Dolhan Maeul traditional village

One of the best sites within Jeju Stone Park was a Jeju traditional village where thatched-roof houses stood in clusters surrounded by stone fences. At the entrance to the village were Biseokgeori — monuments of people to be remembered.

Jeju Stone Park

I might have overlooked Jeju Stone Park if it hadn’t been situated next to a main highway because it seemed like a tourist hub. On the day I entered, not even one of the seven areas designated for parking was full. And the park that I thought might not be interesting kept me intrigued at every turn.

Hallasan National Park

The Seongpanak Trail was nearly ten kilometres to the top of South Korea’s highest mountain, Mt Hallasan. On the mountain’s peak was Baengnokdam crater lake which was created by volcanic activity. Around the mountain were 368 large oreums (parasitic cones) — the largest number anywhere in the world.

Halla Eco-forest

Finally I made it to Jeju Island. This was my reason for returning to South Korea. My first stop was Halla Eco-forest on the way to Hallasan National Park. I stopped for a breather after manoeuvring through Jeju-si traffic since I decided to rent a car. The eco-forest sat on the fringe of the national park and although displays in the visitors’ centre were only in Korean, at least the park signage was in both Korean and English.

Tomb of King Wongseong

In eastern Gyeongju statues of Muninseok scholars, Muninseok warriors, stone lions and a stone pillar stood at each side of the entrance to the tomb of King Wongseong. These statues were intended to mark the border between this world and the next. Surprisingly, the scholar and warrior statues were realistic. As I passed them, I felt as if their eyes followed me.

Golguram Hermitage

This hermitage, not far from Gyeongju’s east coast, contained a stone-carved seated Buddha. Steps led to small caves where other statues were contained before I finally reached the four metre high Buddha. It was believed that the Silla Buddha image was carved between the 7^thand 9^thcentury where originally there had been twelve caves at the site.

A volcanic column joint zone

Along a two kilometre stretch of Gyeongju’s coastline at Yangnam was a walkway where I passed columns of rocks scattered next to the East Sea shoreline.