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Jeju island is an absolute volcanic island.

In Jeju island, there are more than 360 diverse volcanic craters as well as 120 lava tubes formed by volcanic activities. Furthermore, it also has the highest Mt in South Korea called Hallasan.

Various scenic view from volcano is magnificent comparing to other volcanic places.

Due to the recognition of the natural scenery, geological and biological value, Jeju island has been registered by UNESCO as natural, geological and biological heritage of the world.
It also has been designated as one of New 7 Wonders of nature.
Needless to say, Jeju island is a treasure island in Korea.

However, I want you to know we have different culture and life style from the main land(Korea) and other rest of the world.

Jeju island has not only beauty of nature but also has a long history of Tamra kingdom.

Jeju island had been use to be exile prison since kyore dynasty with a prohibition of going out of its island for 300 years.
Thanks to this ironic history Jeju island has most traditional culture. And it has been known as a rebellious island because there were rebels and suppressions repeatedly.


Jeju island keep stimulating interest of foreign visitors with gut,myth which Korean society still doesn't have generosity of understanding.


You can access to the freshest food in Korea because it is an island.

So, slow food is possible. People get gather at 5 days market to buy Jeju red carrots, potatoes, dropwots etc.

Jeju island has been known for abundance in winds, stones and women.

Islanders have been venerable to nature to struggle against wind. The land is barren to dig out numerous stones for farming.

And women always had been outnumbered to men dud to lack of men.

Nowadays 3 abundant things are beautified for story telling in Jeju island but actually they shows the pain of Jeju history.

But... We are making electricity by winds and we have stacked up stones to make walls which now are agricultural heritage of the world.
Jeju island has become a place where people from all over the world are interested in.

 

As time goes by, Jeju island has turned to be modernized and the ratio of man and woman becomes half to half. And the profession of woman diver endangers which is supposed to be registered as an intangible heritage of the world by UNESCO.

'Attration info' 카테고리의 다른 글

(Jeju travel Mr.Dee) fact of Jeju island  (0) 2015.01.08

Fact about Jeju island.

*population: 568.000, or 1.3% of South Korean total(2010)
*Area: 1,848km2, or 1.85% of South Korea total.
*Political Units: Two cities, seven towns, five districts, 31 neighborhoods
*Land: 48.1% forest, 20%dry paddy, 8.9%pasture, 3%urban, 10.7%other
*Colors: Black(for the basalt predominant on Jeju), blue(for both the island's clean drinking water and its sea water), green(for the natural environment), and orange(for the hope of the people)

 

Provincial symbols
*Tree: Camphor tree(Cinnamomum camphora), representing "the enduring and indefatigable spirit of the Jeju people who, over the course of their history, have had to overcome great difficulties."
*Bird: The white-backed woodpecker(Dendrocopos ieucotos), which "lives in broadleaf forests and feeds on harmful insects."
*Flowers: Rhododenron (Rhododendron schlippenbachii), in which "the harmony of the green leaves and red flowers symbolizes the ambitions and vitality of the Jeju people."


Jeju city
*Population: 414.000(2010)
*Location: 16 kilometers north of Mt.Halla, 452 Kilometers south of Seoul, 143 Kilometers south of Mokpo, 291 kilometers southwest of Busan, 361 kilometers west of Fukuoka, Japan.
*Average Elevation: 46 meters
*Sister cities: Rouen, France; Adelaide, Australia; Beppu, Japan; Santa Rosa, California, USA; Shanghai, China; and more

Seogwipo City
*population: 154,000(20100
*Average Elevation: 51 meters
*Sister city: Karatsu, Japan.

Sources: Wolfram Alpha; Jeju statistical Yearbook 2010.

'Attration info' 카테고리의 다른 글

(Jeju travel Mr.Dee) About Jeju island  (0) 2015.01.11

Hi! people.

How have you been doing?

 

Today I want to tell you the story about a private tour from cruise ship.

 

I guided two decent clients from cruise ship

and their name is Stephen Arthur Jennies & Mary Ann jennies come from

English, London, Chelsea....where I used to live in once.

 

These days we are getting more and more cruise tours in Jeju island.

 

Well, owning to most of them are chinese, as we are English speaking tour guide,

they are pie in the sky.

 

Anyway the type of the tour is getting  popular in Jeju island.

 

My hope is that the people in a cruise ship come from all over the world, not only from china.

 

 

Actually it's been a long time to meet and talk with British people.

 

London is the second most place I spent time in my life so I like to talk with people come from there.

 

I like English British English rather than American.

And of cause I love British romantic comedy movies.

 

Well, I don't know why I am talking this....

 

 

According the schedule, we were supposed to meet at 8:30am

and I arrived at the meeting place 10min before.

 

But they were already waiting for me.

 

They said they had been waiting for me more than 30min.

 

I was so embarrassed and sorry for them.

 

The waves of today were so rough.

 

It was said a typhoon was coming up.

 

Just my luck! Today would be windy day.

 

The itinerary for today is Mangjanggul-Seongsan ilchulbong-Seongup folk village.

 

Once we start a tour, I have to finish a brief explanation about Jeju island.

After people understand Jeju island briefly, they feel easy to have sight seeing.

 

However, a topic in a car had changed to a small talk of London.

 

They gave me some news over there such as they got a tube in Chelsea last year.

 

It reminded me of life in London. Well, I had been to Chelsea a few times.

 

One thing very inconvenient over there is that there was no tube the area is located in central London though.

 

The price of the land is sky rocketing now thanks to a new tube station.

 

I think the way of people live is same all over the world.

 

 

On the way to destination we are planed, I try to explain not only the places we are going but also places we are passing by.

 

The places 'Seonhuel' and 'Songdang' on the way are the good places to give people a piece of information of Jeju lava forest.

 

People seemed to be pleased when they get to know about Jeju Gotjawal or typical plants.

 

After 40min driving we finally arrived at Mangjanggul lava tube.

 

Lots of people said they never been inside of a lava tube even though they travel a lot over the world.

The Jennies asked me a lot about lava tube.

 

They asked me a lot  which means they are curious and it means they are interested in.

 

I feel like to be their Jeju teacher and they were my students.

 

 

If you ask me where the most beautiful coastal scenic lines are.

 

I will say 'Woljungri' and 'Sehwa'.

 

Just in time we were passing by the places and they were so amazed by the scene.

 

Actually, I think the places are a small version of Jeju isalnd.

Ocean, stone walls, volcanic craters, and woman divers....

Because of the windy weather we couldn't see woman divers working.

However, when we passed by woman diver's house and I showed them the equipment with explanation of usage.

 

I know just explanation is not enough but they somehow seemed to be satisfied.

 

We saw a bundle of squids being dried at the coner of a coast road.

 

They looked like dancing with wind and grinning at us.

 

Happy day!

 

 

 

Most of people surprised at looking the people on the line near the top of Seongsan ilchulbong and on the other hand they already worried about their climbing.

 

However, You trust me.

 

Once they hit the road, you will realize it's a piece of cake.

 

Anxiety comes from only your mind.

Just do it!

 

 

The view of Seongsan village from near the top of Seongsan ilchulbong.

 

It was a separated island before.

 

When it was low tide people could cross over, and in high tide water filled up. So people couldn't cross it.

 

But during WW2 Japanese military ​connected the places with concrete for military usage.

 

 

​One shot on the top!

 

What a happy English couple they are...

 

They were always show their affections each other by holding hands and hugging.

 

 

Even though the natures are so beautiful, people will get bored soon by seeing only natures.

 

It's like a photos.

If a photo doesn't have people in it, it seems dull and barren.

 

I like show my clients how local people live in a village.

 

That's why I take a village tour with my clients.

 

Seongup village is not a museum, it is a village people live in.

 

Why do foreigners like this village?

 

I think this village is different from their villages.

I heard Arthur the husband is a house builder. so he was very interested in Jeju traditional thatched house.

When Jeju people knead mud to build a house they put thatches and they board them  in the basalt rocks wall to make it solid.

 

​The durability of a house depends on what kind of thatch are used.

 

It was quiet and tranquil in the village. It was good atmosphere to stroll around.

 

They are pleased to see local people living there.

When we ran into a perssimmon tree Mary told me she never seen a perssimmon before.

 

That might be true. Actually I had never seen a persimmon in London.

 

Traditionally, Jeju people have dyed cloth with perssimmon.

 

Then a color of the cloth becomes darker and durable.

 

In Britain there are similar method for dying clothe to Jeju way.

 

They laughed when I compare Jeju traditional clothes with British Barbour Jacket.

 

 

The 6 hours short tour had finished.

 

It's always shame not to have enough time.

 

I hope it may give people another chance to come Jeju again.

 

Most of cruise tour is a group tour, and an agency or tour guide tend to take the people to a shopping shop.

 

Actually clients grudge the time rather than money.

 

The Jennies said they have been disappointed by taken to the shopping mall.

 

They said it happened since they started from Tokyo.

 

But they really thanked me to show beautiful Jeju island.

 

They gave me a best compliment of my guiding.

 

Well, I know they were pleased by Jeju island not my guiding.

 

Anyway I am really happy for that.

 

Their pleasure is my pleasure.

 

 

 

group photo on the top of Seongsan ilchulbong.

 

Normally I am not taken a photo with my clients.

 

However, I enjoy being taken a photo on the top of Seongsan ilchulbong.

 

Because climbing is sweaty work under the hot sun.

 

Seolmundae & her 500 sons

On the west south side slope of mountain Halla, there is a picturesque place called "Youngsil", where steep stiffs and rugged rocks rise high up in the sky. These rocks are called five hundred generals or five hundred arahans.

Legend has it that Grandma Seolmundae lived with her five hundred sons long ago. In a ear of severe drought they were starved, and the five hundred sons went out to find some food. Waiting for her five hundred sons return home Grandma Seolundae was cooking soup but slipped into the boiling pot and drowned.

 

Not knowing of their mother's death, the famished sons devoured the soup which they found more delicious than ever. The youngest son returned home last and founda none in the soup which he realized was his mother's. He angrily denounced his brothers who ate the soup their mother drowned in and ran out crying for his mother.

He ran until he reached as far as Chagwi island of Kosanri, Hankyingmyun and there he turned into a rock. His remaining bothers watched this and stood together lamenting mother's death every night and day until they all turned into rocks. They became the five hundred generals.

It's been 4 years since I have changed my job.

Actually, I was an English teacher for elementaries but I got sick and tired of not going out the world. I really want to meet more diverse people from all over world.

 

One good thing for being an English speaking tour guide is that I can meet so many diverse people from all over the world.

 

This time, my clients came from Malaysia.

 

One thing I always have difficulties with Malay clients is that chooing a proper restuarant.

Not because of their nationality but because of their preference of food.

 

As you know, Black pork is one of the most famous food in Jeju island.

And Black pork meat is used in so many foods in Jeju island.

One of my favorite food pork noodles is one of the kind.

 

So that, Choosing a restaurant for muslims is very difficult thing.

Because they don't eat pork meat as well as any meat without Halla.

 


They are medical doctors and students.

 

I like students clients because I can see through them that they want to learn something about Korea and Jeju island.

 

So that suddenly I want to show them a real Jeju island.

 

Out of sudden, one of them asked me about K pop.

 

Then I just got an idea " A-ha there is common topic between us, that is a K-pop and drama".

"Ok. Let's start talking with this"

 

"Do you know Yu Jae-suk?" "Do you know his nick name?" "Do you know Moohan doJeon?" Well, they already knew about lots of thins on Korean TV program.

 



Well, there is no special things to break the barrier of the religions or cultures.

Just show them our things slowly then they will show us theirs.

I think it is a way of breaking cultural barriers.

Like this when we travel together we are the one.

We are going to share thinkings, We find our common things as well.

We went to the restaurant which serve Jeju traditional food.

The food name is 뚝빼기 they never seen abalone shells before and they were amazed by the beautiful inside of the shell.

They brought the empty shells to the wash room and wash them to keep them as a Jeju survirnior.

I think it is a good idea to have them from their food.


We hiked 'Youngsil' on the first day after abalone lunch.

They said they didn't have much experience to hike on the mountain.

We counldn't go to the top of the mountain. 

However, we enjoyed enough the beauty of Valley of mountain.

 



On the third day. It was rainning and windy.

I asked them if still going on the trip? At first they hesitated then I insisted to keep going. Well, they told me this is like a military training, fun training. they seemed happy. I should be a leader of the traveller. that is my job. some times push them, some times pull them up.
One thing I have more than they have is that experience and what they want is that my experience.


 

*Notice- this article is written by non native English speaker





Mt. Halla which rises 1,950m above sea level is the highest mountain in South Korea.
There is a crater and lake located at the summit of Mt Halla and its name is Baengnokdam(White deer rock lake) and about 40 parasite craters around the summit. A beautiful sight of steep and fantastic rock cliffs are designated in 1966 and 1970 as Nature Monument and National Park respectively, and in 2002 it was designated as a bio-reserve area by UNESCO.
As the peak of Mt.Halla is made of diverse volcanic characteristics, depending on the angle of one's view, one can feel its uniqueness. To the west of Baengnokdam crater, a steep shape formed by basalt lava of high viscosity is found and to the east, low viscosity basalt lava formed a gentle plateau. The south is so beautiful that it is captured in a folktale which states the story of immortals that played in the lake.





Mt. Halla is also a mountain where fir tree forest is found which is unique of its kind in the world.

At 1,400m above sea level an endemic species of cinder cones including pine trees are grown. It also possesses an outstanding biological research value in the study of cinder cones. Besides this at 1,700m, are distributed 39 different kinds of polar species which play very important part in the study of alpine life such as, jeju weasel, Jeju salamander, women diver snake, etc... are seen in Mt. Halla.
Well endowed with natural resources of scientific values, Mt. Halla is a noted mountain worldwide.


* Notice- this article is written by non native English speaker


Today I will show you one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Jeju island named 'Chenjiyeon waterfall'. Actually there are four waterfalls in Seokwipo city. When you see a geological shape of Jeju island the southern part is tilted which means there are lots of cliffs on the south. That's why you have to go to southern part of this island in order to see waterfalls.


This is the entrance of 'Chenjiyeon waterfall'. As usual as other touristic spots there is a souvenir shop at the front. Whenever I pass the area I can't resist having an ice cream. Browsing souvenirs with having ice cream is good fun in here. Just flat road leads you to the waterfall from here, so it can be a nice walking.


Enjoy fresh air in the forest. Even in summer time you feel cool temperature. You can see lots of tropical, temperate and tundra plants in here because Jeju is subtropical island and it is very cold in winter time. If you are interested in plants you will like this place very much.



You will see small reservoir on the way to the waterfall. This place was used to be a hydro power plant 30 years ago. There are some signs of the plants so far.


Now you see the waterfall. 'Chenjiyeon' means 'sky and earth in a pond'. According to the legend fairies descended to here to take bath. Actually people use to swim here before 1970s.
This place is a habitat of giant eels and designated as a national monument and Geo-park by UNESCO. 




   * Notice- This article is written by non native English speaker

We had very sweet rain yesterday. I think every Jeju people would enjoy the rain because draught has been lasted for 2 months.
I was also very happy to see the rain. After rain I suddenly felt like heading to Sanbang Mt, with my new camera NX210.
When I got to Sanbang Mt, there are lots of teenagers at the entrance of Yongmeri coast line. And they seemed come to Jeju island for school trip from main land. They were just chatting and laughing. Some boys were running and jumping around. they might not realize how lucky they are because normally Youngmeri is closed for 3~4days a week due to big waves. and It is a Geo-park by UNESCO. Well, may be they don't care about that.

I decided to direct to Sanbang gul-sa. The way to Sanbang gul-sa was so quiet and tranquil.
There are 482 stairs on the way to Sanbang gul-sa. I like the stairs to Sanbang gul-sa but I prefer the old ones. The old ones were rough and dull though. However, they made more visually appealing and even feeling of walking was better.

 

Sanbang Mt is one of 3 great mountains in Jeju island. And rest two are Halla Mt, and Sungsan sun rise peak. 
There is some explanation about Sanbang Mt: 
Sanbang Mt is a large lava dome, rising 395m above sea level. It is a lava dome which results form the slow effusion of very sticky lava from a volcanic vent. The stickiness of the lava prevents it from flowing far from the vent and made it to solidify quickly and creating a dome-like shape. Sanbang Mt lava dome is composed of lava columns about 800,000 years ago.
When it was growing there was a local explosion and collapse of the dome. Sanbang Mt has a significant value because lava dome is very rare in Korea and it makes beautiful scenery in the southwestern part of jeju island.

 


You can see Youngmeri(dragon head) coast and brother islets at the entrance of Sanbang Mt. 
Youngmeri(dragon head) coast is registered as geo-park by UNESCO.

 




The story of the name of Dragon head coast is named because it look like a dragon going into the ocean with head up. Actually It really looks like a dragon jumping into the ocean.
According to the legend a giant dragon was heading to the china and the chinese emperer worried about that. So he sent a general to here and cut the tail of dragon and it couldn't head to the china any more.


        
       

 

Right under the Sanbanggul-sa, there is Tafoni which is deep cavities or hollows produced by cavernous weathering in the sides(including the undersides) of rock outcrops and boulders. They usually occur in groups. Individual hollows range in depth and diameter from a few centimetres to several meters. "Honeycomb" weathering is a common description for this pattern of parallel rows of smaller pits. The origin of tafoni is not well understood. The consensus is that they result from weathering along joints, fractures, and other lines of weakness, particularly from exposure to water. The hollows are thought to be enlarged by progressive flaking of the interior surfaces and granular disintegration, probably as a result of crystallisation of salt carried to the rock by wind or waves.
They has been eroded a lot and after tens years they will be gone. 
      

 


Sanbag gul-sa is located in a natural cave. I don't know if it is a kind of Tafoni or not. However, it's so amazing to have this kind of natural cave in the middle of the lava rock.

Around 800years ago a buddhist monk named 'Hae-il' practiced spiritual discipline in here and entered nirvana. And Sanbang gul-sa is the first buddhist monastery in Jeju island. If you look around this monastery you can see a tree which rooted in the tree. I am alwyas amazed by vitality of nature. When you look up the ceiling water is dropping. According the legend  a lady named Sanbagduk-i who couldn't made her love in her life is dripping her tear.
The tear became medicine water. They say if you drink the water you can live 10 more years longer. Why don't you drink the water when you visit 'Sanbang gul-sa'.