Jeju Island . . . Whoosh!!!

Saturday October 7^th, 2006

For some reason I wasn’t very excited about visiting this island that all the Koreans and foreigners I’d met had raved about. Rather than looking forward to it, I felt drained at the thought of 4 days away from my apartment – not a general attitude for me about traveling. Perhaps the amount I’ve been doing the past few years really is taking its toll on me. I tried to disregard this though and not let on how I was really feeling about the prospect of this trip we were forking out so much money for. The plane trip was somewhat interesting – I could see the waves in the azure water below that looked like little ripples – somewhat reminiscent of Mr.Noodles actually (hmm, can’t help but think of Daniel). Then upon boarding the bus to take us to our hotel my attitude did more than an about face! Perusing the shiny new guide book we’d picked up at the Tourist Info and gazing out my window at the fields of Eulalia, the stone fenced burial mounds and the mountains in the distance and the bright blue sky I felt excited, elated, ready for new sights and experiences.

We entered the hotel (which I’d book with my first name – nothing else) and were shown to our room. I knew that Koreans often slept on mats on the floor and thought I had reserved a room with one western double bed and a floor mat. Upon entering however, we saw a bureau, a desk, and a television with a mini-fridge underneath. That’s it – no bed, no mat – just an empty floor. At this point I was rather glad I’d had the foresight to request seeing the room before handing over our moolah. We tried to explain our concerns to the receptionist and after a few minutes were shown a room with a double bed (for the exact same price oddly enough) and after a few more minutes and a phone call with the hotel owner we were able to request a mat for me as well. Success!

After taking a few minutes to settle in and orient ourselves on our guide map we were off! Destination Jeongbong Falls only about a fifteen walk away. Walking down the steep steps to the falls I could hear the gush and roar of the water, as I turned a bend a mist-filled breeze washed over me. There were large black rocks covering the shore that led to the falls (the first one I’ve seen that fell directly into the ocean). Clambering over them I made my way to the water and looked around before turning back to see if my parents had made it back. After taking a few minutes to shoot some pics of the scene and my mother I handed the camera over to her and went to get my own personal close up. The water was refreshingly cool as I made my way over the rocks and into the pool of water before the fall. (Thank you crocs!) Walking closer and closer I thrilled in the beauty and wonder as I let myself be soaked by the spray. I was tempted to go right in under the falls but >>sigh<<>

And, in retrospect, am glad I did. We headed up and away from the falls in the opposite direction we came – in search of a little more adventure. Using my newly developed ability to read Korean letters we found a sign that led to another fall that had a little mention on the map. On the way we came to a beautiful wooden little inn/restaurant and a tree covered stone path leading toward the cliffs. Mom and I couldn’t not explore this of course so we set off (amid warnings from Dad about the possibility of it being private property and not being where the falls were, etc.) The little jaunt was certainly worth our while though – coming out of the trees we were greeted with a beautiful view of the cliffs, and the last rays of the setting sun making their way beneath the ocean horizon.

Turning back (after snapping a photo with the island’s icon) we walked through the restaurant and down a wooden path that led out into the night. As we walked through the lush green life, shaded by the night’s encroaching darkness a roar of water that we though could not possibly be the ocean got louder and louder with each step. Following the sound we ventured down a log staircase that led to the ocean and . . . Whoo! Beauty. Such beauty. In a little alcove there it was –maybe a 10 foot tall by 12 feet wide waterfall that gushed with gusto. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Joy overtook me and I rushed off the steps and onto the smooth black stones, being sprayed by the fall, I slid, caught myself and laughed from a place deep inside. A place I hadn’t laughed from in awhile.