The Hidden side of Jeju

#throwback

As Salam...

Rasanya dah hampir 2 bulan aku meninggalkan Jeju Island tapi kenangan terindahnya sekali-sekali hadir mengusik jiwa... hahaha. 

Actually, otw back to Jeju Airport, we took a different route... route yang memang dalam perancangan aku pun sebab the only shortest & fastest route to get to Jeju Airport from Seongsan Ilchulbong. Mana tahu sepanjang perjalanan kami dihidang dengan view yang indah & adakalanya seakan-akan berada di alam khayalan. Rupanya, ada banyak lagi tempat menarik & unik on the other side of Jeju. Kalau ikutkan 3D2N bukan lah the best plan kalau nak ke Jeju. How about 5 days or 1 week? Lama pulak kan tapi itulah hakikatnya... kalau nak enjoy the beautiful Hawaii of Korea to the fullest.

Kincir Angin...  one of the source of energy kat Jeju Island ni. Aantara view menarik otw nak balik ke Jeju Airport... sanggup stop keter tepi jalan semata-mata nak snap gambo, kalau kat Malaysia memang rare lah view macam ni

View sepanjang jalan ni pun sangat cantik & awesome... like never ending route (pic taken while car moving)

Antara spot yang aku rasa menarik sebab pokok-pokok nya yang tinggi & unik... macam dalam set citer twilight movie pun ada (pic taken while car moving)

Till then, Nite... zzzz

Jeju Island Day 3: Seongsan Ilchulbong

Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Monday, 20 Oct 2014

Operating Hours:
Winter : 1 hour before sunrise - 20:00,
Summer : 1 hour before sunrise - 21:00
Closed: Not allowed to enter during bad weather

Entrance Fee: Adult 2,000 won (Group over 10: 1,200 won)

Seongsan Ilchulbong... our first agenda for today.


Facts...

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak rose from under the sea in a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago. Also known as Sunrise peak is new 7 wonders of nature. Located on the eastern end of Jejudo Island, there is a huge crater at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. The crater is about 600m in diameter and 90m high. With the 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater, it looks like a gigantic crown. While the southeast and north sides are cliffs, the northwest side is a verdant grassy hill that is connected to the Seongsan Village. (source)

Seongsan Ilchulbong from the air (source)
The Center is the Volcanic crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong

From Ilchulbong Tourist Hotel, it took us less than 5 minutes by car to reach the entrance to this 7 wonders of nature. Since, Seongsan Ilchulbong terkenal dengan the magnificinet view during the sunrise, so, the best time kalau nak datang ke sini confirmlah before sunrise. Kami bertolak just nice after Solat Suboh dari Hotel & langit masih gelap lagi masa kami sampai sini. Tapi otw nak naik tu pun dah ramai orang. Semua dengan tujuan & impian yang sama... nak catch the sunrise.

Kalau tengok dari atas memang sangat cantik Seongsan Ilchulbong ni. Tapi memang mustahil lah kami nak tengok dari atas kan, so, terpaksa lah aku acknowledge image dari wikipedia ni (pic above) nak tunjuk actual view volcanic crater of Seongsan Ilchulbong from the air yang dikatakan muncul dari bawah laut akibat letupan gunung berapi kira-kira 100,000 tahun yang lalu.

 

Seongsan Ilchulbong sunrise viewpoint

From main entrance nak sampai ke puncak Seongsan Ilchulbong ni bukan lah semudah yang disangkakan. Kena lah merasa azab naik tangga yang agak steep sikit. Eventho, aku dah biasa hiking tapi aku tak berapa nak suka part naik tangga ni. Sebab aku rasa penat dia lain macam sikit compare to normal hiking trail yang steep. Anyway, the trail heading to top is well marked and well maintained, so, don't worry. Alhamdulillah, I took about 40 minutes to walk up which is not that bad considering a few stops along the trail. Trekking from the main entrance to the top will take you approximately, 30min to 1 hour but still depends on individual stamina too.

The sunrise from the crater is magnificent

Subhanallah...

Sunrise agak lewat sikit. Anyway, Alhamdulillah, sempat juga kami catch the sunrise moment eventho not the perfect one. Maybe sebab awan agak tebal pagi tu, cahaya matahari pun agak terhalang. Tapi memang takde aktiviti yang menarik pun di atas ni selain menyaksikan sunrise & melihat keindahan Jeju from top. Tempat nak view sunrise ni agak luas & panjang tapi akan jadi limited bila peak hours macam nak tengok sunrise ni sebab orang terlalu ramai. Masa kami sampai pun dah penuh dengan orang & jalan nak masuk ke sini pun sesak, masing-masing pun berebut nak dapat seat & angle yang best, huh.

Viewpoint on the other side

After spend about 1 hour on top of Seongsan Ilchulbong , kami pun turun semula. Laluan nak turun tak sama dengan laluan nak naik, so, sila follow the right direction. Tangga dia agak steep, so, please be careful. Otw nak turun dari puncak ke bawah, view memang sangat awesome.So, take your time & enjoy the view.

Nak turun juga kena guna tangga macam nak naik

Laluan nak turun tak sama dengan laluan nak naik

Bayangkan tangga macam ni jugalah yang kami gunakan untuk naik ke puncak Ilchulbong

Spectacular view of Jeju Island from top of Sunrise peak

Sambil turun sambil menikmati keindaham Jeju Island

Half way down view

Perfect view from top

Laluan turun & naik

If time permits, you could also catch the Jeju Woman Diver (a.k.a Haenyo) in action on your way down from Seongsan Ilchulbong. Masa ni, show masih belum buka lagi, too early. Kalau kami nak tunggu performance "Haenyo" ni, confirm tak sempat lah sebab flight kami 12.30pm & estimated time dari Ilchulbong nak ke Airport about 1 hour. Actually, boleh sampai lagi cepat kalau tak banyak speed trap. Kalau ikutkan, women diver ni salah satu benda yang aku nak tengok sangat kat Jeju tapi apa kan daya masa yang terhad & perjalanan yang jauh dari satu destinasi ke satu destinasi lain, menyekat keinginan itu. I wish I could do on my next trip, hehehe, berangan dulu.

Ada laluan ke bawah untuk menyaksikan Women diver performance show

Special place for women diver or "Haenyo" performance

Pemandangan otw nak turun memang sangat layan

Semakin jauh meninggalkan sunrise peak

A must see place in Jeju

Trail menuju Seongsan Ilchulbong

We ended the tour around 8am. We returned to Hotel, breakfast & packed up for preparation back to Seoul. Lepas ni destinasi kami ke Airport Jeju. Sebelum tu, kami kena pulangkan kereta sewa kat KT Kumho dulu. And from there, kami akan naik bas yang dah disediakan KT Kumho untuk ke Jeju Airport.

Emmhhh... sedihnya, rasa macam baru semalam jer sampai sini, hari ni dah nak ke balik kan. Rasanya macam tak puas lagi nak menikmati keindahan Jeju to the fullest. Masih banyak lagi tempat yang aku missed nak pergi disebabkan kami tak cukup masa, so, priority to tempat-tempat yang wajib. InsyAllah, jika ada rezeki, pasti aku akan ke sini lagi.

To be continued...

Jeju Island Day 2: Jusangjeolli Cliff

Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do South Korea
Sunday, 19 Oct 2014 


Operating Hours: 08:00 - 19:00 (Nov - Feb 08:00 - 18:00)
Entrance Fee: Adult 2,000 won (Group 1,600 won)

After Hallasan, kami meneruskan perjalanan ke destinasi seterusnya, Jusangjeolli Cliff. Lokasi Yeongsil Trail Hallasan tak jauh pun dari Jusangjeolli cliff ni. Adalah lebih kurang half an hour drive. Actually, before kami sampai ke sini, kami ke menghala ke tempat lain dulu sebab follow exactly our GPS direction. Memandangkan masa kami sampai tu, tempatnya agak meragukan, so, kami minta pertolongan sorang Unni ni yang kebetulan sedang berjalan ke arah parking tempat kami. Mula-mula tu, macam biasalah, masalah komunikasi tapi lepas tu dia pun cakap yang dia boleh tolong set kan GPS kami ke route yang betul sebab tak jauh pun dari tempat yang kami sesat tu. Yes, itulah yang kami harapkan sebab our GPS was in Korea… hahaha. Problem settled.

Alhamdulillah, kami sampai akhirnya berkat pertolongan Korean people yang sangat baik hati. Thanks Unni.

Waktu kami sampai sini, memang orang sangat ramai & tempat nak tengok Jusangjeoli ni pun limited. Maybe sebab hari ni weekend sebab tu too many visitors. Cuaca pun sangat panas masa ni. Kami pun tak spend lama sebab itu saja daya tarikan yang ada kat sini. Anyway, view memang sangat cantik. And to me, this is rare & not many places you could see this spectacular rock formation. So, if you come to Jeju, don't forget to include this as part of your tour.

The Jusangjeolli was formed when the lava from Mt.Hallasan erupted into the sea of Jungmun

Spectacular rock formation at Jusangjeolli Cliff

The Jusangjeolli is a spectacular volcanic rock formation at the southern coast of Jeju Island, South Korea. It is similar to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The Jusangjeolli was formed when the lava from Mt.Hallasan erupted into the sea of Jungmun. They are rock pillars shaped like cubes or hexagons of various size.

Awesome view of Jusangjeolli Cliff

The other side of Jusangjeolli Cliff

Around 4pm, kami mula bertolak menuju ke our next destinasion, Ilchulbong Tourist Hotel. Perjalanan sekitar 1 jam dari Jusangjeolli Cliff to Ilchulbong Hotel. Plan awalnya kami nak singgah ke Seopjikoji yang terletak tak jauh dari Ilchulbong tapi memandang masa kami sampai Ilchulbong dah pukul 5ptg, rasanya macam dah lambat sangat nak singgah lagipun kami nak check-in & solat dulu. Sudahnya, kami tak pergi pun. 

To be continued...

Jeju Island Day 2: Spectacular Hallasan

Mt Halla, Jeju-do, South Korea
Sunday,19 October 2014


Parking Fee: 1,800 Won
Hiking Trail: Yeongsil
Estimated Time: 5hrs round trip
Contact No: (064) 747 9950

Fee Information --> Here

Trail Access Limit --> Here

Hiking to Hallasan is highlight to my trip to Jeju. Why I say so? Sebab aku rasa macam tak sah trip aku ke Jeju kalau tak ke Hallasan. Lagi pun, I’m hiker & I love nature, so, I should include this as part of my trip to Jeju. Pada mulanya, plan aku nak ke Hallasan mendapat tentangan member GGK yang lain terutama sekali pengerusi majlis, katanya “… ko ni tak sah kan kalau tak pergi memanjat…blah blah blah”… hahaha. Tapi ada aku kisah, kalau aku yang susun itinerary, confirm aku akan buat ikut kesukaan aku. Tapi aku buat pun ikut kemampuan ahli lain juga... lebih-lebih lagi Cik Gojes. Tak nak lah nanti orang cakap aku ni selfish kan. Walaupun aku ni dah banyak panjat gunung tapi aku nak juga try panjat gunung kat Negara lain pulak. And to me, kalau ke Jeju, tak sah kalau tak ke Hallasan if you’re nature lovers & hikers. Trust me, Hallasan is beauty beyond description.

Mt Hallasan is one of the three “Soul Mountains” in Korea, is located in the southernmost tip of the Korean Peninsula, and is the highest mountain in South Korea with the height of 1,950m ASL. Hallasan has 7 main trails that range from easy-breezy (Seokgulam Trail) to more challenging (Seongpanak Trail). We hiked thru Yeongsil Trail after dah buat survey based on timing, energy & kemampuan ahli-ahli. In addition, Yeongsil Trail is the most recommended trail because it is easier than other trail and has beautiful scenic view. And this trail will not go to summit, but worth hiking. Ada dua trail saja yang akan bawa ke summit, which is Seongpanak Trail & Gwaneumsa Trail but this two trail will take one day hike. InsyAllah, next time ke Jeju, maybe boleh cuba either of this two. 

Yeongsil Trail is located on the Northwest of Mt. Hallasan and accessible from Highway 1139 (also known as the 1100 road). Note that the trail has two levels of parking lots and the second higher lot is at the trail head. There is a bus stop at the lower parking lot. But, if you come with car, is better to park at the second parking lot.

Parking Area.... sila datang awal untuk mengelakkan kena parking jauh

Kami bermula seawal 7.00 pagi selepas bertolak selepas suboh dari hotel Jeju Hiking Inn. Perjalanan dari Hotel nak ke starting point Yeongsil, lebih kurang 1 jam juga.

Ada Convenient Store di permulaan trail

Entrance to Yeongsil Trail

Actually, aku saja pilih train ni memandangkan kami nak jimatkan masa, so that, kami boleh plan untuk ke tempat lain juga after hiking to other nearest attraction. Kalau aku choose trail yang nak ke peak, mahu jeju trip aku panjat Hallasan sajalah, hahaha. Anyway, make sure to bring plenty of water, snacks & energy foods along.

Trail thru Yoengsil will take you approximately 5 hrs round trip. Tapi, memandangkan this is our first time hiking to Hallasan confirm lah takkan 5 hrs kan. Maybe, bolah buat kalau hiking saja tanpa stop & amik gambo. Tapi kami ni pelancong, confirmlah takkan nak suka-suka panjat tanpa menikmati keindahan alam semesta kan. Lagilah, dah masuk autumn season ni, trail view memang sangat cantik. Rugi rasanya panjat tapi tak abadikan apa-apa. Tapi aku rasa kalau Nov, view mesti lagi awesome. Alhamdulillah, cuaca memang sangat cerah & cantik. Sesuai sangat untuk photography. 

Beginning of Yeongsil Trail

The beautiful Yeongsil Trail

Breathtaking view thru Yeongsil Trail

Our target is up to Witseoreum Shelter but we hiked up to Witsojogeunoreum

Leisure Trail thru Yeongsil

Leisure trail sambil menikmati keindahan

Tapi aku memang respect orang-orang veteran kat Korea ni. Memang hiking ni makanan dia orang agaknya kan. Cool jer panjat macam orang muda punya energy. Jangan terkejut kalau sepanjang korang hike kat sini memang penuh dengan ahjumma & ahjussi saja. Memang ada orang muda tapi tak ramai.

Semangat Ahjussi ni angkut anak dia skali

 

Trail heading to Witsoreum Shelter

Awesome view from Yeongsil Trail, Hallasan

Blom sampai peak lagi tapi view kat belakang tu superb

Semakin ramai hikers veteran yang sampai

GGK Tak cukup korum

Hallabong... a gift from kind Ahjussi

Really enjoyed the hike

Excited ahjussi & ahjuma ajak bergambo

View bila hampir ke puncak

Hike leisurely along the ridge

We're almost to the top

Cuaca makin panas tapi kami teruskan juga

Actually, aku, Fad, Kay & Hani saja yang sampai kat atas ni. Adeq & Bai yang paling laju naik pun dah mula turun sebab tak nak teruskan. So, basically, mereka tak sempat lah nak menikmati view yang lagi cantik kat atas tu. Fida menyusul selepas kami dah mula nak gerak turun ke bawah. Tapi dia masih sempat lagi catch view yang cantik kat atas tu. Bagi aku, kami dah gerak sejauh ni, why not teruskan saja lagipun aku masih tak puas hati lagi sebab tak nampak view yang aku idamkan.

Yang paling best perjalanan menjadi seronok disebabkan keramahan korean people during hiking up & down. Boleh kata kan setiap checkpoint kami akan disapa & beramah mesra. Walaupun berbeza pemahaman, bahasa bukan lah penghalang, hehehe. Aku ingat lagi bagaimana veteran korean couple yang sangat ramah berbual mesra dengan kami, padahal kami lansung satu apa pun tak faham, ya kan ajelah. Ada juga yang baik hati offer kami Hallabong. And tak kurang juga yang kasi semangat… aja-aja.

Ada laluan berbatu juga

 

Awesome view of trees

Trail Heading to Witseoreum

Breathtaking view saat kami keluar melangkah from above trail

Subhanallah

Finally after 3hrs hiking + Bargambo

Detour to Witsojogeunoreum or proceed to last station Witseoreum Shelter

We choose up to Witsojogeunoreum

Batu-batu hasil letupan gunung berapi

Ada juga yang trekking up to Witsaeoreum Shelter along Yeonsil trail then go down along by Eorimok trail. And these 2 trails do not go to the summit, but worth hiking. Tapi confirmlah kami takkan turun follow trail lain sebab kami park kat Yeongsil. 

Witsojogeunoreum... viewpoint to see Jeju & Summit, Baengnokdam

Alhamdulillah, we made it up to this point

Sweet memories on top of Hallasan

Rasa tak puas nak bergambo tapi apakan daya, we're running out of time

We returned on the same route

 

Kalau korang peminat Korean drama series, mesti pernah tengok cerita My Lovely Samsoon kan. Citer zaman aku masih belajar lagi ni. Actually, ade satu scene dalam tu i.e. Samson panjat Hallasan bawa diri selepas merajuk dengan Sam-Sik (Hyun Bin). Tapi disebabkan nak buktikan cinta dia kat Samson, Boyfren dia ni sanggup cari Samson sampai ke sini & panjat juga sebab dia pernah janji nak panjat sekali. Tapi masa ni, tengah hujan, so, tak nampak lah true beauty of Hallasan. Trail scene ni bukan lah di Yeongsil because Sam-soon took the Seongpanak trail (trail yang akan bawa ke summit), which takes nine hours round trip. Anyway, memang sweet lah moment tu. Kalau lah ada yang willing to do the same thing, hehehe. 

Pagi tadi still cloudy tapi otw balik cuaca cerah, so, the true colors of the trees can be seen

Trail that we follow this morning

The color has changed

View yang awesome ni hanya hiking thru the Yeongsil trail in autumn

Trail balik pun mempesonakan

We ended the hiking trip around 1pm. We returned on the same trail. Actually, my target is up to Witseoreum Shelter but due to time constraint we hiked up to Witsojogeunoreum. Ni semua sebab lupa diri bergamba, hahaha. Overall, I really enjoyed the hike.

Kalau diberi pilihan, bagi aku lah, daripada ke Museum or Waterfall, lebih baik panjat Hallasan. Tapi itu ikut pilihan hati masing-masing lah. Kita ni rambut je sama hitam tapi hati lain-lain. So, decide based on your interest. And prepare earlier, if you plan to hike. Trail dekat Hallasan ni saja ada 7 & lokasi pun berbeza, so, kena decide lah nak follow trail yang mana. If you have a plenty of time, try lah trail yang panjang & menuju puncak.

Alhamdulillah... segalanya Indah di Hallasan today.


To be continued...