Korea // Slowing my pace in Jeju Island
Jeju Island (Jeju-do), described as the Hawaii of South Korea…. scratch that, i dont get Hawaii vibes at all. Yes, it IS an island, lots of people vacation here, but i think that that is just the easiest way to describe the pace of life, tourism and vibrant life here on Jeju with out actually saying it.
I just love these signs… they really make me love being in Jeju.
So i landed in Jeju on Sunday evening and awaited a rendezvous with my next couchsurfing hosts. I’d be staying a bit out of the main city with Joel, Moon and Joon (sp?) at their countryside abode! I was so completely excited to get away from the bustle of Busan and Seoul, as well they had lived in Seattle before moving here to Jeju so i was excited to talk about home!
The family had been hiking on Mt. Hallasan so waited at a coffee shop nerding out until they were done for the day. Joel picked me up and shuttled me off to the countryside where i actually got a chance to meet the whole family who had been in town for Chuseok. They were preparing leftovers from their Chuseok dinner and i got a chance to enjoy a 2nd special Chuseok dinner… SO good! I met Moon’s two brothers who spoke English, her mother who spoke VERY little English (but was super fun to smile and gesture to and try my 5 Korean words with), and Joon their 2 year old son who is bi-lingual. Joel and Moon are incredible human beings…so kind and gentle and it was awesome to see it in their son Joon, he was the highlight of my Jeju trip for sure! Joel is from the US and Moon is actually from Jeju, but they met in the states and lived there for quite a few years until having their beautiful son where they decided to move back to Korea for awhile to be close to Grandma and Moon’s family. They had a great little guest room for me and made me feel at home!! …. oh yeah, how did i meet them? Yup, through Couch Surfers! … im hooked!
So for the next couple days i guess you could say i took it easy. I did have some lofty goals of doing an Organic Farmstay and seeing all of the sites, but due to gettin’ scheduled for a interview with KBS to get on to the adoption tv show id be cutting my trip to Jeju Island a bit short… so instead of trying to condense everything into a couple days i just figured id take the time to chill out a bit.
I was lucky enough to spend some time with Joon and the family and got to learn a bit about them. We even found some pretty crazy connections back home in Seattle! I was so happy to be able to hang out with Joon especially, he was such a smart kid and made me feel like i was part of the fam… he even called me “Imo” (aunt in korean), it was so cute!!
One day i rented a scooter from Mr. Lee’s Bike Shop. I thought about getting a motorcycle, but since i didn’t have my International Drivers License or insurance i stuck to a 50cc moped!
This thing maxed out at 80cc’s baby!
Scootering was way more FREE than taking a bus…i could step wherever and whenever i wanted! …like for example, at more Buddhist temples along the way!
…or on the side of the road to take in the scenery and a chug of water.
And at one of the largest “lava tubes” in Jeju…. yup, caves made of lava… where it all started for Jeju!
I eventually made it all the way to the eastern coast of the island to Seongsan Ilchubong (Sunrise Peak)
Mt. Hallasan in the background
CHEESE!
Anyone seen “Short Circuit”?
So fuzzzzzy!
Oh yeah, my last night i stayed at a Hostel… conditions were rough, im glad the weather was good.
…kidding. It was really nice, Yeha Guesthouse in Jeju-si. Super plush…highly recommend it!
View from the top of the Guest House (hostel)
Other than that one day on the scooter and adventuring i really just chilled out, read alot, did a bit of wandering the coastline via foot and shopping in the local markets… it was nice to slow down a bit and to really reflect on the past couple weeks. I realized that i am ready for home. Im not really homesick, but rather i think i’ve found what i was looking for in the past couple weeks…
