Chilling in Jeju Island

 I have been contemplating on spending my 43rd birthday somewhere outside the country. That was supposedly on January 9th, but due to project-related significant activity which primarily involved my role as Change Manager, I was forced to postponed my birthday celebration to later dates.

I was actually on official leave but I reckoned I have to take a break but still working from outside the office on January 26th through 30th of 2019.

January 26
 
With Anneth, my usual travel buddy, we flew to Jeju Island via Shanghai. We initially thought of obtaining transit visa at Shanghai Airport and make a quick tour of the city. Realizing that the 6-hour layover was so short and the city was still sleeping when we got there at 4am, we knew better than exposing to cold outside the airport. 10am came and we're off via China Eastern Airline and landed at Jeju International Airport by lunchtime.

Astar Hotel allowed us to check in early. So we were able to kick start our city tour via the Tour Bus, reaching Yongduan Rock and Dudubong Peak despite the chilly weather and freezing wind. The Jeju City Bus Tour can be obtained for the whole day at KW10,000 per person with 15 stops, where tourists can hop on and hop off. Since we started at past 2pm, the tourguide suggested paying 3,000 per stop, informing us that the last bus will be at 6pm.

January 27

Anneth made all the advanced preparations. Part of it was hiring a car with a driver for the 2-day private tours around the island.

We were picked up from the hotel at 8AM. Today's tour covered 4 sites, a cave, a fold village, a maze, and a cliff.

Our first stop was at Micheon Cave. It was located in a massive botanical garden with plenty of manicured plants and trees. For an entry fee of KW10,000 each, we enjoyed the colorfully lighted cave, the exhibits of bonsai and cacti, and IG-worthy nooks of wedding sports, camp sites, sculptures, and gardens.

Our next stop was at the Jeju Folk Village. It has several houses of thatched roofs of dried grass or clay as it was historically the housing style in the ancient Jeju. It was said to be the birthplace of horse bone powders. The tourguide we got was a Filipina who married a Korean. She told us that most women divers lived there, and the oldest resident at that time was 109 years old.

This was where we spent a lot; each of us bought the face powder made out of horse bones powder to fix facial wrinkles. Also, the mushroom-based drink powders and the raspberries plus honey juice. My purchase cost me KW155,000.

That lunch that followed was the most expensive meal we spent. We ordered a huge pot of seafoods, filled with crabs, shrimps, abalones, and fish plus clams. That single order can actually feed 5 people, but there were only 3 of us including Mr Baek, our driver. We paid a total of KW161,000.

We then burnt those calories at the Maze Park. The massive area has 3 giant mazes of a stoneman, woman diver, and a sphere. True to it's name, the Stoneman maze was made of stones, rocks and boulders; while the other two were made of manicured plants. We were actually lost, for several times strolling and running around. It was the Stoneman's that was very confusing.

Our last destination of the day was at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, of a volcano crater. It was a climb of 180 masl, completely paved however where steps were either made of cemented slabs of hardwood. The climb made me wear off some of my 3-layer winter clothing.

January 28

Our tour today covered 5 destinations in the western and southern areas of Jeju Island. Our first stop was at the Teddy Bear Museum, Teseum for short. The features of the season was the African Safari with several lifesized animals made out of fluffy stuffed toys. The 2-story building features teddy bears in all human-like events, forms, occupations, and places.

Then we headed straight to the Glass Castle. Naturally, all minute attractions around this themepark are made of glass. There was a giant wine glass at the facade and a corner depicting sea life with colorful glasses shaped in seaweeds. It was in the forest garden that impressed me, how artfully they scattered all glass creations around the logs as mushrooms, on the trees as fruits, on every soil and grass as vines, flowers, tangerine fruits, and what not. And since February, the love month is approaching, a heart-filled with glass jewels was featured, more colorful trees are here and there fashioned from glass of various colors.

Before lunchtime, we reached the so-called Spirited Garden. Another garden that exhibited bonsai, but the tangerine farm presented us with variety of fruits. And we met the owner who happens to be Baek's friend. He treated us to a wonderful tea time. The owner's daughter gave us writing pads as souvenirs in exchange for a nice review in the tripadvisor. The buffet lunch within the vicinity was filling with an ambiance of a unique kind: overlooking bonsia and tangerine garden.

Our fourth destination was the Camella Flower Park. It wasn't a value for money trip because it was not spring season. Despite that, still tourists flocked here. We managed to go around into the innermost portion with some blooms, which I bet would be more gorgeous during springtime.

And lastly, we climbed up and down the stairs to go around the Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls, from Tier 1 to Tier 3. There was a bridge called "Angel Bridge" depicting nymphs playing various instruments. It crossed the midsection of the park towards the other side of the canyon.

On our way back, we asked Baek to drop us at the restaurant closest to Astar Hotel that served "Samgyetang" or the Ginseng Chicken Soup. It was a serving of a whole chicken stewed and stuffed with rice. It was indeed one of a kind, delicious meal appropriate for cold season.

February 29


We have a half day to spare before flying back home. So we decided to have an early stroll around the city, from the nearby Folklore and National Museum. It was of course closed when we got there. We pushed on to the Dongmun Market just in time for it to open for business. We grabbed some souvenirs and headed back to the hotel to check out.

That afternoon, we were flying back to Singapore.

Travel Expenses
    Plane Fare b/f (MNL-SIN)     KW245,000
    Plane + Hotel b/f (SIN-JJU)         795,000
    Taxi Fare b/f                                    15,000
    Car Hire                                         130,000
    Entry Tickets                                   72,000
    Meals                                             145,000
    Bus Tour                                            6,000
    Souvenirs                                         20,000
Total                                         KW1,428,000
Equivalent to Php66,500

Trip2Top Climbs

2018 was the year for my mountain trekking with Trip2Top family. I had a whole year of climbing Philippine mountains, both major and minor. I kept this pictorial documentation as my souvenir.

Official Community Logo

Feb 3-4 - Mt Tapulao, Zambales

This was my first major climb. It is the tallest mountain in Zambales province measuring 2,037 masl. The challenge here was the way up. There was a paved road up to the campsite, the lowest part was concreted, the next few kilometers was under construction, but the rest are unmaintained where dirt roads are destroyed by flashfloods and boulders were shooting up. My feet cried especially on the way down.

Mar 3-4 - Mt Ulap, Ifugao

This was an easy climb. The best thing for this destination is its accessibility from Baguio City by public commute. It measured 1,846 masl. The rolling hills are easily navigable which could be trekked by whole family, young and old. Its best feature is the picturesque rock cliff, good for ala-lion king pose.

Mar 24-25 - Mt Napulauan, Ifugao

This was my hardest climb because the ascent is never-ending. It stands as the 15th highest mountain in the country measuring 2,642 masl. I completed the trek for almost 7 hours. I was about to surrender at 2,000 meters and set up a e-camp. So I started counting backwards from 642 to 1 just to motivate me to keep going. But my gosh, the "Sea of Clouds" the day after was fantastic, stupendous, breathtaking!

Apr 21 - Mt Makiling, Laguna

Just a day climb, this legendary mountain measured 1,090 masl. But never underestimate it; its trekking difficulty could be considered the best training ground for major climbs. Here I have up close and personal encounter with the parasitic flower, Rafflesia.

Jun 23-24 - Mt Iglit, Occidental Mindoro

This was our very first cross-island trekking. It has a height of 2,364 masl. The best experience was spending the night with the Mangyan tribe. But the climb from the campsite to the peak was challenging but never enjoyable. The rolling hills kept on rolling and seemingly unending. It left me so exhausted and sad.

Sep 21-23 - Mt Pulag, Benguet

A glamping indeed. We took the Ambangeg trail which is the highest dropoff and closest to the campsite. This is the second highest mountain in the country and the highest in Luzon island. With this trail, the dropoff is already at 1,500++ masl. So the trek to the peak was easier. I considered this a glamping because the campsite has CR, water source, cottage and a walking distance to the community where stores and eateries are open.

Nov 24-25 - Mt Tarak, Mariveles, Bataan

It just measured 1,130 masl but I tell you this mountain is harsh. The climb was actually very challenging, the ascent was unexpectly difficult. I clambered through tree trunks and roots to push me up.