Meow-tain and Sea

My cat Namu loves to sit by the yard or the window, watching birds. Even just a few sparrows are enough to make his eyes go wide as he watches them for ages. Seeing this, Halbae had a thought: "A cat who loves birds this much — imagine how happy he'd be somewhere with tons of them!" So this episode's imaginary adventure sends Namu and Halbae to Eulsukdo, Korea's largest migratory bird sanctuary. What Kind of Place Is Eulsukdo? Eulsukdo is an island at the mouth of the Nakdong River in Saha-gu, Busan, formed over centuries as soil and sand carried by the river settled and built up. It was once known as the largest migratory bird sanctuary in East Asia, and in 1966 it was designated a Natural Monument. Every year, from early November through early March, tens of thousands of migratory birds — mallards, whooper swans, bean geese, black-faced spoonbills, and more — arrive here from as far as Siberia. Right now (September), it's not quite peak season yet, but if ...

Every October, Busan comes alive with movie fever — thanks to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the largest film festival in Asia. Now in its 31st edition, the 2026 BIFF runs for ten days, from Tuesday, October 6th through Thursday, October 15th, centered around the Busan Cinema Center, with additional venues in Centum City and the BIFF Square in Nampo-dong. In an earlier post, we introduced the Cinema Center in detail — including its iconic " Big Roof. " Today's story picks up right where that left off, following Namu on an imaginary early visit to the upcoming festival. The real thing is still about a month away, but since this is an "imaginary adventure," we got a little head start. If you're planning to visit in October, think of this episode as your preview. Arriving beneath the Big Roof, Namu is once again awestruck by the sheer scale of the structure stretching overhead like a sky of its own. Before long, she notices something different i...

Our Imaginary Adventure series started with Halbae's wish to explore Busan together with Namu, and so far we've wandered through mountains, the sea, and bustling markets. This time, I wanted to show that Busan isn't just about mountains and coastline — it has a beautiful river too. So this trip takes us to Samnak Ecological Park, one of Busan's favorite riverside escapes, where we cycle along the Nakdong River, pass through reeds, lotus ponds, and cosmos fields, and end the day watching the sunset. Samnak felt like the perfect fit for Namu. Most of our imaginary destinations so far have been lively, crowded spots, but this one is quieter — a stretch of riverbank still close to nature. At home Namu is calm and composed, but out in the yard she perks right up, tail twitching the moment she spots a bug or a lizard. With its reed beds, wetlands, ponds, and even a protected habitat for the endangered Boreal Digging Frog, I couldn't help but imagine how wild she'd g...

Isn't the heat this summer just brutal? Day or night, it's hard to even catch a breath. So for this Imaginary Adventure, we decided to head somewhere cool — a seaside temple, Yonggungsa, that offers a completely different vibe from your typical beach. We actually mentioned this place briefly back in June, but that post only touched on Yongmungyo Bridge and the meaning behind the 108 steps. This time, since Namu and Halbae actually walk through it together, let me introduce it in more detail. Choosing Yonggungsa for this trip felt like a natural choice. Unlike Beomeosa, the quiet mountain temple Namu and Halbae visited back in Episode 6, Yonggungsa is a temple where waves crash right at your feet — and that felt perfect for Namu. You know that curious expression she gets, half-scared of water but unable to look away? I can only imagine how wide her eyes would go standing right in front of the sea. Right at the entrance, you're greeted by the Twelve Zodiac Guardians — impos...

This time, Halbae and Namu's imaginary adventure takes them to Jagalchi — and honestly, it was Halbae's idea all along. Halbae absolutely loves grilled fish and raw fish. As a true Busan person living by the sea, his eyes light up at the sight of fresh seafood. Jagalchi isn't just a market to him — it's a place full of delicious memories. Picture Halbae sitting down in front of a plate of fresh sashimi, the happiest man alive. And right beside him, naturally, is Namu. So what happened when Namu came face to face with a market full of live, wriggling seafood? Let's find out! 💡Satoori Spotlight  : 천지빼까리 (cheon-ji-ppae-kka-ri) "물고기가 천지빼까리제?"  (Fish everywhere you look, huh?) 천지빼까리 (cheon-ji-ppae-kka-ri) is a beloved Gyeongsang-do dialect expression meaning "there's an enormous amount of something — as far as the eye can see." The phrase paints a picture of abundance so vast it fills the space between heaven and earth. It's the kind of wo...

When we sit together in the living room and chat, the conversation always finds its way back to Namu. Whenever a new episode of "Namu and Halbae" is finished, we watch it together — recording the satoori lines, laughing at the panels, and talking about where the next imaginary adventure should take them. Halmae always says with a smile that if it weren't for Namu, Halbae wouldn't say a word. And honestly, watching how his whole demeanor changes the moment Namu comes up in conversation, I think she's right. Choosing Beomeosa for this episode felt natural. It's not far from home — a place we've visited together on quiet days when we just needed a bit of fresh air and a change of scenery. Halmae has always loved the mountains, but her knees have been giving her trouble lately, and that weighs on me. Halbae isn't really a mountain person himself, but he'd always go for Halmae's sake without a second thought. And I know — he'd do the same for N...

Episode 5 - Namu's Brave Step Every weekend, when we sit together in the living room and talk, the conversation always finds its way back to Namu. Whenever a new episode is finished, we watch it together — Halbae, Halmae, and me — recording the satoori lines and figuring out where the next imaginary adventure should take them. Last time, Namu and Halbae soared above the green mountains on the Geumjeongsan cable car. We'd done the mountain — so this time, I thought it was time for the sea. Wide, open, and blue. That's how we ended up at Oryukdo Skywalk: a glass-floored walkway perched over the cliffs, with nothing but ocean beneath your feet. Even in imagination, the thought of a spring breeze off the sea is enough to make your heart lift. So — where will Namu and Halbae's brave steps take them today? 🐾 💡 Satoori Spotlight: 안아주꾸마 In this imaginary adventure, Halbae comforts a frightened Namu with a very warm regional phrase. "안아주꾸마" ([An-a-ju-kku-ma]) ...

Episode 4 - Sky-High Adventure Is there a place you dream of visiting with your furry best friend? For Halbae, that place is the breathtaking peaks of Geumjeongsan Mountain in Busan. In this week's Imaginary Adventure, Halbae and Namu embark on a grand flight. They step away from their cozy living room. They board a cable car rising high into the sky. The city of Busan begins to shrink beneath them. Namu looks out the window with wide, curious eyes. But can a little house cat handle the dizzying heights of a mountain peak? Will Namu enjoy the sweeping views, or will the high altitude be too much for our gentle ginger tabby? Let's join their dreamlike journey! 💡Satoori Spotlight: Eok-su-ro (억수로) The moment Halbae shares this beautiful mountain journey with Namu, he uses his favorite Busan expression not just once, but twice to show his deep affection: "억수로 쪼매나제?" ( Eok-su-ro jjo-mae-na-je? ) "It's incredibly tiny, right?"   "억수로 이뿌제?" ( Eok-s...

Episode 3 - Too Hot, Too Cold, Just Right Halmae is a true Busan person. Busan winters are generally milder than most other cities in South Korea, but they are still not mild enough for Halmae. The exact moment the coastal wind picks up or the temperature drops even slightly, she is immediately flat on the warm Ondol (온돌) underfloor heating. As far as she's concerned, there is no better place on earth to be. Namu feels exactly the same way. In that sense, Namu is a true Busan cat. The slightest winter chill and she is stretched out long on the living room floor, completely melted. If you touch the exact spot where Namu has been lying, it is always the warmest patch in the entire room. Halmae and Namu are completely alike in that way. So Halmae always laughs and says in her thick accent: "나무가 내 닮았다 아이가." (Namu takes after me, doesn't she!) This episode's imaginary destination is the Jjimjilbang (찜질방) — a traditional Korean bathhouse and spa complex. It is a plac...

Episode 2: Little Namu in Gamcheon One day, I asked Halbae a question. "If Namu could go anywhere with you, where would you take her?" He didn't have to think long. "Gamcheon," he said. Gamcheon Culture Village ( 감천문화마을 ) is a place Halbae used to visit often — a hillside neighborhood of brightly painted houses and winding alleys, stacked up against the mountain overlooking the distant sea. He knew every staircase, every sharp turn. But that was years ago. These days, his legs don't cooperate the way they used to, and Gamcheon is famously nothing but stairs. So, he simply stopped going. He didn't say any of this out loud, though. He just said "Gamcheon" — quietly, like the name had been waiting at the back of his mind. So, in his Imaginary Adventure , that is exactly where they went. Welcome back to Imaginary Adventures — where Halbae and Namu go everywhere Halbae wishes they could go together in real life. This episode: Gamcheon Culture Villa...

🐈 Episode 1: Namu's First Sea  Halbae ( 할배 - Grandpa) goes to the beach alone sometimes. He just quietly slips out without a word and comes back smelling of the fresh, salty sea air. Namu ( 나무 ) always watches him leave from the safety of the hallway. Out on the busy streets, he can't help but think of her. South Korea has so many small dogs, doesn't it? You see people walking them through the narrow residential alleys, taking them to the traditional markets, and strolling with them along the sandy shore. Every single time he sees one, his thoughts immediately drift to Namu. "That dog over there is even smaller than our Namu. It would be so nice if she could come out to see the world too..." He would absolutely love to take her everywhere, but Namu is a cat — and cats are naturally timid creatures. The outside world is simply too big, too unpredictable, and too loud for her. So, he imagines. In Halbae's imagination, Namu playfully asked to come along, and H...