Everyone kept asking me what I was planning to do in Jeju, but I'm the worst at making plans, I kind of loathe them actually. Whenever I have something planned for the day I wake up regretting doing so, although on the other hand, when I wake up with no plans I feel listless and sometimes end up wasting half my day. I know I'm a walking contradiction, but I've found that the best case scenario is to have a plan for myself, thereby affecting no one if I do decide to cancel. Jeju island offers a phenomenal option for such a type of plans, the Olle hiking trails are open year round, require little to no preplanning or reservation and reward those that visit with a day filled with sightseeing, exercise and if you so choose, good food.
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Living on Jeju Island I didn't expect to be taking day trip to other islands, but the opportunity to do so is more than you may think. Earlier this spring I went with a few friends to Biyangdo, an island off the west coast of Jeju, and last weekend I checked another island off my list, Gapado. On the southwest corner of Jeju Island there are two more small islands which are open for tourism. Gapado and Marado are visible from the coast, and can be reached by a quick 15 minute ferry ride. I've been told to visit Gapado in the spring to see the fields of green barley so last weekend we finally made the decision to go.
This post should have been done ages ago, but thanks to a forgetful brain, it was put on hold for a while. I was originally invited to complete Olle course 12 in early November with two of my hiking pals, and while I did so, I left my Olle passport at home which meant I'd have to go back and do it again. I knew I had plenty of time for such, so I wasn't too bothered to do it without the record and anyway, I thoroughly enjoy the company of these two - not to mention the good food we always track down after walking all day. Course 12 is on the west coast of Jeju Island, a region I have rarely explored, so I was excited to see some new scenery.
The majority of my experience walking Olle trails has been a solo venture. The trails have always been a place for me to clear my mind, absorb and appreciate the beauty of Jeju, stretch my legs, and disassociate from being an adult. Recently though I've developed friendships with a few lovely individuals who share my passion of nature and happen to enjoy my company. The trails have allowed us to disconnect from work and technology, instead filling our time with conversation and contemplating what's next in these lives which hold so many choices and opportunities ahead of us. I was able to fit in a few trails on the warm days of December, before temperatures dropped and snow dotted the island.
This post should have been written a good 2 months ago, but apparently my motivation to write went into hibernation over the winter. With sporadic daily highs in the 50's and sunny blue skies I can feel a tingling of my old habit to share, and there is a lot to catch up on. We'll start with the obvious - a new olle trail, good food, and preview of the boy who keeps me well fed and taken care of.
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AsiaKoreaWhere to start. After living on and off in this country for nearly 10 years I have memories, experiences and stories galore. I'll now always be a bit partial to the Land of the Morning Calm. Filled with delicious foods, beautiful nature and friendly people, I'm always happy to return. Archives
June 2023
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