount of traffic above into a soft white noise that is rather calming. The tunnel is well lit, but there is not much to see except for the occasional scenery painting to create a nature setting.

This is not the only place in Seoul where a walkway has been engineered into the city. Another one is near my favorite waffle shop. The last time I was there the water was too high so it was closed, but it was still impressive. At night the colored lighting makes for a very romantic escape while still being in a fast-paced city. I have heard many times that Asians for all their brilliance lack creative thinking. Well, this is a very creative use of space, and I am very thankful for it.