Everyday Im Travelling: Korea - Jeju : Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) + Seongeup Folk Village

Korea trip Oct 2013

I have crazed over kpop since 2 years ago and my favourite kpop band is 2NE1. I wanted to go Korea during cherry blossom period but autumn leave foilage period seems awesome too!

Please want to go to Korea Tourism Organisation to get all the brochures you need to know all about Korea!! Very useful and free lol!

Sunrise above the clouds

After 6 hours, we finally reached Incheon Airport!

While waiting for our next flight to Jeju, we found this Hanok-like (Korean traditional houses) viewing gallery where you could watch planes take off, land and park while sip coffee. If you are lucky, you will get to see music performance by their pretty ladies in Hanbok (Korean traditional dresses).

After first two pieces (that I have not heard before), I whispered to bf, "How I wish they play something that I know, like Color of the Winds" my favourite!" Then next moment, color of the winds tune started playing. My jaw dropped till the floor! This started my Korea trip with a blink of happiness!

Location :(Public Area) 4F

First dinner meal in Jeju

Typical restaurant set up

Dumplings soup + rice cake (Mandu guk in korean). This is a must-eat-dish during their new year morning. It symbolises age one year older, money and prosperity.

First day not much itinerary as it was quite late when we reached Jeju.

There is CASINO in the hotel, can you believe it? They even give hotel guests a head start by giving complimentary first 5,000 won. Tempting, huh?

The room was quite spacous. The only complaint was that the "shower area" (not partition between the toilet bowl nor the basin and also same floor level with the outside) was just next to the door. When you shower, you have to be careful, otherwise, not only you will flood the bathroom, you also will flood the living room. Ok, maybe its just my room...

Jeju Grand Hotel

Address: 80, Noyeon-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Next morning..

view outside the restaurant

Jeonbokjuk = Abalone porridge. I love the texture of korean porridge. My favourite kind.

While on the way to the our first stop, our tour guide told us a little history about Jeju.

Jeju Island is known as "Island of Gods" where you will also see alot of dol hareubang ("stone grandfather"), large mushroom-like statues made from volcanic rocks, all around the island. Dol Hareubang are considered as Gods that offer both protection and fertility. They are placed normally outside the house.

If you touch their:

- eyes, you want a boy baby

- nose, you want a girl baby

- both eyes at the same time, you want a phoenix twin

- stomach, you wish for a fortune

I touched both eyes and stomach.. ^.^

It is a popular honeymoon destination for Korean newly weds and many couples (including foreigners) have their wedding shots there as well.

This was our itinerary for Jeju Island.

Star: Jeju Grand Hotel

A: Jeju International Airport

B: Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)

C: Seongeup Folk Village

D: Cheonjeyeon Falls

E: Jusangjeolli Cliff

F: Teddy Bear Museum

G: Nanta show

H: Mysterious Road

I: Yongduam Rock

Do you know that Jeju also has a nickname - Korea's Hawaii? The weather is slightly higher than in Seoul but the winds is stronger, hence, the island is wind power generated. You can see many wind turbines around the island.

Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) - UNESCO World Heritage

Seongsan Ilchulbong is the first Korea's UNESCO Natural World Heritage site.

Jeju Island is also on the list of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!

The ridge provides an ideal spot for walks and for horse riding. Can you spot the horses?

Here starts the climbing..

Although the peak does not look as tall, but it is very steep! I took a few breaks in between before I managed to reach the top. I need to train more..

Doesnt this look like a dog's side view?

The view while I taking a break..

At the bottom of the peak, its a verdant grassy hill that is connected to the Seongsan Village.

I am too near to take full picture.

This tuff cone shaped Seongsan Ilchulbong rose from the shallow seabed after volcanic eruption under the sea 5,000 years ago and now is a grassy crater.

Seongsan Ilchulbong is a perfect spot to catch sunrise. That is why it earns the name "Sunrise Peak".

It looks v peaceful now like a small village can start here by herding sheeps.. I would want to live there... I mean you could enjoy beautiful sunrise every morning, this kind of morning could not be anymore better.

A "I am here" picture. lol

Now have to get down..

Actually going down is even harder than climbing. *hold on to the railing firmly*

Dol Hareubang souvenir you could bring home.

Credit to The Korea Times

Seongsan Ilchulbong is now one of the hottest attractions in Jeju.

Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)

Address: Seongsan-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Admission fee: 2,000 won

Seongeup Folk Village

Jeju Island has 3 many : girls, winds and stone grandfather

Jeju Island has 3 none: no thief, no beggar and no door

Villagers' houses have no doors. They only have 3 poles as picture below. 1st pole = parents and children not in and will be back in an hour. 2nd pole = only children in. 3rd pole = parents and children not in and will be out for a long time. If all poles are down, means you are most welcome to come in.

Their typical houses are built with volcanic rocks and will not collapsed easily.

If you watched Korean drama 大长今, one time she was sent to Jeju and this was where they had the drama filmed.

Korea black pig

Left hand higher one refers to civil servant (文官) and right hand higher one refers to military officers (武官). Both hands same level refers to civilian (平民)