Jeju Island – August 2009
Korean colleagues get that far-away look in their eyes and that longing tone in their voice when they speak of Jeju Island. It is a world heritage site with many cultural, culinary, and natural attractions – most prominently the 1950m Mt. Halla volcano at the islands center. Apparently the diving is world-class, and, as always, there is plenty of golf! Korea has taken steps to preserve Jeju’s natural state, such as a strict ban on manufacturing on the island and designation of the entire coast as a marine preserve. Koreans are proud of Jeju Island – and they flock to it!
Having overcome the combined deficits of no cell phone (my Blackberry was incommunicado!), no access to local currency (BofA helpfully disabled my ATM card the first time I tried to use it!), incorrectly booked flight to Jeju (itinerary had me staying for 2 days at Incheon airport!) and senses dulled by jetlag, I was able to catch a bus from Incheon to Gimpo airport and get on a standby flight to Jeju on Friday night. I boarded late and took the last seat in a plane chock full of inquisitive Koreans. This left we with a weekend to catch up on work – and explore. The weather was hot and HUMID.
I stayed in the Jungmun Beach Resort area and was able to see:
Yeomiji Botanical Gardens – nothing noteworthy.
Lotus pod
Seriously GREEN water in the Italian garden
Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls and the beautiful Seonimgyo Bridge of the Seven Fairies Legend. (Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is also referred as “God’s Pond.” In legend, the seven fairies who serve the King of Heaven descended to the pond below the waterfall on stairs made of clouds to bath in its pristine water.) Definitely worth a visit!
The Seven Fairies Bridge on the way to the falls
Crossing the Seven Fairies Bridge
Jungmun Beach
Statistically safe watersports
Gaetggak basalt beach – a beautiful, remote beach accessable from the Hyatt.
Beautiful basalt beach
And some interesting random sights:
Sea wall
Woman with yachts
I specifically avoided the world famous Teddy Bear Museum.
Hallasan Park with the Mt. Halla volcano, lava tubes, caves, etc. will have to await my next visit. As will Jeju’s 300 or so lesser volcanoes.
I was lucky enough to witness one volcanic eruption during my stay. Improbably, a 100-foot igneous rock mass rises from the rim of a clear, palm-lined pool. We were having dinner at a restaurant in the area and were startled by belches of fire coming suddenly from the volcano. We left our table and rushed to a viewing platform as the eruption gathered momentum. Red and purple colored lava began to gush down as huge flames leapt from the volcano and the pool at it’s base. Then a 30-foot tall fire-breathing dragon emerged from the pool and battled another large, green-eyed serpent that came from a cave in the volcano, roaring loudly and accompanied by a dramatic musical score. This seismic event occurs with even greater regularity than Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser: it can be seen every night at 8PM in the pool area of the expansive Lotte Resort. This and many other wonders await you on Jeju!!
