Jeju, South Korea

Background: The island of Jeju is a famous tourist spot for both locals and foreigners. Located at the southernmost part of the country, Jeju enjoys the warmest climate and experiences the most rainfall. As a volcanic island, Jeju hosts many amazing geographical features that hail it as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Nice to know: 'Jeju' can be one of these three places - 'Jeju-do' (the province), 'Jejudo' (the island) and 'Jeju-si' (the city i.e. the island's capital).

How to get there: Coming from Seoul, we departed for Jeju from Gimpo Airport. There are many domestic airlines to choose from namely Korean Air, Jeju Air, Asiana Airlines etc. One can also take a ferry from Busan. I believe there are also international flights coming in from Japan, China and Hong Kong.  

Where to stay: I truly recommend Yeha Guesthouse as the ultimate choice of accommodation, at least for the economic conscious ones. The staff spoke English (and some other languages), the dorms were clean, the wi-fi connection was superb, and there was a separate kitchen utensils for muslims. There's a common area where we could socialise and get to know other guests. The price was reasonable too. Moreover, the staff there could help you with tours and transport booking. Even the locals from various parts of the country choose Yeha, and so why shouldn't we? 

How to get around: You could opt for local buses to get around town and pay your fares using t-money. Sometimes taking a taxi could prove to be more cost effective. There wasn't so much difference, really. Otherwise, for sightseeing around the island it would be best to go with a guided tour. The fees charged for the tours don't vary much between one and another but make a point to request for a guide/driver that's able to speak your language. Another alternative option would be enjoying the beautiful scenery by walking and cycling along the Olle Trail, that could be fun too.

The Journey

3D2N stay was more than enough to experience the highlights of Jeju. Usually people go for 2D1N but we didn't want to rush ourselves. We took our time to taste the beautiful island :)

Dongmun Market 

This traditional market sells fruits, vegetables, seafood and other Korean delicacies. Jeju was known for it's subtropical climate vegetation. The fresh produces like hallabong (a type of tangerine), Jeju mango and strawberries were big, sweet and juicy. We took the chance to savour the Korean melon, otherwise known as chamoe (cham-we). We also tasted the many flavours of kimchi...nyumm nyumm! Don't forget to pack some to bring home.

Jeju Town

Throughout our exploration by foot we came across many interesting views all around town. At the heart of the city centre was a small park full of harubang... 

There were also murals and tiled walls... 

an old fort and a temple... 

Other than that...

Loveland is an outdoor sculpture park whose exhibition theme is based on physical love. Due to the nature of the content, I shall not post any pics of Loveland. Go check it out at other websites or go visit the place yourself :P 

Note: Visitors are required to be at least 18 years old, and a separate play area is available for minors while adults visit the site. 

In the evening, if you have the time and not too tired from the sightseeing, you can always go check out the Nanta Cooking show. I totally regret not going to this play, it's one of those things I love. 

Lastly, don't forget to drop by the Jung-ang Underground Market and the souvenir shops. Honestly, you'd get those items and souvenirs at better prices in Seoul but that shouldn't stop you if you insist on buying them ;-) 

More on Jeju tour in the next post!