A two-night short Autumn trip in South Korea's Jeju
Two beach chairs and Seongsang Ilchul-bong in the Autumn's morning private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
For a solo traveler me who depended on taking local buses to reach Jeju's tourist sites, I should have spent more days instead of only two nights in this "Hawaii of South Korea" island. Tourist attractions, except Teddy Bear Museum, close at 6 PM but the bus rarely showed up while the distance from one site to another site was very far away. In my experience, I had to wait for more than an hour and it took me another two hours to get to my next stop. It kind of reminded me of my own country's transportation problem.
It's fine not to rent a car plus a driver which would cost me higher when travelling around Jeju but I should have spent more days, a week perhaps, if I had had a long list of sites to see and natural beauties to explore.
Per day, I could only visit two places with reasonable time spent at each place because, as I said before, I had to wait for hours to get the bus and spend another hours to reach the site. The key word is research which I didn't do much.
Dried flowers at the peak of Seongsang Ilchul-bong in the Autumn's morning private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
One thing I found quite happy about my trip there was the guesthouse which also provided free book about cooking Korean popular dish. That guesthouse where I stayed for two nights was located very close to the central bus terminal, even within walking distance, and less than 15 minutes to reach the airport.
Long coffee table adjacent to the window at YEHA Guesthouse private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
After a night in Jeju doing nothing, I decided to finally start my trip with the huge crater at the top of Seongsang Ilchul-bong located on the eastern end of the island.It took me two hours from the central bus station to reach the site.
Seongsang Ilchul-bong and the beach with black sand private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Silver grass near Seongsang Ilchul-bong private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Blue wild flowers near Seongsang Ilchul-bong private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Jeju city as seen from above Seongsang Ilchul-bong private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Yellow flowers near the entrance of Seongsang Ilchul-bong private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Restricted access at Seongsang Ilchul-bong private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Silver grass below clear blue sky in the Autumn at Sangumburi private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
A natural open space at Sangumburi in Jeju private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
In South Korea, there are several places well-known for their expansive, beautiful views of silver grass. Sangumburi is one of them.
Sangumburi's silver grass trail in Jeju private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Ending my solo trip on the second day, I had few minutes at O'Sulloc Tea Museum which I only skimmed the first floor and bought some souvenirs from their official shop before it closed at 6 PM. I didn't have much time to walk around the Seogwang Tea Garden either because it had already been dark.
The exterior of O'Sulloc Tea Museum in Jeju private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
The right side of O'Sulloc Tea Museum in Jeju private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Tea leaves at the tea plantation in front of O'Sulloc Tea Museum private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Giant tea cup in front of tea plantation in front of O'Sulloc Tea Museum private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Manjanggul Cave Drama
The night before and early morning, my roommate had warned me not to miss my flight because I could forget my own time enjoying Manjanggul Cave in solitude. I reminded myself about it but I didn't calculate the time spent to reach the site with rare bus schedule and so many stops it made, not to mention how remote the place was located. If those two nice-and-kind oppa (big brother) hadn't stopped their car and helped the despaired me arranging taxi to the airport, I wouldn't have been in Jakarta now updating my blog.
I almost cursed my decision to take that bet by going to this UNESCO World Heritage's Manjanggul Cave (182, Manjanggul-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do) which maintains its temperature between 11 to 21 Celcius degrees and offers stone pillars, stalactites, stalagmites and lava tube tunnels inside.
At the site's parking lot, all taxis were actually booked taxis so they couldn't take me to the bus terminal. The same illegal no-meter taxi who took me to the site refused to take me to the bus terminal saying it was too far for him and insisted only driving me to Manjanggul Cave Bus Stop only. I didn't have any choice and paid another KRW 4000. As I arrived at the bus stop and found neither bus nor taxi, I began begging hitchhiking in desperate.
End of lava tube tunnel inside the Manjanggul Cave private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
A woman driving her sedan simply passed without noticing me who pleaded her to stop. A truck driver ignored me knowing I asked him for a ride and again another sedan just continued going and left me behind. I was crying in fear of continuing on like this. I felt my heart was in my throat. I had to get away. I couldn’t stay on that road anymore.
When my life was on the verge of (even though not) death, a nice-and-kind good looking oppa (it's how a girl refer to her trusted older brother in Korean culture) driving with his friend stopped his car and gave me a ride out of highway tried finding me a taxi but in vain. He tried to calm and convince me while still driving that I wouldn't miss my flight.
He called taxi company many times and still nothing because the site was quite remote. He drove me again further, hoped there would be a taxi driver who could take me from that unknown main road but still nothing in sight. His friend continued calling taxi company while this oppa was driving and looking for a passing taxi on the road. Finally, after another few kilometers, the taxi company informed him that a taxi was close to him and could take me from the road near a building hall, far away from Manjanggul site.
I was still sitting inside his car, waiting, and got off when the taxi stopped in front of him. He explained to the taxi driver to first drive me to my guesthouse and then to the airport.
He also gave me 10000 KRW for the taxi out from his pocket after he asked "Do you have enough Korean Won?" He misheard me I had 15000 when I said 50000 Korean Won. However, I didn't refuse his kindness and thanked him sincerely from the bottom of my heart. I felt like as if I was in a Korean drama. The poor girl had just been saved by the male protagonist.
The 10000 Korean Won Oppa gave me for taxi private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
Arrived at Jeju Airport, waiting for bus # 315 at Gate 2 located on the first floor later getting off at Hankook Hospital, check-in at YEHA Guesthouse. Relaxed myself with latte at the dining room before refreshing myself and sleeping. Having latte makes myself feel better.
My own latte every night at the guest house private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
At the mouth of Manjanggul Cave in Jeju private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
I thank you God for sending me safely back to Seoul, though the weather was gloomy and drizzling by the time I finally set my feet at Gimpo International Airport after my own unforgettable Korean drama.
Rain drops in Seoul as seen from an airplane's window private photo of Nilufar, South Korea, 2017 |
YEHA Guesthouse
561-17, Samdo 1-dong, Jeju-si
South Korea, 690-812
Phone (064)724 5506 or 070 4012 0083
Female dorm (KRW 19000/night)
Free breakfast and free drinks during happy hour
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