South Korea: Jeju - Day Trip Destination 5&6: SeongSan llchulbong Peak & Manjanggul Lava Tube

The next attraction nameed SeongSan llchulbong Peak （成山日出峯）. In Chinese, its bring the meaning of sunrise, however i'm not sure if this is the place for sunrise, because we came for the free Jeju Woman Diver Perfomance. 

Here is the name of the place. 

free woman diver performance twice a day. 

Its not easy to find something free in Jeju, and that is the reason why i tried so hard to rush for the free performance. 

But, yea, everything come with a BUT.

You have to pay 2000kw (about RM6) for the SeongSan llchulbong Peak, the UNESCO's world natural heritage entrance fees.

As you can see from the above picture, there are 2 performances per day, we catch up the 130pm one, right after we have seafood lunch nearby. 

The place where women diver dive for seafood

Very clean water

“Until the 19th century, diving was mostly done by men. The job became unprofitable for men since they had to pay heavy taxes, unlike women who did not. Women took over the diving (which was considered the lowest of jobs) and, because of the great dependence on sea products in most places on Jeju, became the main breadwinners. 

It could also be said that women simply were more adapted for the job, with their bodies keeping them warmer and being more suited to swimming than a male, with more body fat. With that, they often became "the head" of their family. 

Haenyo are skilled divers who are known to be able to hold their breath for almost two minutes and dive to depths of 20 meters. The divers must also contend with other dangers such as jellyfish, and sharks

Starting from the late 1970s, exports of sea products to Japan such as abalone and conch have made the sea women richer than ever, allowing them to fix their houses, build new ones in Jeju City and send their daughters to college. 

However, there is a threat to the haenyo's continued success: with their daughters choosing to work in the island's tourism ndustry or in the big cities, the haenyo will most likely disappear. While in 1950 there were as many as 30,000 haenyo on the island, in 2003 there were only 5,650 sea women registered as divers, of whom 85% were over 50 years old.”

Cited from Wikipedia, for those who interested on the detail, ask google.

Because i busy posting photos :D 

Visitors can stand close and see how they dive

Low temperature that day but Jeju women doesn't take it as a matter.

They sings before goin down to the water.

Some catch in the shore, but some swim out. 

Like she did

My mates cant take their eye on the performance. I mean, the seafood. 

If you're not interested in women diver performance, you can spend 2 hours to walk uphill. 

We did, but just half way because running out of time and soooooooo damn strong wind!

Emo-ing the Kuan. 

John the photographer. 

Stall selling warm drink and light food. 

We spent about 2 hours in the places, and then we go for the final destination, which i regretted i did.

Of course i'm not saying this place is not worth to see, but if you have no interest about lava tube, you can actually skip Manjanggul Lava Tube （万丈窑） and save more time to other places.

In fact, Manjanggul Lava Tube is the world's finest lava tube, and its designed natural monument, very great creation of the natural.

But, we have no interest. Haha.

The admission fees is 2000kw per person (about RM6), only 1km of the tube open to public, you can see a lot of animal-alike stone in the tube, of course with you imagination.

I forced to post Kuan's photo but this is the only photo with the signboard. 

The entrance is quit scary. 

But it is safe. 

The beginning part of the tube, with a little sunlight. 

And later you only got the spotlight. 

We left to Jeju-Si after the visit the lava tube, there end of our day trip.

But! as i say, everything come with a but!

This is not the end of Jeju post yet, i will post another blog about a super duper sibeh yummy chicken shop that John and I discover in the middle of the night, i like the boss and the food, so i decided to make a special post for them!

Oh yea, for those photos that without my Rach, all copyrights under John, Elaine and Kuan. 

Sekalian, terima kasih. 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20120730, 0952pm

Rach in neck pain mood.

South Korea: Jeju - Day Trip Destination 3&4: Seopjikoji & Super Fresh Seafood Lunch

Seopjikoji (涉地可支) is not in our plan, but Simmy strongly recommend us to visit the place, and this is not too far from the Jeongbang waterfall (well i just guess, i don't even read the map, haha).

And the place is surprise us very much, very beautiful place, like we're appear in the korea drama. 

But in fact, this is the place that appear in several famous korea dramas, especially the church. 

Oh yea, visit the cliff and walk way is free, but if you wanna enter the church, you gotta pay. You can actually save the money unless you're korea drama fans and wanted to see the church that appear in the particular drama. 

But outdoor is good enough, check out the photos below.

thanks for the great weather to make the photo so beautiful 

the sea, unbelievable blue. 

Horse riding available, of course with a fee.  

4 of them

this is the church.

flower in the another side. 

me and elaine.

fatty macam yes, haha. 

We only spent less than 1 hour in that place, because we gotta rush to the women diver show (detail in next post) in 1.30pm after our lunch.

I told the driver we would like to have seafood lunch and let him bring us to the local one. He then fetch us to a place near Seongsan Sunrise Peak, where the free women diver show is. 

The restaurant located in a seafood street, i believe most of the tourist will have their lunch in this street, but when we're goin to the place during lunch hour, we don't see foreigner except us, i consider this is the local shop. 

And the food turn out to be VERY NICE, probably because of the fresh catch seafood. 

I forgotten to take down the photo of the restaurant, and the place is so un-noticeable even it is located in the seafood street.

But what i found is the picture that Elaina take photo with the menu, but i'm not sure if the Korean word on the is "Menu" or the name of restaurant thought, hahahahahaha.  

Download the picture and zoom in the menu to see the word, hope that is the restaurant name but not "Menu", haha. 

We order a seafood pot with not spicy seafood soup, because Kuan and Elaine couldn't take too spicy, but trust me, fresh seafood is good with clear soup rather than spicy soup, you can taste the seafood better.

The seafood pot with RAW abalone, squid, fish, prawn, glass noodle and A LOT OF VEGETABLE! That is the portion of 4.

Then we order a seafood pancake and abalone porridge, a very yummylicious lunch!

The seafood pot, and the abalone is so damn fresh, still dancing when they're lying on the pot. 

As i said the seafood is unbelievable fresh, i really would like to try the shasimi but consider the other people so i didn't.

If you wonder how fresh is the abalone, I took a short video, see it by yourself.


                                            

Big portion seafood pancake!

Abalone porridge, average,

Not to forget a table of kimchi. 

I do not remember how much is this lunch cost, but i budgeted RM50 per meal per people, so RM250 (equal to 80000kw) is more than enough to pay the meal.

Elaine got the menu content snap down, you can take a look and plan for your meal budget.

Friendly remind, eating in korea is NOT CHEAP AT ALL, so pre-plan your budget or you'll starve in Korea.

Next will be women diver show, i will story a little bit in the post. So come back soon to check if i've update any, if i don't, CLICK MY ADVERTISEMENT la! freaking poor :(

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

20120714, 0940am
Rach in back to office for seminar mood.

South Korea: Jeju - Day Trip Destination 2: Jeongbang Waterfall

JeongBang Falls in Chinese called 正房瀑布, is the only waterfall that falling in to sea in Asia.  

Except this, I don't know much on the story of this falls, haha. But as we pay 2000kw (about RM6) each to visit the falls, my breath is taken away, thanks to the great weather. Recommend you to put this falls into your schedule when you're visiting jeju, if you dont have much time, cut down teddy bear museum and make this falls in, haha.

To recap, we rent a mini van and driver for one day trip to visit jeju attractions that mainly based in Seogwipo, detail please look into the last 2 posts.

I found out a video clip that taken in the mini van when we are on the way to the falls by John, take a look on the van and the surrounding la~ 

                                     

Jeongbang waterfalls is not the only fall in Jeju, there are 3 famous falls but due to limited time so we choose the famous one. But i heard CHeongjiyeon waterfall is stunning too, if i can choose again, i will definitely skip the museum and visit the other 2 falls.

The driver drop us in the ticketing counter and you've to walk down the stair to see the falls. This is very develop tourist side with souvenir shop and food stalls around, stair to the falls is not too difficult to walk for the elder too. 

What catch my eyes the most is people selling fresh seafood on the rocks nearby the sea, you cant imagine how? lets see the photos below :D  

The ticketing counter (Copyright under John)

Seeing from the top, breath taking!

Deep blue sea and light blue sky. The waterfall no longer the focus here. 

This is what i'm saying people selling fresh seafood on the rock. 

Go nearer, they sell sashimi, eat it raw

Lots of people buying although its slightly expensive

the cooking fire, like camping

Sea cucumber and abalone. 

People buy it and eat under the sun with the beautiful background and breeze.

the falls falling into sea.

water is clean and clear.

My travelmates. :)

5 of us

John and I, the 2nd country that we step in together, Korea. 

Next will be a short one too, a beautiful church that we visit and super duper fresh seafood lunch coming up, stay tuned.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120703, 1108am
Rach in very sleepy mood.