Forest Bathing in Juknokwon Forest
Finding a new appreciation for bamboo
Like soldiers on guard
The stoic bamboo stands up straight along the trail in Damyang’s Junokwon Bamboo Forest in South Korea. The forest is a 30-minute drive from Gwangju, where we stayed for the weekend.
As soon as you enter the park and embark on the trails, a cool quiet descends and you suddenly feel you are miles away from the noise and urgency of the world outside. As I passed the trees I imagined a brigade of tall, green soldiers guarding their post.
The world needs more bamboo
Bamboo is not exactly a tree, although it is as tall as one. The truth is, it’s a regenerating grass that grows much faster than hardwood trees. Bamboo “trees” are what the world needs more of right now. Because they absorb four times more carbon dioxide than pine trees and produce two times more phytoncides than cypress trees, bamboo is said to relieve stress, relax muscles, and soothe trouble minds. According to Lewis Bamboo website, “bamboo is a crucial element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. A grove of…
