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.