2011 Dramatomy goes to Jeju-do Holiday 2

Day 2..31st May 2011….Jeju-do

While waiting for the next taxi driver Mr. Kim, we has coffee at the hotel café

KAL Seogwipo Hotel has a sea front

Mr Kim came to greet us & handed us his card. Mr Wan has said that he could speak sparingly English, no Mandarin but fluent in Japanese. We could speak sparingly in Korean, in which he was grateful that we could communicate. Our 3 month free Korean lessons are taking us to some distance

We adjourn to have some breakfast then discuss with Mr Kim the Jeju-do itinerary for the 2 days. We also told him that if he is free that we will like him to take us to the airport. He agreed & will charge us W50,000 for the airport route on the 2nd June

Breakfast at Seogwipo

Galbitang

Galbitang is a clear & hearty soup base dish that is simmer slowly with beef short ribs

We discuss with Mr Kim about our planned itinerary & the sights we which to see. Mr Kim took the map & advice that he is going to divided the 2 days to East & West. Today we will cover the East side of the island. We went with his idea as he knew the routes better than us & it will be feasible since he is driving. The 1st stop Jeongbang Waterfalls

Jeongbang Waterfalls or Jeongbang Hapok

Close up on Jeongbang Waterfall

Haenyeo (Woman divers) trading freshly caught seafood at the foot rocks of Jeongbang waterfalls

Jeongbang waterfalls from which its water cascades straight to the ocean. The waterfall is 23 metres in height & 8 metres wide & flow down to a small pond that is 5 metres deep. Jeongbang waterfall is the only waterfall in Jeju where the waterfall flow straight to the ocean. At the foot rocks of Jeongbang waterfalls, you can see Haenyeo selling freshly caught seafood. If you want to venture to the foot rock of the waterfall, be sure you wear good non slip shoes since the rock will be wet from the mist of the waterfall. Admission fee is W2,000

We then proceed to Seongeup-ri Ranch Area. Dae Jang Geum was filmed here were scenes of Jang Geum carrying the dying Han Sang Gung on her back and later burying her. This is also where Jang Geum is taken by a military guard to a place of exile on the island. Other scenes shot here were Jang Geum going back to search for Lady Han’s grave, and erecting a tombstone. Visitors can still see the tombstone by registering for the Daejanggeum tour operated by ATV Jeju Joy. Address : 2060-3 Seongeup-ri, Pyoseong-myeon, Namjeju-gun, Jeju-do. Telephone : +82-64-787-2040 (Korean) Travel Phone : +82-64-1330 (English, Chinese, Japanese). Daejanggeum Course Price : Adults W30,000. Time: Course takes about 40 to 45 minutes.

We only did Seongeup Seungmajang (Seongeup Horseback Riding Club). This is where “We got Married” was shot

Signage to Seongeup Seungmajang

The horse is Macha, it was the horse that Kim Hyun Joong rode in “We Got married”

Then proceed to Seongsan Illchubong (Sunrise Peak). Seongsan Illchubong is one of the special places that people visit to see the sun rise as each old year turns to new. Seongsan Illchubong is a tuff crater that was formed when a volcano erupted under the ocean. It is designated as national Monument no.420 in 2000. The cone has a large basin atop, reminding viewers of a meadow. Bear in mind that it is not an easy climb as it rises to 182 metres above sea level, with a steep slope. Getting to the top, Seongsan Illchubong stands 99 chiseled rocks in a crown like formation & between them rest a 30,000 pyeong (approx 99,000 sqm) meadow. As the crater resemble a castle with turrets, hence it is named Seongsan (Castle Hill). The meadow which catches the full force of the wind is one of the things that makes Illchubong so charming

Seongsan Illchubong at a distance

The sea cave in Illchubong was manual dug by the Japanese with force labour of the Jeju residents

Seongsan Illchubong at sunrise

Seongsan Illchubong

People climb & hike to Seongsan Illchubong’s 182 metres above sea level steep slope

Mr Kim’s taxi at Seongsan Illchubong

Then proceed to Manjanggul Lava Cave. Manjanggul Lava Cave is the largest known lava cave in the world. It measures 5 metres in width, 5-10 metres in height & more than 13,0000 metres in total length. The cave was created about 200,000 to 300,000 years ago when Jeju-do’s volcano now Hallasan erupted. The Lava flowed from the crater of Hallasan to the Ocean, creating lava tubes & caves along the way, including that is now Manjanggul Lava Cave that is which presently existing. It is designated as Natural Monument No. 98 together with Gimnyeongsagul. The cave interior resembles a grand underground palace. Stalactites suspended from the ceiling & lava wings on the walls of the cave add to mysterious ambience of the underworld. Entrance is limited to only the 1st kilometre of the cave. As you explore, please do bring a raincoat as it is several degrees cooler than outside temperature. Creatures that resides in the caves are bats, spiders & crayfish worms

Manjanggul Lava Cave

Manjanggul Lava Cave Profile

Manjanggul Lava Cave 1

Manjanggul Lava Cave 2

Manjanggul Lava Cave 3

Manjanggul Lava Cave 4

Manjanggul Lava Cave 5

Then to Park Southernland, the location set for Taewangsasingi (Legend). Park Southernland is a set built jointly by Jeju Island and the production company of Taewangsasingi (Legend). It is a 20,000-pyeong-site set within Jeju Island’s Myosanbong Tourist District. It is a massive set that cost over 13 billion won to build. The set has a king’s palace, which is a major filming location for Taewangsasingi (Legend), a king’s office and bedroom, gaekjan (an old-fashioned restaurant serving food and drink), shops and markets and ordinary houses. Among these, the marketplace and the residence of Yeon Ga-ryeo, Goguryeo’s highest nobleman, are the most eye-catching. They aptly display the prosperity and lavishness of the Goguryeo Kingdom. The outdoor sets are currently open to the public, though the indoor sets are closed

Taewangsasingi 1

Taewangsasingi 2

Taewangsasingi 3

Taewangsasingi 4

Taewangsasingi 5

Taewangsasingi 6

Taewangsasingi 7

Taewangsasingi 8

Taewangsasingi 9

Taewangsasingi 10

Taewangsasingi 11

Taewangsasingi 12

Taewangsasingi 13

Taewangsasingi 14

Taewangsasingi 15

Taewangsasingi 16

Taewangsasingi 17

Taewangsasingi 18

Taewangsasingi 19

Taewangsasingi 20

Taewangsasingi 21

Taewangsasingi 22

Taewangsasingi 23

Taewangsasingi 24

Taewangsasingi 25

Taewangsasingi 26

Taewangsasingi 27

Taewangsasingi 28

Taewangsasingi 29

Taewangsasingi 30

When in Jeju, it is best to try the different raw fish (hoe) dishes. Dageumbari (Saw-edged Perch), Gatdom (Sea Bream, Bengedom (Blackfish), Heukdom (Black Sea Bream), Galchi Hoe (Raw Hairtail Fish. For lunch, we decided to have Dageumbari (Saw-edged Perch). Mr Kim has made a called to a restaurant & the cost of Dageumbari will cost us a hefty W270,000. But it is the best fish for “Hoe/Sashimi” & only available very fresh in Jeju, caught off Jeju-do. It is because of the high demand for this delicious fish, their numbers have dwindled & has become expensive but then we must try at all cost. We agree to the price & proceed to the restaurant. It seems that Micky Yoochun has to “bribe” his Ripley production staff with Dageumbari in Jeju for working long hours

Daegeumbari (Saw edged Perch, Niphon Spinosus)

Dageumbari restaurant in Jeju-si

We arrive at the restaurant & the proprietor is most happy to see us that we are about to spend a lot of money in his restaurant. He showed us the live Dageumbari swimming at the aquarium & netted the fish to show the product to us. Then it was off to the chopping block as we went in to sit down. Most Korean restaurant tends to have platform sitting. We sometimes find it taxing to sit on it & if possible tried

Autograph by Director Lee Byung Hoon

The restaurant was patronised by Lee Byung Hoon, the director of Dae Jang Geum & Yi San later Dong Yi. He was here in August 2008

Our Dageumbari spread

The restaurant was accommodating since we can’t take any seafood except fish due to allergy, they chose to provide fish for us as part of the “service”, even the drinks was “service”. The grilled Godeungeo (Mackerel) was also good. Godeungo along with Galchi (Hairtail) is one most loved fish types in the country. The full fleshed fish that is inexpensive & full of nutrients. The best time to eat them is in the autumn where they gain flesh & oil after the breeding season in the summer

After lunch we adjourned to see Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock) which was nearby the restaurant. Yongduam Rock resembles a dragon head. Legend depicts that an envoy that the Dragon King had sent looking for medicinal plant on Hallasan when the Mountain God shot an arrow at the envoy & he fell & died. When the waves surge over the Yongduam Rock, it looks as the dragon is about to ascend to heaven

Yongduam Rock 1

Yongduam Rock 2

You can find Haenyeo (Driving woman) catching octopus, sea cucumber & sea Squirts. Haenyeo are driving woman although the number of woman divers has reduce, you can find some making their distinctive whistling sound as they go about their underwater activities, leaving their taewak (floats) on the surface of the water. They dive as deep as 20m connect to the rope of their float, to collect sea marine product. Haenyeo are well known for their diving & their strong will power

Haenyeo driving near Yongduam Rock

Then proceed to Jeju fame “Mysterious Road”. It was 1st discover by a taxi driver in 1980 who was giving driving tour to a newlywed couple, now it is frequent by most tourists who comes to Jeju-do. Mysterious Road is actually an optical illusion that makes a downhill slope appear to be rising uphill. Therefore the car is stop then put on free or neutral gear then allow the car to gently move & the illusion that the car is moving uphill instead. The road actually slope 3 degree downhill but the illusion of seeing going uphill because the surrounding terrain creates the optical illusion. Mr Kim gave a few rides on the “Mysterious Road” to get the feel of it.

The start marker of the Mysterious Road

The front of the car

The back of the car

We then proceed to North to South of Road 1100 which cut through Hallasan. Road 1100 is a 351km road that was built in 1975 that connect Jeju-si & Seogwipo-si via Eorimok & Yeongsil on Hallasan

At the seal level height of 1100m

Yeongsilgiam

According to legend while Seolmundae Halmang was cooking soup to feed her 500 sons, she fell into the cauldron & drowned. The sons drank the soup without knowing what has happened, but cried when they discovered the tragedy & turn into rocks. The scenery here is spectacular with the rock shapes that look masculine, royal azaleas blooming in the Spring & Autumn foliage in the fall

Yeongsil Rest area at 1280m

Yeongsil is shortest hiking trail to Hallasan from the southwest. It is 3.7km takes 1 hour 30 mins

Mr Kim decided to buy some crisp for the crows

After the crow feeding frenzy

Observatory point from Hallasan looking towards Seogwipo

The day we can’t see very much as describe on the board

Hallasan

Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea, designate Korea Natural Monument No. 182. Its heights 1950m above sea level. Hiking is a great activities in Hallasan but it is only limited to daytime hiking & strictly enforce the hikers to hike down before sunset

Before going back to the hotel, we ask Mr Kim to take us to Seondeoksa. Seondeoksa in Hallasan houses the real portrait painting of Queen Seon Deok

Seondeoksa 1

Seondeoksa 2

Seondeoksa 3 – Daejeokgwangjeon 1

Seondeoksa 4 – Daejeokgwangjeon 2

Seondeoksa 5

Behind the stone pagoda on the left is Queen Seon Deok’s shrine. The caretaker of the temple was kind enough to open the shrine to us for a photo, although she find us rather strange that we came to see Queen Seon Deok’s portrait

Portrait of Queen Seon Deok

Seondeoksa 6 – Portrait of Queen Seon Deok

We went to a supermarket to buy some bread, provision & fruits

Jackie with the Korean strawberries

Korean grapes