Last year in late May, I went to Jeju Island not as an eager, excited tourist, but as an invitee who knew that a chance of a lifetime had landed in my lap and I must go. I’ve intended to share a few of my pictures ever since. I enjoy flying and made the most of my window seat for the 70-minute flight from Seoul to Jeju. I was happy to be with Teresa, a nature-lover and hiker like myself, the same who took me trekking in January 2022 .
For the duration of the four-day trip, I never knew what would happen next as Teresa and her friend were decades older than I and spoke Korean quickly and in a dialect. Two nights and one day in a small house surrounded by vast tangerine orchards was eerily quiet and spending the last night with another acquaintance in town was a relief. Both times, a thin mat on the floor sufficed for a bed. I remember walking down the roads among orchards, hoping that perhaps I would find a convenience store—I needed coffee of some kind. No luck, just tangerine orchards and quiet houses. Forty-eight hours into the trip I finally managed to buy some Kanu instant coffee packets (Maxim is not my favorite).
I couldn’t figure out if our hostess was a relative or a friend, but she was certainly the most lively seventy-year-old I’ve ever met. The only English word I heard her use was “hello”, and that’s how she got my attention. I was certainly the first American to stay in her home and she immensely enjoyed it. Her kindness touched me.
I couldn’t stand upright at the kitchen or bathroom sink (the extendable nozzle of which doubled as a shower—I was used to that but not the low ceiling). And yet the absurdity of it all is delightfully memorable.
An unexpected treat was the opportunity to hike Hallasan Mountain (한라산), a shield volcano in the center of the island. Our host said it was easy and she’d just done it the day before and she’d drive us to a trailhead. We couldn’t refuse.
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And the volcano itself. . . .
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One of my favorite ways to eat:
And then came coastal exploration:
My experience of Jeju Island was unique. As lonely as it was, I simultaneously appreciated the privilege of staying in a small country house and wandering the narrow, wall-edged roads. Just as I could physically lean into the incredibly strong wind at the top of Hallasan Mountain, I found I could lean into the beauty of the island, and turn my thoughts to God. Jeju Island is a gem, a special part of Korea.
감사합니다. I've been waiting for this story. 사진이 참 멋지네요! You were blessed to have such wonderful company. 당신의 친구들은 특별한 여성입니다. I can spend hours by myself looking at nature, but when I was your age I loved being around other people, especially those close to my age. Now I love hanging out with younger folks.