One of the best ways to beat the summer heat is to resort to nature. And where else can you find nature at its best than Jeju Island. Imagine this: an amazing island, tropical weather, no cares in the world, an open mind, for a week. Popularly know as the “Hawaii of Korea, me and my husband set out to discover if Jeju stays true to the hype. You can get to Jeju either by ferry or by Air. If you choose to go by ferry there are various terminals to board from like Busan, Yeosu and Mokpo. We started our trip with a long bus ride to Mokpo followed by a mystic ferry trip to our holiday destination.
The ideal way to see all that Jeju Island has to offer is to drive along its coastal highway. With views of the deep blue sea and black basalt cliffs, a leisurely drive is the highlight of the trip. Whether you choose a luxurious Jeju tour by car or a budget tour by bike, it is all about enjoying the natural beauty of the coastline. Both have their positives: Cruising around in a car and sightseeing in style guarantees comfort with ease, while riding around on a bike is a fun-filled, youthful way to explore places where a luxury car cannot gain access.
Jeju is abundant with scenic spots and the main cluster is around Sagwipo-Si, South Jeju which offers many cheap motels and Inn’s, offering a decent place at around 20, 000 to 30,000 won per night. We stayed in a small motel called Jeju Hiking Inn. In addition to a Korean traditional room, we had access to free internet, laundry and a common cooking area. But do not expect much help from the Inn owner who prefers to mumble and crib when it comes to information to tour Jeju or any sort of help. We hired a bike for 25, 000 Won per day as it seemed a cheap and fun-filled way to start our tour. There are many places to rent a car in Jeju, but the options are limited when it comes to renting a bike and the cluster of bike shops are found in and around Sagwipo area.
We start by visiting the nearby Cheonjiyeon and Cheonjeyoen Falls. Though they sound similar they have two different scenic pictures to offer. We were much impressed by Chonjeyoen falls though, mainly because it provides a small walk through the lovely woods that looks more like a scene out of movies. The Teddy Bear museum has an impressive collection of our favorite Bear dressed up in all personalities you can think of. It is cute but gets a bit boring. Dragon head cliff or Youngdulam Rock and Jungmun Beach are a paradise for nature lovers and we were right on time to see the sunset at Oedolgae Rock. For adventure seekers, Jungum Resort offers a variety of water sports like Paragliding, jet boat ride, Scuba Diving, Banana rides, penguin show and submarine tour.
Jeju was once a volcanic island. Owing to this fact, stone is an important material and many stone statues and figures are found all over the island. Often, they are meant to protect the islanders or pay tribute to ancestors. To learn more, we decided to visit Mokseogwon, a stone museum followed by Gwandeokjeong, historically a Joseon Dynasty provincial government complex. If you find this too boring then you can head to the Museum of Sex and Education with topics ranging from Sex education to techniques, but sad it is all in Korean and for the huge entrance fee it is a big disappointment. If you are touring with kids then the Sex Museum is a bad idea. Instead you can head to Mini Theme Park, Chocolate Museum and Hallim Park. One spot that we marveled at was Jeongbang Falls which claims to fall directly into the ocean. I would truly say it was worth the walk to the falls.
Day three starts with a visit to one of the famous craters on the island, Sangumburi Crater followed by Ilchunbong, a must see for nature lovers. But plan ahead and start early as to take in the view you need to trek for two hours. The same goes with Udo Island, a famous sunrise point, but you need to start very early to see the sunrise or you might land up baking in the sun. Manjanggul Cave is a lava tube tunnel which can get pretty cold inside. Be prepared for the difference in temperature and for the weird shaped stalagmites. A wonderful experience on the whole to see people preserving nature.
Mt. Hallim, the highest mountain in South Korean territory is the main tourist attraction of Jeju, but we decide to skip it as we are not the most adventurous types. We do not go to the top because it's getting on in the day, but we do visit the Mysterious Road. This is a place where cars in neutral appear to go up a hill. It’s an optical illusion that is very mysterious indeed! And the roads surrounding the mountain give you the true pleasure of driving amidst the dense forest and the cool breeze. It is a true encounter with nature at its best at all seasons.
A piece of advice for tourist, you can get discount coupons on arrival at the Airport with prior booking. It offers 40% discount to most tourist destinations and proves light on the purse.
After a week of moksha, we leave Jeju with pleasant memories. A packed week, mixing sightseeing, sports, culture, art, live entertainment, museums, history, and shopping among other things: in sum, my ideal vacation! Bliss!
The ideal way to see all that Jeju Island has to offer is to drive along its coastal highway. With views of the deep blue sea and black basalt cliffs, a leisurely drive is the highlight of the trip. Whether you choose a luxurious Jeju tour by car or a budget tour by bike, it is all about enjoying the natural beauty of the coastline. Both have their positives: Cruising around in a car and sightseeing in style guarantees comfort with ease, while riding around on a bike is a fun-filled, youthful way to explore places where a luxury car cannot gain access.
Jeju is abundant with scenic spots and the main cluster is around Sagwipo-Si, South Jeju which offers many cheap motels and Inn’s, offering a decent place at around 20, 000 to 30,000 won per night. We stayed in a small motel called Jeju Hiking Inn. In addition to a Korean traditional room, we had access to free internet, laundry and a common cooking area. But do not expect much help from the Inn owner who prefers to mumble and crib when it comes to information to tour Jeju or any sort of help. We hired a bike for 25, 000 Won per day as it seemed a cheap and fun-filled way to start our tour. There are many places to rent a car in Jeju, but the options are limited when it comes to renting a bike and the cluster of bike shops are found in and around Sagwipo area.
We start by visiting the nearby Cheonjiyeon and Cheonjeyoen Falls. Though they sound similar they have two different scenic pictures to offer. We were much impressed by Chonjeyoen falls though, mainly because it provides a small walk through the lovely woods that looks more like a scene out of movies. The Teddy Bear museum has an impressive collection of our favorite Bear dressed up in all personalities you can think of. It is cute but gets a bit boring. Dragon head cliff or Youngdulam Rock and Jungmun Beach are a paradise for nature lovers and we were right on time to see the sunset at Oedolgae Rock. For adventure seekers, Jungum Resort offers a variety of water sports like Paragliding, jet boat ride, Scuba Diving, Banana rides, penguin show and submarine tour.
Jeju was once a volcanic island. Owing to this fact, stone is an important material and many stone statues and figures are found all over the island. Often, they are meant to protect the islanders or pay tribute to ancestors. To learn more, we decided to visit Mokseogwon, a stone museum followed by Gwandeokjeong, historically a Joseon Dynasty provincial government complex. If you find this too boring then you can head to the Museum of Sex and Education with topics ranging from Sex education to techniques, but sad it is all in Korean and for the huge entrance fee it is a big disappointment. If you are touring with kids then the Sex Museum is a bad idea. Instead you can head to Mini Theme Park, Chocolate Museum and Hallim Park. One spot that we marveled at was Jeongbang Falls which claims to fall directly into the ocean. I would truly say it was worth the walk to the falls.
Day three starts with a visit to one of the famous craters on the island, Sangumburi Crater followed by Ilchunbong, a must see for nature lovers. But plan ahead and start early as to take in the view you need to trek for two hours. The same goes with Udo Island, a famous sunrise point, but you need to start very early to see the sunrise or you might land up baking in the sun. Manjanggul Cave is a lava tube tunnel which can get pretty cold inside. Be prepared for the difference in temperature and for the weird shaped stalagmites. A wonderful experience on the whole to see people preserving nature.
Mt. Hallim, the highest mountain in South Korean territory is the main tourist attraction of Jeju, but we decide to skip it as we are not the most adventurous types. We do not go to the top because it's getting on in the day, but we do visit the Mysterious Road. This is a place where cars in neutral appear to go up a hill. It’s an optical illusion that is very mysterious indeed! And the roads surrounding the mountain give you the true pleasure of driving amidst the dense forest and the cool breeze. It is a true encounter with nature at its best at all seasons.
A piece of advice for tourist, you can get discount coupons on arrival at the Airport with prior booking. It offers 40% discount to most tourist destinations and proves light on the purse.
After a week of moksha, we leave Jeju with pleasant memories. A packed week, mixing sightseeing, sports, culture, art, live entertainment, museums, history, and shopping among other things: in sum, my ideal vacation! Bliss!
No comments:
Post a Comment