On board the Asiana domestic airline due south of Seoul for about an hour flight, my next pit stop lay 60 miles off the southern tip of Korean peninsula, the 'Honeymoon Island' of South Korea. Looking out of the plane window, my mind was diverted into reels of fun and excitement, unable to contain my joy of finally touching down the island's ground.
Jeju is the only special autonomous province of South Korea which garnered major attention when Seongsan llchulbong was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is undoubtedly Jeju's magnificent landmark out of dormant volcano Mt. Halla with its lava tubes and the 597-foot-high coastal crater.
The island enjoys a mild climate which makes it a destination favorable to visit all year round. With its lush greenery, azure coasts, scenic extinct volcano, unique scenery of black lava rock walls, verdant hills covered with evergreens and palms and its subtropical climate as I mentioned earlier, no wonder the island is regarded as the 'Hawaii' of Korea - the country's prime destination for honeymooners.
The majestic ball of fire made its dramatic entrance signalling the start of a new day of fun and adventure. This day was filled with many places to visit to this beautiful island. Thanks to our excellent Korean tour guide, Mr. Wong, we set off the day with our first stop to another of Jeju's famous landmark, the Yongduam Rock (Dragon Head Rock), an unusual lava formation in the shape of a screaming dragon with its body submerged in the sea. Then, we proceeded with our next stop to the World Heritage Site, the Seongsan Sunrise Peak.
I felt a tinge of chill as the morning breeze whipped past me early Sunday morning. The damp musky scent of morning dewdrops still lingered in my nostrils. I took a deep breath of the crisp invigorating cool air before commencing my arduous climb to the top. The scenery was fabulous but the hike was almost in comparison to the Great Wall.
Seongsan llchulbong or also known as Sunrise Peak is an archetypal tuff cone formed by hydrovolcanic eruptions upon a shallow seabed about 5000 years ago. Dominating the eastern seaboard of Jeju Island like a gigantic castle, this 180m high tuff cone, not only preserves its bowl-like crater but also provides excellent sea-cliff exposures of diverse internal structures.
There's something magical when standing on the rim of this crater overlooking the sea. Scenes of clouds moseyed across the cerulean sky, highlighted by blurred mountains from afar and beautiful azure seas would make you stop for a moment to contemplate with the island's marvelous scenery.
The walking trails were a perfect guide for a pleasant hike to the peak and down to the foot of the crater. It reminded me of my steeply ascent to the Great Wall of China, slightly easier in comparison. But still it was a climb to the peak, so it's not as easy as you thought it would be.
Our third stop was a fascinating Submarine tour on which we could get a spectacular view of the oceanic floor as far as 30m undersea. It was my first time on board the submarine and I was really excited about it. But the experience was not so much of a thrill because each group of visitors were only given a small circular viewing window, which was a disappointment. I managed to see the so-called 'treasure boxes', coral fishes and coral reefs and a diver who swam past the window surrounded by adorable fishes.
Moments like this...
Immersed in my tangerine indulgence!
Wouldn't it be so nice if it wasn't a glass diamond after all?
It was nice visiting Jeju Island in South Korea. In fact, there were still more beautiful places to visit in this island including its beautiful beaches and majestic waterfalls. Time was just not on our side to completely tour the entire island. Maybe next time though!
