So I’ve decided to make my Kpop Academy blog into a Korea travel blog! This is not a travel guide. This post merely serves as an online diary to me – to make up for my scumbag forgetful brain, so that I will remember the details of my travels. (and oh, I usually have OST (ie:soundtrack song) specifically for every country/city I visit. I listen to that song on repeat when I was in that place. So the next time I listen to that song, I’ll instantly remember that specific place/trip, cause y’know, my scumbag brain is forgetful. The most effective one so far is Junsu’s 돌고 돌아도. Never fails to bring vivid memories of Spain everytime I play it)
OST: Kim Jaejoong feat Lee Sang Gon – Shiny Day
Busan – Nampo and Jagalchi Market
Yayyy Busan!!! Since we landed in Busan, but our connecting flight to Jeju Island is at 5pm, we had a few hours to go to downtown Busan. We left our luggage at the airport (at the departure floor) for KRW5,000 per piece. Pretty expensive, but we didn’t really have a choice.
The airport rail from Gimhae to Sasang station only costs KRW1,300 (only KRW500 if using T-money). From Sasang, we changed to the Green Line to Seomyeon, and then changed to the Red Line to Nampo station. Cost from Sasang to Nampo is KRW1,200. As soon as we exited the Nampo station, we could see the signboard to Jagalchi Market so we went there first.
Jagalchi Market is actually quite a large building (3-4 storeys), and the building is pretty new and of course very clean. They sell all sorts of seafood I’ve never seen before in my life. Huge octopus, crabs, clams, even gamat (sea cucumber!); you name it, they have it.
We then proceeded to the 2nd floor which is the seafood restaurant/stall section. We stopped to see the price signs at the first stall we saw (which of course we couldn’t understand), and the ahjumma warmly welcomed us inside. It was only 11 in the morning, but we we’re already starving. The ahjumma kept on recommending us to order the expensive lunch sets, but we politely turned down and ordered the small lunch set without jjigae (which the ahjumma kept on insisting the small set wouldn’t be enough for us).
Despite being called ‘small’ set, these were what they actually served, plus one plate of grilled fish and a large bowl of seafood fish that came later! Look at the abundant amount of banchans (side dishes)!! This was our first proper Korean meal, complete with banchans and all. It only costed us KRW43,000. Pretty reasonable price I would say, especially because every single dish, including the banchans were soooo yummy! Plus, the view of the sea from the window is nice!^^
After Jagalchi Market, we crossed the street to go to the BIFF Square at the Nampo shopping area. I was excited to find a Yunho standee outside a Missha shop holding the best selling BB cream beacuse their contract with Missha has actually ended. But Yunnie was alone, Chami was nowhere to be seen ;(.
There are also lots of stalls there selling street food like tteokbokki and hotteok. Overall, Nampo and BIFF Square area is a pretty cool area to chill and relax. I would highly recommend dropping by; especially because Jagalchi Market is in the area.
After that we went back to Gimhae Airport heading for Jeju. We landed at 6pm++ in Jeju Airport and go straight to KT Kumho Rental Car office via their free shuttle bus. The process is so hassle free, we’re out with our Kia Morning rental car by 6.45pm. Costs only KRW72,000 for 48 hours, including full-waiver insurance. That’s a pretty good deal. But you have to register as member and book online to get that promotional rate. The car looks small from outside, but is actually pretty roomy for 3 people, and is brand new. In Korea, the driver is at the left-hand side, so we were really confuse on how to navigate at first. Thankfully the GPS (even though in Korean!) was so reliable and easy to use; just enter the destination’s phone number, and you’re good to go.
Our lovely hostel: You & I Guesthouse. It’s located in the middle of Jeju City, behind Dunkin Donuts. The harabuchi and ahjussi owners were so friendly and funny, and speak fluent English. No private parking space, but we just parked our cars at the roadside, in front of the shops.
Our private room for 3 people.
Jeju Island Day 1 – West Course
Yeongdam Rock
The next day, we drove to Jungmun Resort via the West course. First stop: Yeongdam Rock: the dragon head shaped rock by the sea. Entrance fee: KRW3,000, parking fee: KRW500. It was still early but so many people were already there.
Next stop: Hyeopjae Beach
The beach is near to Hallim Park, but we didn’t go to the park. The beach is soooo pretty!
Next: Suwolbong Mountain
This is supposedly a Unesco Heritage Place due to the ancient settlement/archeology thingy. But we just drove up this mountain to enjoy the view from the top.
Next: the second beach. I forgot what’s the name of the beach, but it is on the way to Jungmun Resort via the West-side costal road.
I love the bum-shaped chair! Haha
Next: Teddy Bear Museum the Jungmun Resort
Jungmun Resort is located at the south of the Island and is home to many museums and luxury hotels including Shilla and Lotte Hotel. I love that they plant palm trees at the roadside; palm trees are my favourite! And not because Junsu loves it. I like palm trees before I even know Junsu okie haha. Loads of museums here, but we only went to the Teddy Bear Museum. Actually I wasn’t that interested, but it’s kind of a ‘must-see’ place, so yeah. Entrance fee: KRW8,000
Next: Cheonjeyeon Waterfall
The waterfall is situated in the Jungmun Resort, just 5 mins walk behind Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum. It is so beautiful, the blue pond at the top of the waterfall. Notice that the walls’ shape is geometrical. Legend has it that fairies used to ascend down to earth to bathe in this pond. There are actually 3 waterfalls in this area, but it was almost sunset, so we didn’t get to explore further. Entrance Fee: KRW3,000
Mitsui and me and on Seonimgyo Bridge (the arch bridge near Cheonjeyeon Falls)
Jeju Island Day 2 – East Course
Sunrise at Seongsan Ichulbong
I actually wasn’t very optimistic with the idea of waking up at 4 and hiking up a mountain at 5 in the morning. Luckily, Chao and Mitsui was rather enthusiastic about the whole idea; thanks Chao for waking us up. Seongsan Ichulbung isn’t actually that far from Jeju City, as the You & I ahjussi put it. I think we arrived in 30 mins, driving at 70kmh, mind you. We were the 2nd car to arrive there! We wondered if that was the right place since it was already 5.00am, but half an hour later, lots of cars and taxis were already there. What was I expecting – of course it’s gonna be freezing that early in the morning. Plus the wind! Ughhhh….The climb up hill is quite a challenge for me; I was not a very fit girl to begin with, but after I got sick last November (long story…) it made me out of breath so quickly when I climb ;(
Ta daaa! We arrived at the top! Lots of people were already there. However, we couldn’t see the sunrise as it was cloudy that morning….T_T Nevermind, it was a good experience by the way…and the view from up the crater peak was breathtaking!
We went to Droptop Cafe at the bottom of Seongsan Ilchulbung for breakfast. If you are a K-drama junkie, you will notice Droptop always appears in the dramas (It’s the café that always appeared in Yawang =P). The thick honey toast topped with whipped cream is a popular thing in Korean cafes, I noticed. Tastes yummy!
Next stop, Seopkoji, as one blogger put it, is his favourite spot in Jeju Island, so I figured that there would be many people there. But not that many! Imagine, we had to wait for almost an hour I think (?) for a parking spot. But it is indeed, such a beautiful place. I imagine it’s much prettier during Spring with all the yellow little flowers blooming in the valley up to the hill.
And oh! We could see Seongsan Ilchulbong from here!
From Seopkoji we drove to Jambang Waterfall near Seogwipo via the Eastern coastal road. Jambang Waterfall is allegedly the only waterfall in the world that falls straight into the ocean. It was a beautiful place, but due to the scorching heat, we didn’t stay long. Oh we also met a group of Malaysian kakaks there. There were like 5-6 of them, ladies only. So there’s still hope for ladies’ trip even though you’re old and married and have kids! Yayyy!! Chao, Mitsui, we definitely should do it later in life okay!
Jusangjeolli Cliff – Hexagon Rock
The hexagon-shaped rocks are pretty cool. They were formed thousand years ago due to the lava cooling, or something like that. And oh, while looking for a toilet, we got lost and went to a filming location of Secret Garden (can’t remember which scenes though)
We really wanted to go to Jungmun Beach. We saw it from afar from Teddy Bear’s museum yesterday and it looked nice with all the plam trees (yay palm trees!). But our rented car needs to be returned by 6.45pm, so we went straight to KT Kumho next. The traffic was pretty bad as we’re approaching the city, so we arrived at KT Kumho just on time (we thought we’re going to be early). We filled in the fuel on the way back. Costs KRW38,000 full tank. (We only used ¾ of the tank for our 2-day trip – very fuel efficient, this little car).
Next, we went to Bagdad Restaurant for dinner; they serve Halal menu there. (We took a cab from KT Kumho to the City. Cost KRW3,200)Yay for meat!. Even though the price is on the higher side, all 3 dishes that we ordered tasted simply uh-may-zeeng!
Time to zzzz now, since our flight to Seoul tomorrow is at 8.15am! We checked out before 7am. The You&I ahjussi keep on suggesting that we take it easy, have breakfast first and go to the airport at 7.30 since it’s only 10 mins drive away. But we politely declined since we don’t wanna take chance. Anything can happen on the way to the airport right? (But well, it really was just a 10 mins drive T_T).
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