Cheonjaeyeon Falls

Jeju - This waterfall is not to be confused with the Cheonjiyeon waterfall (UNESCO), is a three-tier waterfall cold water flows out of the ceiling of a cave to make this waterfall.

Funny signature @ waterfall

First waterfall

There will only be waterfall here if there is heavy rain..

flowing water to the 2nd waterfall

2nd Waterfall

Seonimgyo Bridge

The Seonimgyo Bridge is an arch bridge that has 7 nymphs carved on the side and it connects Cheonjeyeon with the Jungmum Tourist Complex.

Donny on the Arch bridge

Ravine down below the bridge

Young Jin the guide extraordinaire

3rd waterfall

clear directional signs

It was a hike up and down to see the 3 waterfalls.  The weather was cool and fine making the hike bearable and fun.

Jeju famous women divers

Jeju - The women divers of Jeju are also called Haenyeo also affectionately called The Mermaids of Jeju.   Unlike fishermen who go out in boats or use a rod or line, these women dive in the ocean without any special tools to gather clams, abalone, or seaweed.

And they don’t go as fully equipped as scuba divers. All they need is a float to mark their location when they surface, a weeding hoe to dig up abalone and other shellfish that cling to the rocks, and a net to hold their catch. Wearing a lead-weighted vest and goggles, they plunge into the 20-meter depths where they stay underwater holding their breath for two or three minutes.

It's 3pm and women diver show is starting, I have to descend the stairs to the shore to watch this show.

4 women divers

A crowd had already gathered and the 4 women divers were singing Korean folks songs before they make their dive.

The diver put on the lead around her waist

walking towards the sea

Donny admiring the beautiful scenary

Seongeup Folk Village @ Jeju

Jeju - This was the partners conference tour and the first stop of this educational trip.   I had arranged for an English tour guide and she is humorous and entertain the delegates well.  

Located at the foot of Halla mountain, the culture of this small village was pass down from generation to generation.   I can see many grandfather statues (Harubang) around this pristine landscape.  

Harubang in the background

Entrance to the folk village

Residential homes 

Anh amongst the canola plants

Canola oil comes from the crushed seeds of the canola plant. Each canola plant grows from 3 to 6 feet (1 m -2 m) tall and produces beautiful yellow flowers. As the plant matures, pods form that are similar in shape to pea pods, but about 1/5th the size. Each pod contains about twenty tiny round black or brownish-yellow seeds.

Once harvested, canola seeds are taken to a facility where they are crushed to extract the oil contained within the seed. This oil is then further refined and bottled as canola oil.

Beautiful canola flowers

Another ancient home

Yongmeori Beach - UNESCO

Jeju - Yongmeori means 'Dragon head' because of the resemblance to a dragon wading out the sea. Walk past the narrow passageway to the sea to find a rock wall of sandstone layers formed tens of millions of years ago. The coast offers great walking areas and splendid landscapes created from persistent waves.

I just marvel at the works of nature; it was as if God left his beautiful crafted work on the cliff walls.

woman diver selling her catch

We decided to stop at one of the Ajumma meaning 'auntie' selling her seafood.  It was an experience watching her wash, clean and serve the fresh seafood.   We ordered one plate from her at W20,000 + W3,000 for the soju.  

pails of freshly caught sea creatures

This Ajumma was preparing our plate of fresh seafood - sea squirt, sea cucumber and sea shell.  She cut opened the sea cucumber, and gave Donny the innards to eat from her hand.

many tourist

Jeju wet market

Jeju, South Korea - We were looking for dinner when we came across a wet market near our hotel.   There was a buzz as fishmongers were haggling with customers on the price.   Young Jin got the price down to W70,000 for 2 and 1/2 fishes.

Our fishes

A fish tank of fresh fishes

Sashimi of 3 fishes

Our dinner

The meat of the fishes was so delicious and fresh - it was a very good meal.   The fishmonger took our sashimi and walked us to a restaurant nearby where we can have our nice meal.   The fishmonger stall does have tables for diners, so maybe there is a agreement between the restaurant owner and the fishmongers.

We were charged W10,000 per table and it includes the spicy fish bone soup.   Soju and other dishes are separately charged.   The lettuce are provided by the fish mongers.  Water and cups are provided and it's self service.   A culinary system of a fine dining experience.

Alive Museum in Jeju

"To be bankrupt of character is the worst form of poverty in the world today"

Jeju - Anh and Young Jin brought me to one of Jeju popular attractions and it's called 'Alive Museum'   This is the 2nd 'trick art' museum to be built in Jeju and people get a kicked from posing in odd and weird positions.

Address: 42 Jungmungwangwang-ro, Seogwipo, Jeju-do 697-808, South Korea

The Alive Museum is divided into 5 sections, Trick Art, Object Art, Digital Art, Sculpture Art and Provence Art.   It is really nice to laugh at yourself or be a superhero for a day at the Museum.

The shocking one for me was when I thought I was looking at a mirror and there are no image of myself in it. It was scary but got Young Jin and Anh laughing their socks off.

Kimnyoung Maza Park

Jeju - It was my first time experiencing a hedge Maze Park.  This Maze Park is called Kimnyoung Maze Park and it is Asia's first.   The reception lady asked me where I was from and told me that a Singapore family was inside the Maze.

This Kimnyoung Maze is famous because many TV commercials and Korean drama was shot there.

Once we reached the Maze entrance, Young Jin sprinted away leaving me to find my way around this huge maze.   The objective is to exit the quickest and ring the bell.  So I walked around until I saw this Singaporean family and followed them to the exit.  Surprisingly, they were lost inside the maze for 2 hours.

Sangumburi Crater

Jeju - We drove to another crater - Sangumburi Crater. Entrance fee here is more expensive @ KW6,000. Sangumburi (산굼부리) is a crater with a circumference of over 2 km, and has been designated as a Natural Monument. It is located on the southeast side of Jeju-si, and is a flat crater, about 650 meters wide, 100 meters deep, and 2,070 meters in circumference. If you look at the crater from above up, it looks like a man-made circular stadium.

entrance

grass meadows everywhere

top of the crater

walk around the top of the crater

me amongst the tall grasses

Mt Seopjikoji

Jeju - Next we drove to Mt. Seopjikoji and it was the setting for many Korean dramas and the most famous was All-In.  A drama about gambling and the iconic church.

wind dried cuttlefish

'church' prop setting

There are no congregation but a movie prop set of a church.

Do you recognise any of the movies?

ancient signal stack

beautiful scenery

Lighthouse

Contemporary Art Museum

Another nice view