Friday 26 September 2014

TRIPPIN' VOL.2 (jeju island)

on wednesday spontaneous midnight 17 sept i purchased air ticket for korean largest island - jejudo. next afternoon - when lessons at uni had been over - i was sitting in little plane

that time, that place - 2nd trip commenced. and it lasted until 22 sept

wet and warm weather welcomed me in jejusi (the capital), that evening i just took bus to my first accomodation (another great airbnbers....but i have to learn basic korean for common convenience)

--trpday1
guy i slept with gave me a ride to manjanggul caves
it is 7km long lava tube underground naturally created with its diameter maximizing at 30m (!) - easy tunneling
this should give you idea of dimensions (although i have a shitty camera)

cold air and dripping water from above forced me back on the surface where i encountered a blue chap
let me present you local hareubang: it is moai-like statue made of basalt which symbolizes fertility and guards against evil devil, locals like to place them in front of their houses - later there is photo of more authentic one
telephone booth yes

i hitchhiked then, in car with four young guys i traveled to seongsan ilchulbong which is unesco heritage, it is volcanic peak on the coast, so many curious asians were rushing up the stairs to see crater on top

personally, i actually laugh aloud when i saw it, just hole on the hilltop......
koreans, they take so many photos, selfies! it is crazy, they even keep with themselves telescopic selfie stick!!

from the crowded tourist hive i fled swiftly as i had to catch ferry boat to nearby island udo, it was worth the running, i made it just in time on board *breathing heavily*
alternative fishing

on udo island, i intended to drive along the coast....since i had no int'l drivers licence, i borrowed myself a rusted bike, yupee

although raining, warm and liberating feeling filled me as pedaling on curvy asphalt coastroad--

///// - czech commentary only for this video - česky bajkovej výlog#2, wind is the killer here..meh


at that time, another animal friends made me get off the bike for a while, meet growlie and sitter (notice even doghouse is basalt made attached with mortar)
vrrrrrrrrrrrr

despite not sunny not sandy udo got itself specific harsh, naturalistic feeling

photo lower shows great haenyo, female sea divers, it is reported diving time around 1 min and depth 10 m, many divers are in their sixties, in previous century it was dominant way to obtain food/money, now this matriarchal lifestyle is being neglected.

...and very probably a man made beach

local made "just" peanut ice cream with The Carpenters - Top Of The World♥ in the background playing - daily dose of girly moment starting in 3, 2, 1...

i was charging phone battery on the way back, this is how it looks like inside the ferry - shoes off!

that day i also reserved ferry seat via phone for the departure back to korea on last day
personal itinerary
this is the very tip of the blade for wind turbine, made by samsung, i wonder the reason for a spike strip

afternoon my plan was to get more inland for one more poi, i hitchhiked very nice guy (equally nice as rest of the koreans), he gave me a ride in different direction than his original route was!
and what is more, after we found that intended unesco place was closed, he took me to nearby sangumburi crater and handed me box of sweets on top :-o thanks

enough craters :D
so i set out to the hostel - coffee & dormitory built right on the cliff, pity that with no sunrise next day :/

--trpday2
rainy and depriving morning did not discourage me from climbing the mt. hallasan!!

considering local geography, solid 1950m was expecting me, guide said 5 hrs is required to get to the top and also you are obliged to check in at shelter just 2.4 km downhill from the peak til 12:30 else you cannot continue your climb.

so i set out rapidly uphill.
a few moments later a chainsawish sound disturbed relaxed forest atmosphere but it was no chainsaw. mentioned aggressive source was actually monorail motor :O used to transport aqua supply to the shelter
i tried to spy video the vehicle but the "pilot" would always stop and crossed his hands as clear no no no camera
at least this i managed to capture

nevertheless i was amazed by the track's construction
 admiring steep elevation wow
45° maybe

upon reaching the shelter i finally video stalked monorail guy after he unload the water canisters! haha brm brm - i found it very cute


many kilometres of the hiking trail was very tricky and narrow, basalt rock stairs, stones, wet mud.. in contrast with manmade suspension bridge...although i must admit a great distance is "civilized" with wooden stairs

cutting through last few kilometres to the top

i give you opportunity to join me in those last tens of meters: /czech commentary - společný vrcholení/


hitchhike > omit the hitch, mt halla is 1950 m. above sea, what i could seen at the postcards: it is fantastic in spring months with blossoming rhododendrons and it gets warmly colorful during autumn.

and in the winter it has, ofc, its own magic also it is all-year-rounder :D

standard snack of ordinary korean hiker is kimbap = ham, cucumber, carrot, radish rolled in rice covered with seaweed, tasty when hungry
up yours, mc'wrap

maybe you ask "why there is no uberpanoramaphoto here?"
or
"when are you going to take it?"

let me answer through screenplay from movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty:

Sean O’Connell: "Sometimes I don’t. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it."

'nuff said

way back = eternity-like suffering, looooong, boring and killing one's ankles
 i suggest: build zipline from the top - wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee


but shocking event happen on the way back, i got caught in the middle of shelter heli transport, right above our heads, rope hitted me, blowing wind forced me on butt - it felt very powerfull and a bit scary


finally back in base camp, from there bus down to seogwipo city and i tried to walk it off in the park and we have another sculpture here, it reminds me of the micronation ladonia in sweden (search it!)

that night i chose jjimjilbang again for relaxation and "sleep" - seogwipo sauna seemed more family-like, and it got a massage guy right next to the whirlpool....him i was observing, all naked man lied on his back on the massage bed, massage guy put danse textil on his hand and started to scrub all his body firmly.wow
it could be pleasant i said to myself but afraid of getting erection as being scrubbed i decided not to partake - i think having a boner in room full of naked guys is not too comedic to live it, ha

--trpday3
after sleepless night filled with snoring symphony i moved to the next city jungmun for beaches, teddy bear museum, ripley's believe it or not.....
local stadium, it looked greater from close proximity


jungmun resort it is titled, great bridge welcomes you in this place
a heavens...?

 also famous waterfall could be admired there, but i say it is fake, why?
waterfall---- and no WATER FALLing, wtf?!?!

refund entrance fee ya bastards :D

warning warning! board welcomed me upon touching first sand of jungmun beach

how lightheaded i have been when reading this--
huge waves, soft playa, basalt rocks on the edges that i was focused on
i chased the waves, played with sand like a little kid, in the end i needed to get the sand of me, so i stepped further in the sea, washing myself, dressing off red shorts...
suddenly whistleblow got my attention.
hasselhoff-like coast guard calling me back, why?
i got streamed nearby the rocky shore.
quite terrified i struggled to return.
waves kicking me back and forth over black basalt stones as i fought to get out of the waters---
guard replied in laconic: no swimming.

fortunately i have been given only few minor bruises.
after the event, i just humbly rested in sunshine - a lesson learnt, sea is mighty!

cheer up, however, time for more "culture" now!
teddy bear museum presents huge number of diverse bears and historical events served in teddystyle - vid for you /czech commentary only, but interesting visuals/


michelangelo likes this

also i paid visit to ripley's believe it or not, crazy collection of unimaginable prodigies, weird-ities and other admirables put in one playful building with well-known coffee house as part of it
most funky starbucks ever

my temporary family of hareubangs - the fertility bringers!
i have not been accepted though haha

from that cool place i headed to sanbangsan mountain and yongmeori coast which was closed due to the cruel waves i learnt there

that time that place i called it a day standing on the crossroads
all of a sudden, car honked at me and stopped by.
couple returning home gave me a lift, bag of sweet crunchy snacks and tangerines
we stopped at tea museum where they refreshed me with green tea icecream and what is more, they called my host for the night, ask her for directions and in 30 mins i stepped out of the car finding myself in front of the family house with waitnig host for me.
wow thanks!
i met such a nice and helpful people that day!

right in time for bloody fire sunset! my last night on the island.
the moment when you wish to have great camera equipment...and photography skills :D
--trpday4
in the morning i returned from opposite direction to the capital and searched for harbor
sun dried squid? imma pass this time

for return i decided for combo ferry + railroad. it was 60% more expensive but it took 6 times more time - decided at instant lol
ferry indoors 5+6+5 seats, inspiration for brand new boeing ultramonstabadassjumbojet

sailing from the south to korea, many islets we missed
i do not understand the rock on top

at harbour city of mokpo i changed means of transport and boarded fast train ktx for seoul
trip says goodbye -it started with sunset, it ended with sunset

through all the tramping i was wearing this reliable new balance minimus, super thin vibram sole, 175g per one boot
past bathing

all in all this is my trajectory, come by plane, on island operated by car, bike, ferry, bus, on feet, returned by train

ps: i had a great time but despite all of above, travelling alone sucks!

more to come--





2 comments:

  1. Great reading once again, thanks! As for the spike strip thingies on trailing edge of that wind turbine blade - its purpose is to break down turbulent air flow and therefore reduce noise and increase efficiency... at least as far as I know anyway :D

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    Replies
    1. Hey, man, thanks for your feedback - that seems reasonable! ;)

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