Man, what a day! I’m an ichthyologist, right? So, you’d think I’d be chillin’ with fish all day. But nah, today was a rollercoaster in Gumi, South Korea. Buckle up, fam!
First off, I woke up late. Like, super late. My alarm? Totally ignored. I jumped outta bed, threw on my favorite “Fish Whisperer” tee, and bolted out the door. I live near the Gumi River, so I figured I’d grab some brekkie at this cute little café on Gumi-daero. You know, the one with the weird fish mural? Yeah, that one.
So, I’m chowing down on some kimbap, right? And this dude next to me starts talking about how he caught a giant catfish in the river. I’m like, “Dude, that’s awesome!” But then he goes on about how he didn’t even know what to do with it. Like, come on, man! You catch a monster fish and just let it go? I was low-key fuming.
After that, I hit the streets. Gumi is wild, man. The mix of old and new is crazy. You got these ancient temples like the Geumgangsa Temple, and then boom! There’s a Starbucks on the corner of Jangsu-ro. I mean, can we get some balance here?
I decided to stroll down the Gumi Industrial Complex. It’s a bit noisy, but the vibe is electric. I saw this massive factory pumping out who-knows-what. I was like, “What’s that doing to the fish?” You know, the environment and all that jazz. I got a bit heated thinking about pollution. Like, can we not ruin the rivers, please?
Then, outta nowhere, I bumped into my old buddy, Jin. We used to fish together back in the day. He’s all like, “Yo, you still talking to fish?” I laughed so hard. I mean, yeah, I do! But it’s more like I’m studying them, not chatting over coffee.
We decided to hit up the Gumi Fish Market. OMG, the smells! Fish everywhere! I was in heaven. But then, I saw this poor fish flopping around, gasping for air. My heart sank. I had to step in. I told the vendor, “Dude, that fish needs water, like, now!” He just shrugged. Ugh, people can be so clueless sometimes.
After that, I was on a mission. I needed to find some rare fish for my research. I headed to the Gumi Lake. It’s a bit of a trek, but the view is worth it. The mountains in the background? Stunning! I felt a wave of peace wash over me. Nature, man.
But then, I tripped. Like, full-on faceplant. My notebook flew outta my hands, pages everywhere. I was so mad! I scrambled to pick them up, and this old lady came over. She was like, “You okay, young man?” I just laughed it off. “Yeah, just trying to catch my fish notes!”
Finally, I made it to the lake. I set up my gear and waited. And waited. Nothing. Just when I was about to give up, BAM! I caught a glimpse of a rare species! My heart raced. I was ecstatic! I snapped some pics, took notes, and felt like a total rockstar.
As the sun set over Gumi, I felt this rush of gratitude. Sure, the day was chaotic. But it was real. I love this city, with its quirks and surprises. Gumi, you’ve got my heart.
So, yeah, that was my day. Full of fish, friends, and a bit of drama. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!