Jeju island English speaking tour guide

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Her name is Mary Rachel who is from Singapore. As long as I remember she was one of my clients 4 years ago. And then few months ago I got a mail from her. Upon getting a mail from her I was little surprised  because I could hardly remember who she is. Well, Then recalling all the clients I had then, I can vaguely remember them because they were quite loud women group. Anyway I was glad to hear from her. Thanks for remembering me. 

​The mail says that she wants to visit to Jeju island with her friends because she missed spring in Jeju that was so beautiful that time. Well...Spring of Jeju island? Yes, Cherry blossoms and yellow flowers are harmonized in spring time in Jeju island, I prefer fall though. Anyway blossoming of all kind of flowers is one of the quality for visitors at Jeju. 

They finally arrived in Jeju and started a tour. Upon arriving of them, I hunched that they are crazy about taking photos. Meeting diverse people from all over the world makes me good opportunities to exchange the knowledge of each countries. According to their saying Singapore was parted from Malaysia in 1965 and started from a poor fishery village and has become a well off metropolitan country. I had talked a lot about politics, economy, and cultures. We had very interesting conversation while North and South Koreas are trying to reconcile. 

During a conversation one thins I got impressed that they don't mind even though their country is a dictatorship. Well, as long as they have enough freedom, they seem not care about their politics much. I don't know if it's a good sign or not. However, there are different things between Korea and Singapore. In Korea General Park had led the country with a gun meanwhile Lee Quan Yu a leader of Singapore had led the country with a broom. Both countries have achieved economical development but the evaluation of each leaders are different from their own people. 

Anyway, my clients love flowers in Jeju island. I didn't realized flowers in Jeju are that much beautiful, so pretty even to me. There was a photographer named Keo Mason who is an excellent photo maker. Later she sent me some photos which are like magic work. During 4 days we had visited most of good places as well as my hidden places. They endlessly pressed a camera shutter such as they likely to put all scenery of Jeju island in their camera.

As I am very interested in South Asian culture these day I learn lot of things from my clients. That is one of the merits in my job as a tour guide. And I like to have a tour with people who love taking pictures because they seem to know how to see beauty of things.   

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In southern part of Jeju island there is an uninhabited island named Beoseom(literally meaning Tiger island). As you see the island it is a scenic and magnificent surrounded by lava columnar joints and eroded caves. However, the thing you can't miss is that the story on the island.

The story is that...
According to the history, Korea Dynasty had fought against Khubilai khan empire for 28 years. The war had started from Chingiz Khan era to Khubilai Khan. Through three times of invasions Korea Dynasty became occupied and even Jeju island at the end(1273).

Afterward Mongolian came to Jeju island they had established big ranches for raising Mongolian pony horses on the purpose of invasion to Japan. They had brought 160 finest Mongolian pony horses to Jeju island and started breeding. They had invaded Japan twice during 1257~1302 but failed due to the Typoon. Later the Typoon that had failed Mongolian invasions was named 'Kamikaje'(literally meaning 'a wind of god') 

The Mongolians who raise and bred horses were called Mokho(nomads from North) have settled down Jeju island since that. Generations to generations for 120 years they had mingled with Jeju locals and gradually became Jeju people. But still Jeju island was occupied directly Mongolian government which was different situation going on from main land Korea. 

About 100 years later, the circumstances of Asia was becoming rapidly changed. The power of Mongolian empire(Won Dynasty) had suddenly receded and at the same time the power of Myung Dynasty of Han Chineses was rising. And through the chaos Korea Dynasty had regained sovereignty from Mongolian empire(Won Dynasty). 

When Myung Dynasty was established after expelled all Mongolian descents informed Korea government that Jeju island should be taken to Myung government. The reason was that Jeju was once controlled directly by Mongolians, so that it should be controlled by Myung government. So Korea government had decided to send an army to expel Mongolian descents(Mokho-nomad from north) out of Jeju island in order to take Jeju island before Myung Government.

Mokho had strongly resisted against Korea Army. They had a war, fight, killing, and at the end massacre. In the long run Mokhos who were being defeated had fled to Beoseom and made last defense line. However, they were all killed by Korea Army and Jeju island went under Korea Dynasty again.

This island is not only beautiful but also is rich in stories. At having sight seeing, if you appreciate the story with imagining the last Mongolian descents who were fighting against Korea Government it would be more impressive. 

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As I am a tour guide ​I meet diverse tourists from all over the world.  Some times quite amazing experience I get from my job. This time my clients are balloon artists.
I saw people who do balloon art as their hobby but never seen as a profession. Well, they made so many things by blowing balloons. Interesting!

Wherever we stopped by such as a restaurant, shops, scenic places, they started making a balloon of art and gave them to local people as a gift. Of cause locals are so amazed by their performance and so happy when they got the presents. 

The artist name is Dee and my name is Dee too. His Dee is an abbreviation of Daniel and mine is abbreviation of Donghak. Anyway we use same name.

We had a lot of conversation and slowly our subject went to Politics. I think politics is our common interesting. I think talking politics is the best way to get to know the circumstance of the countries and most of visitors are interested in our politic situation as well. However, sensitive things must be avoided.  

First, we had talked about Trump and and prospect of future of America. They were really anti Trump. And the subject smoothly moved to a current president 'Park' and a huge protest in Seoul. It's shame for both of us because we had to talk bad thing about our presidents. And we both are worried the whole world is go to be nationalistic. Talking was going on and on and time went flies.

They were very interested in history of Korea and Jeju island. It took a lot of efforts to explain about the history from bottom to top such as Tamra kingdom, Mongolian occupation, uprising in Choseon Dynasty, April 3rd massacre. However, it's worth explaining all the details. The more they are interested, the more I wanted to explain. Let them know your culture and history is the purpose of my job,

I said " you should join a protest in Seoul and learn how to expel the president. Because you probably need it to get Trump down" he was laughing and agreed with that. Well, it was very enjoyable traveling with them. 

When we farewell they made a quite a few arts of balloons for my kid.

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Well... 43 clients from India...I think there are too many people in my group but I am sure I can handle it. I think 4 days are bit long time to take all of them to show around jeju island. And there are also 6 handcapped people in the group. However, I have to try to handle with it. I know It's a big challenge for me. 

People say handling Indian people are most difficult for tour guides. When a tour guide got a call from an agency for touring for Indaian people, they hesitate to take them. Because they

In my assume 4 days was bit long to take all of them around Jeju island. And even there were 6 handicapped people. So, It was a big challenge for me. As you know clients from Middle East, India, and Russia are well known for their picky characters.
There was no way to know what story would come out. It would be a good episode or terrible story.

It was a first day of tour with Indian clients.

It showed on the screen that the plane CX from HongKong arrived at the airport. After while People were coming out with their lots of luggages and there were some people coming out on a wheelchair taken by airline staffs. " I am sorry, we have to go back with wheelchairs. We can take them only here " the staffs told me that they can't take handicapped people out of a building of airport.

Well, it was a long distance to the parking place for them. So, I asked the driver to come here instead of our going there. But the driver denied that because of the ticket camera.

Anyway we could manage to go to the bus with a lot of luggages. Actually bus was full with 43 people.
After counting, there were 3 people short. I hurried running down to the building to find them. They were slowly coming towards. "I am sorry, we were smoking" Lame excuse they game me. I hunched it would be a difficult tour. 

It took only 20 minutes to come to a hotel. While checking in, they just sat on chairs in private coffee shop and opened Indian cookies they brought and started eating. According to the rule of hotel, they shouldn't do that.

Hotel workers tried to stop them but it is already impossible because of a language barrier. They came to me to stop them. It already went chaos.

" How can I get WiFi?", "Can I get some water?" "I want some coffee for cookies" "Where can I wash my hands?" They just came to me ask bombarded. Come on... I was at lost. I couldn't find how can handle these people for 4 days.

On the way to dinner, my head was getting really heavy. I need a help. I have 43 clients from India.

Continued...

Jeju island.
The island which is abundant in winds, stones, and women. Actually, It is my home island which can be explained with these three things. Among those I am going to explain about stones.

When I look back on old days, I can remember vividly there are so many rocks in everywhere. Rocks, I was quite interested in.

I played with my friends stacking stone walls dividing into two sides and played a war game with throwing stones at each side.
Now a days, young kids who are more interested in video games can't imagine how we played with stones.

Probably, stones has influenced on not only kids but also every aspect of Jeju people's life.

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Some people think volcanic soil is fertile but it's far from it. The volcanic land is barren because rain water always penetrates into the ground and doesn't hold on surface. And the barren land has given Jeju people hard life.

Land give us food and the food in Jeju island infers a culture of it. So, you can peep their life through the food.

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Upon thinking of Jeju island, what is the first thing come up to you? There are so many but probably one of them it might be a 'stone grandfather' which rigidly stood in front of a gate.

'Harbang' is a local language for 'grandfather'. According to a record, it was called 'Wooseokmok' or 'Beok-su head'. Now, it is called as 'Dol-harbang in general.

There are various views about its origin.

First view is that it came from superstitions. When people believed in shamanism, they created their god figure took after man's penis. Which means it is a kind of phallus stone.

Second view is that it came from Mongolian culture. There is a similiar stone to 'stone grandfather' in Mongolia called 'Hunchollo'. Jeju island had been occupied by Mongolian for 150 years. It might influence on Jeju culture.

Anyway its function was to give people property and prevent from evil spirit. It maintains a close relationship with the lives of the people in Jeju.

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There are many abbreviations in Jeju language. For example, We call 'San' for a grave('San-so' in Korean). And a stone wall surrounding a grave is called 'Sandam'('dam' means wall).
One interesting thing is that according to Jeju custom people stack up a stone wall around their ancestor's grave.

When I traveled in other island, I was surprised to see a grave stone walls. It was a round shape stone wall while it is square shape in Jeju island.

Originally, they have stacked up stone walls surround the ancestor's grave to prevent wild animals from coming into or fire spreading on the grave.

Now a days a size of stone wall shows an achievement during their ancestor's life time.

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Another peculiar funeral custom in Jeju island is a child stone.

In Jeju island the old always is accompanied by a child. The reason is that there are few schools in those days, so that a child need to have chances to learn. They need each other for learning for children and preventive measures for an emergency situations for the olds.

Generally, funeral and death always show apathy of life, cold and solemn. But Jeju island's funeral shows warm and relax to part their loved ancestors.

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Jeju stone mill which is called 'Molgorye' in Jeju word. 'Mol' means a horse, and 'gorye' means grind.

This is one of stone cultures in Jeju island extinguished now a days. It was was operated by a horse or cow power to grind crops in a communal place. Now, it is displayed on a corner of a village only use for welcoming tourists.


There is a funny joke. If horses on the mill don't work diligently, people put a female horse in front and male horse on the other side to chase each. then it works well.

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When you travel in Jeju coast lines, you can see stone labyrinths. Fish come in during high tide and couldn't get out in low tide. It is called 'wondam'

Frankly speak, I am still nervous to meet my clients at first.

I suppose they feel as same as I do.

Well, through my experiences travel always starts like that.

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Whenever we meet people first impression is very important. When first impression is not good I saw lots of things went wrong.

I tried to figure out their purpose and meaning of coming in Jeju island, whether they come here for just sightseeing or for a real traveling.

Surveying for few hours brings a decision on what kind of travel it will be.

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Rosemary is a Korean-American who moved to US at age 3. It is a first visit for her to her mother country since she moved away. I could see that she was expecting a lot in Jeju island.

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When you think of honeymoon, it remind you of delicious foods, exotic atmosphere, and relaxing beaches. And if they are looking for those things, they might not need a tour guide like me. They need a tour assistant. But they need me because they want a real travel.

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Even though I been tour guiding for a long time I still don't know what is a right way for a honeymoon couple.

A cousin of Rosemary asked me for a special tour for the couple. Then I made a special plan for them. Well, It's easy for me to make a nature friendly itinerary and also makes me feel comfortable.

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Make a good memory and find a meaning of coming of this island is more important than just taking a rest.

"We didn't have time to make an itinerary for the tour, sorry" the agency told me. I said "no problem at all, some times no plan makes a better tour" Actually it is true.

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Jeju island is one of best places for food tour in Korea. The culture is very different from main land. And So is food. Food is a part of their own culture.

'Korean food is always spicy and chilly' well, that is a prejudice. 'Koreans always sit on a floor on having food' that is another prejudice. Once you abandon the prejudices, you will enjoy Korean food more than you expect.

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Last thing we did was climbing Mt Hallasan. We had a hard tour rather than easy sightseeing. And we had local foods rather than touristic foods. That was successful!

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My clients will assess my tour. I don't know if they give me a good point or not. However, in my opinion a tour guide must have his/her own philosophy or pursuit to the right tour.

We can't satisfy all clients but we should keep consistent the right way.