Every
January 1 of the New Year is an opportunity for New Promises to Self for fresh Opportunities
& beneficial Improvement! Let Daegu facilitate these goals! Beautiful
watercolor is by fellow Colorful Daegu Citizen Reporter Paula Mercado.
1. ADVENTURE:
See a Sunrise on a Mountain, (Apsan) Parking at 440-1, Apsansunhwan-ro, Nam-gu,
Daegu
2.
CHALLENGE:
Do an Escape Room, (Code Escape) 2552
Dalgubeol-daero, Beomeo 4(sa)-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu
3. HEALTH: Drink Tea at
a Traditional Tea House, (Da Cheon San Bang) 93, Sejin-ro, Suseong-gu, Daegu
4. RELAX: Have a Spa
Day, (SEOK Refresh), Novotel Ambassador Daegu, 7F, 611 Gukchaebosang-ro,
Munhwa-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu
5. EXPLORE: Listen to
Live Music, (Club Old Blue), 34 Daeseong-ro, Samdeog-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu
1. ADVENTURE: See a Sunrise on a Mountain
Safety is always a concern when
someone mentions night hiking. It’s hard enough to ensure stable footing in the
light of day! Take a lamppost path…take it slow…one step at a time.
The
Observation Deck at the top of Apsan is a beacon of hope indicating your steep
ascent is almost finished.
Now
we wait. It is on special occasions like New Year’s Day, Lunar New Year’s Day,
and during the Chuseok holiday that the Apsan cable car will sometimes run as
early as 4 am to ferry up (or down) tourists and locals in time for sunrise
(weather dependent).
A
break in the darkness!
Dress
in multiple layers!! Hiking up gets you sweaty, but waiting at the top for the
sun can get chilly. The USB powered hand warmers are much better than the
sachet disposable ones (the packets simply take too long to activate). Wear
hats that cover your ears. Hot tea in a quality thermos boosts morale.
2. CHALLENGE:
Do an Escape Room
Our
favorite escape room suddenly closed at Suseong Lake, so we were thrilled to
find another facility offering puzzle rooms to solve. It is best for English
speakers to call to reserve a room because only certain rooms can be configured
using English only.
I
have personally completed the Prison Break and Virus rooms. Geisha room is
confirmed not configurable in English. No worries! Stalker and Kidnapped sound
compelling.
Just
like all typical escape rooms, no phones are not allowed (lockers are provided at
no extra cost), the rooms tend to be small and windowless, and HINTS can be
provided for a time penalty (60-minute limit to solve the room). 2-5 people per
room. Maxing out the team will give you the best price (44,000 – 90,000 won per
room. When paying, mentioning if it is your first escape room experience with
them (often results in a generous discount).
There
is a souvenir mini polaroid taken that stays at the facility. Escape Rooms are a
great way to exercise your brain and get your heart rate pumping without being
in any real danger!
3. HEALTH: Drink Tea at a
Traditional Tea House
Teas
are available at most cafés, but there are additional spiritual benefits to
unplugging from the branded fast paced atmosphere of quick caffeine and
reconnecting into timeless traditions, the roots of a culture, and experiencing
unsurpassable depth flavors.
The
Tea House owners do not demonstrate or teach the etiquette portion of
traditional tea ceremonies, but they do provide all that is needed so you could
invite a Korean friend to show you something special! There are no tea bags
here. Have a free schedule so that you may relax and enjoy the process.
There
are many rice cakes offered throughout Daegu, but THESE were my favorite. With
the texture of wheat bread, I savored every sip of tea and every bite of rice
cake.
This
cold berry tea will be ready to drink by the time the ice cube is completely
melted. Until then, the other tea in the course will have a first, second, and
third “steeping” of the same batch of tea leaves. And each “steep” tastes
different!
4. RELAX: Have a Spa Day
There
are many massage options in Daegu. Select one where you feel comfortable and
safe in the surroundings, and especially where you can communicate your pain
thresholds clearly.
It
is okay to splurge on luxury occasionally if the budget allows. It could be a
mini-vacation moment without having to leave the city.
The
benefits of massage are the obvious relief of muscle tensions caused by stress
and/or intense physical activities, a mental & physical break from the day,
and even stimulating blood circulation. Some Spa services can be purchased ala
carte, but the SET OPTIONS always seem to fill the 60 to 90-minute time slots
with a complete pampering experience! Prices vary.
5. EXPLORE: Listen to Live
Music
I
had no idea American Jazz could be found in Daegu without attending a special
exhibition at a concert hall.
Local
venue websites will have calendar of upcoming live performance. Pick a genre
you prefer.
Expect
a cover charge during the live performance hour (varies), but this keeps the
venue from getting too crowded! Peruse the drink menu, soak in the chill vibe, and
enjoy the show.
You
don’t need to make official RESOLUTIONS to have adventures, be challenged,
improve your health, relax, or explore! But they sure give you excellent goals
and good ideas! I definitely want to READ MORE, EAT HEALTHY, and continue to
LEARN about Daegu. Whatever your plans for 2019, REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN! Happy
New Year!