An yong hi hasayo

As I reflect on my three weeks in South Korea, I have to thank my friend Seungju who patiently helped me learn some basic Korean before my trip. It made a huge difference — not so much in Seoul — but everywhere else.

Llsung Beach

On Jeju Island’s west coast I discovered the best beach I’d seen since arriving on the island. Unfortunately, it was the coldest day since my arrival in South Korea. Most of the days had been in the low twenties, but that day the temperature dropped to a cool six degrees — not swimming weather.

A stroll through Hallim Park

If you didn’t have much time on Jeju Island, this was the place to visit — a kind of all in one package. Beyond the beautiful gardens, the site included a Jeju historical village and Hyeopjae lava cave formed from a volcanic explosion of Halla Mountain.

Cactus Grove habitat

Along the shore line of Wollyeong on Jeju Island’s western side grew the only wild cactus in Korea. No one knows for sure how cactus first grew in this location but one theory was that seeds arrived by warm Kuroshio currents from Mexico.

An en-chanting trail

One hundred metres from Chunwangsa Temple within Hallasan National Park was Seokgulam Trail leading to a hermitage. Situated in the Aheumanhopgol Valley, this was only a 1.5 kilometre hike one way, but it was steep and the steps were often amongst tree roots.

Hovering prayers of autumn

Chunwangsa Buddhist Temple was tucked away in one of the nighty-nine valleys of Hallasan National Park. I might never have entered the grounds except for the time of year.

My final search for an oreum

I had driven almost full circle around Jeju Island and arrived near the western half of Hallasan National Park. I was ready to find an oreum that had so far evaded me within the park’s eastern side.

One of the three god’s mountains

I headed to Mara Provincial Marine Park to circuit the coastline. This was only a three kilometre trail running along the high cliffs above the East China Sea. I hoped for a better view of its highest point.

An unexpected encounter

As I headed towards a hike to Mt Songaksan, I spotted a group of women climbing into the back of a pick up truck and knew what I was witnessing — the Haenyeo.

Sites of Korea’s dark tourism

During the Joseon period, smoke signal stations and beacon mounds were used to transmit urgent political or military news by smoke or torchlight. These stations were built on hills where there had once been additional stations roughly six kilometres to the east and west of Sagye-ri’s station.