Jeju Island

On May 16, 2015, my colleague browsed MAS website and asked if I wanna go to Seoul so two days later, we booked our tickets to Seoul for 7 days 6 nights from November 4 to 11, 2015 but on August 26, 2015, we changed our return tickets to November 15, 2015.

The flight departed from KLIA at 11.35 pm and arrived at Incheon Airport, Seoul at 7.06 am. We took the bus at 8.15 am and reached Gimpo Airport at 8.45 am. The Easterjet flight departed from Gimpo Airport at 10.06 am and arrived at Jeju Airport at 11.06 am.

We then took a bus to Yeha Guesthouse located at 561-17, Samdo 1-Dong, Jeju City, Jeju, 690-812, South Korea.

We reached the guesthouse at 12 noon.  

Check-in time is 2 pm so we decided to leave our bags there.

At 1 pm, after we freshen up, we took a taxi (KRW37,100) to the ferry dock to go to Udo island. It was an hour journey. We took a ferry (KRW5,500) to Udo Island located on the northeast of Seongsan-ri, 3.5km off the coast of Jeju.  It was just a 10-minute ride. 

Udo Island is the largest of the islands included in the Jeju-si.

Udo, literally "Cow Island" in Chinese, has its name because it looks like a cow lying down.

We rented bicycles for two hours (KRW7,500). 

Haven't been cycling for a long time... 

never thought I'd ended up doing so in South Korea :)

It was so embarrassing we couldn't find the rental shop on the way back that the owner has to come collect the bicycles at the ferry dock.

We left the island at 5 pm.

At 5.10 pm, we took a taxi (KRW3,000) to Seongsan Ilchulbong, also called 'Sunrise Peak', situated on the eastern seaboard of Jeju Island. It is an archetypal tuff cone formed by hydrovolcanic eruptions upon a shallow seabed about 5,000 years ago.  Admission fee is KRW5,500.

We left by bus (KRW5,600) at 6.30 pm and reached the guesthouse at 8 pm.

The next morning, we had breakfast at the dining room ~ toasted bread with jam and tea.

We decided to rent a taxi for the day (KRW110,000). We left at 11.35 am. Our first destination was Manjanggul Cave. It was a 35-minute journey. Admission fee is KRW2,000.

It is one of the finest lava tunnels in the world and is a designated natural monument. The Manjanggul Lava Tube is located in Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwaeup, Jeju City. 

Only 1km of the 13,422m Manjanggul Cave is open to the tourist.  

Next destination was Seopjikoji located at the end of the eastern shore of Jeju Island. Admission is free. We only have to pay KRW1,000 for the taxi park.

Our third destination was Sangumburi Crater.  It is a flat crater, about 650 meters wide 100 meters deep and 2,070 meters in circumference.  It is located on the southeast side of Jeju-si and has been designated as a natural monument.

At 5 pm, we dropped by Mount Hallasan National Park.

Hallasan is a shield volcano on Jeju Island of South Korea. Hallasan is the highest mountain in South Korea.

The area around the mountain is a designated national park, Hallasan National Park.

On Saturday, November 7, 2015, we took bus No.100 (KRW1,200) to Dongmun Market. 

Dongmun Market is a traditional market with agricultural products and seafood.

It was raining so we took a taxi (KRW3,600) back to the guesthouse.

We checked out at 11 am but only left for the airport at 1.20 pm by taxi (KRW5,600).

We had lunch at Caffe Pascucci while waiting for our flight to Seoul.

I had chicken sandwich.

While waiting for the flight to Tokyo, I had early dinner at the airport Premium Food Court.

It's not goodbye yet Seoul! Be back in five days' time :)

Till next week, my journey continues at the land of the rising sun...