Jeju Island: Goodbye!

Sunday, August 8 2010

Morning view of the ocean

Early on Sunday morning, we checked out and headed to the airport. We bid farewell to the serene island of Jeju to make our way back to the hustle and bustle that is Seoul.

Jeju Island: Sauna

Saturday, August 7 2010

After a long, hot and tiring day, I wanted to finish it off with a visit to the sauna. I've written about it before, but a Korean "sauna" [pronounced sa-oo-na] is basically a public bath house. After paying an entrance fee, you're given two towels. Go upstairs and undress (completely) and leave your clothes and belongings in a locker. Then proceed to the public showers. There are also various pools of different temperatures where you can soak. The last time I was in Jeju, I spent about 3 hours here, but this time I spent half the time. I went back to the hotel to find Darmesh passed out from exhaustion! 

Night view from hotel room balcony

Jeju Island: Teddy Bear Museum

Saturday, August 7 2010

For the last two times I was in Jeju, I missed out on going to the Teddy Bear Museum, so I made sure we went this time! It's a museum with a bunch of different scenery and situations with stuffed animals on display.

Check out the bear from South Africa!

Jeju Island: Dinosaur Park

Saturday, August 7 2010

Since we arrived in Jeju, my brother had been bugging me for us to go to the Dinosaur Theme Park. I was really hesitant, but after spending the morning at the beach, I told him that we were going somewhere. He didn't know where we were headed, and after about 30 minutes did he realize where we were.

It was like walking through Jurassic Park! There was a cave that we had to walk through (there were speakers all over giving off noises of 'dinosaurs'). As I was about to walk in, a little child came out crying. I refused to go in and told my brother I'd wait outside for him! Well, it turns out I had to go through there to go to the other side. I was terrified and clutched his arm for dear life. I closed my eyes and ran through! I turned around to take a sneak peak and snapped a pic.

My brother coming out of the cave to tell me to go in!

Inside the cave - some of them were moving!

Can you see me?!

Jeju Island: Beach Time

Saturday, August 7 2010

We spent the day at the beach - after all, it WAS just on our doorstep. It was quite busy with a LOT of kids around. We found a spot and chilled there for a few hours before trying to find some lunch.

Jeju Island: Trick Art Museum

Friday, August 6 2010

I took Darmesh to the Trick Art Museum (also been there before). He had no idea where we were going or what to expect. Basically, it's like a gallery with 3D paintings on the wall where people can take cool pics posing in front of them. Check it out!

Jeju Island: All American Lunch

Friday, August 6 2010

We had an all American lunch at Burger King and then Baskin Robbins for dessert.

Burger King

Baskin Robbins ice cream

Jeju Island: Halla Botanical Garden

Friday, August 6 2010

With some students we met at the Botanical Garden

I took Darmesh to Halla Botanical Garden - I've been there twice already. I think I can safely say that it's one of my favourite places on earth! We spent about two hours walking and taking in fresh mountain air.

Jeju Island: Honeymooner's Paradise!

Thursday, August 5 2010

Planning the trip to Jeju Island was somewhat of a nightmare. If it wasn't flight bookings that were getting messed up, it was hotel reservations. On Thursday afternoon we left Seoul for some sun, sand and beach! Darmesh had still not tried out Korea food, so my priority was to have him fed!

Delicious Bi-bim-bap

We found this cool bi-bim-bap restaurant where we had lunch...and then as is tradition when I go to Jeju, it rained! We managed to get a cab and made our way to the hotel. We took a walk on the beach, and by the way - I made it very clear to everyone who we met (vendors and such) that we were brother and sister...and NOT a couple :-)

Night walk on the beach

View from hotel room balcony

Jeju (8) Goodbye Jeju, I love you!

Jeju (1) The idea to go
Jeju (2) The Hotel
Jeju (3) The Sauna
Jeju (4) Carb-loaded Continental Breakfast
Jeju (5) Halla Botanical Garden
Jeju (6) My Ninja Massage
Jeju (7) Diamonds bouncing on the water

Friday, May 7 2010

It was getting a bit chilly at the beach and beach sand was beginning to fill my handbag so I thought I'd stroll back to the hotel and maybe head to the airport. Perhaps I'd be lucky and get an earlier flight.

Confession: As I started making my way back to the hotel, I couldn't leave just yet! I was literally a few meters away from the hotel when I turned around and went back to the beach where I stayed for about 30 more minutes. I just had to take it all in before I went home - back to screaming children and noisy vans with loud speakers.

Well, I couldn't get an earlier flight, so I passed time at a coffee shop with my netbook. I was feeling very tired. What is it about the beach that makes one feel so drained after leaving? It's not like I even went for a swim or anything.

Anyways, I arrived at Gimpo Airport safe and sound. A cab driver approached me asking where I was going. When I told him, he walked me to his car. It was a black taxi and I remember my friend telling me that black taxi's are very expensive. He told me it would cost 35,000 Won to get home. I looked at him as if he was crazy. He said the other taxi's lined up were all going to Seoul so they wouldn't take me. Ha! 

I made my way to the alleged "Seoul-only" taxi's lined up and a few men tried to get to the car before me - I assume they wanted to tell the driver that I was wanting to go to **** for an amount of **** Won. I politely told them to please go away and that I could talk to the driver myself.

Well, guess what? He obliged! An hour later, I was back in my apartment. I no longer had the view of the stunning blue ocean before me. Instead, I was looking onto rooftops of apartment buildings.

I was already missing Jeju, but as they say - back to reality!

    

Jeju (7) Diamonds bouncing on the water

Jeju (1) The idea to go
Jeju (2) The Hotel
Jeju (3) The Sauna
Jeju (4) Carb-loaded Continental Breakfast
Jeju (5) Halla Botanical Garden
Jeju (6) My Ninja Massage

Friday, May 7 2010

I spent about 4 hours here. The different shades of blue of the water meeting the sky was simply breathtaking. The sun reflecting on the ocean looked like little diamonds bouncing around on the surface. I couldn't get enough of the beauty before my eyes. I sat here reading and just enjoying the beautiful scenery - and of course, the peace and quiet...that is, when there were no kids around!

Jeju (8) Goodbye Jeju, I love you!

Jeju (6) My Ninja Massage

Jeju (1) The idea to go
Jeju (2) The Hotel
Jeju (3) The Sauna
Jeju (4) Carb-loaded Continental Breakfast
Jeju (5) Halla Botanical Garden

Thursday, May 6 2010

After spending the afternoon at the botanical garden, I went back to the hotel and took a nap before my massage appointment.

I think I saw white light during the massage! It was incredible, and I left feeling like I was floating on a pink cloud. My body was pretty sensitive the next day, though.

I got to bed quite late and when I woke up the following morning, my eyes fell to an area on the floor under the curtain. Was that sunshine peeping through?!  Please - let me open the curtains and see clear blue skies! I was dying to go down to the beach.

This was the view from my balcony on Friday morning

Jeju (7) Diamonds bouncing on the water

Jeju (5) Halla Botanical Garden

Jeju (1) The idea to go
Jeju (2) The Hotel
Jeju (3) The Sauna
Jeju (4) Carb-loaded Continental Breakfast

Thursday, May 6 2010

The last time I was in Jeju, I went to the Halla Botanical Garden. I wanted to go back there because I remembered how peaceful and fresh the air was. I spent about 3 hours just walking around. There were no sounds of traffic - just the crunch of the earth below my feet as I walked slowly. I came across an area I remembered from my last visit. I stayed there for 2 hours reading. It was just...bliss!

I didn't even use my iPod, which says a lot. The only sounds I could hear were the leaves whooshing in the gentle breeze above my head and the sounds of birds singing. ...and the occasional tourists walking by. It was exactly what I wanted and needed. I felt so refreshed after being there. I made my way back to the hotel and rested before my massage later that evening.

I always thought that I was a city slicker and loved the thought of living in a concrete jungle. I've never been "outdoors-y", but recently I have realized how much I really love to be in the midst of natural surroundings - trees, plants, open blue skies. Looking at these photos again, I can almost smell the air - can you?

My spot

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