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--

CZ ONLY BIKE VLOG

tedy jsem spáchal jeden rozjetej klipík, alespoň takhle lze přiblížit kousek z koreje ještě blíž (rotřepaný fullhd na YT - 2:20)

TRIPPIN' (east coast)

--finally done - this is gonna be very intensive post :)
first week was busy, i needed some vacaciones and - voilá - just mon/tue/wed of second week was free since korea celebrate chuseok (alias thanksgiving), so on sunday early morning i headed for seoul express bus terminal and bought first ticket to get to the east coast. first possible was on 11 :(...but i tried to get on board of earlier transit and it worked out - last free seat for me / somebody missed his ride
bus drivers here are road pirates!! changing lines from left to right to overtake other cars - but in 3 hrs we stopped in final destination all alive - city of gangneung

although sept 7, it was sunny summer day for me. suddenly i felt a little lost, everything in korean, locals unable to speak at least mediocre english. travelling seemed pretty hard at that moment.....so i took first random citybus i saw and after stressing 30 mins of ride through strangeness i smelled humid, salty air.

all day here i tried to get along with help of korean picture map

very illustrative

first poi could not been overlooked :D

it is a botel on land tens meters above sea level!

no photoshop here

it is cool.

i already can see that koreans like art and statues and sculptures, there will be more

"Everybody hands up!!"

i headed further north along the coastline then
it surprised me that even at this distance from north korea - approx 120km - continuous wired fence is maintained, with numerous bunkers and sandbags

"fire in the hole!!"

i present to you the korean dream beach xD

consequently i found myself in unification park which should symbolize peaceful bond between both koreas (see map above, you can find the miniatures)

retired (second world, vietnam and korean war) u.s. destroyer as gift for koreans 

captured north korean submarine after unsuccessful spying on military facilities at this location 

on the trip i missed many temples, after visiting the first one i expected myself to feel somehow "blessed" but it did not happen...one young man told me that after american postwar influence they are - generally - aiming for western lifestyle, neglecting traditions and primary religion.

maybe next time let's try nepal e.g.

it took me till evening to get back to city centre where i had accommodation reserved via airbnb.com, nevertheless i met a new friends on my long way to good night's sleep. say hello to trcktrck and mehmeh

what are you looking for, ya little devils?

 and also this characteristic scenery tells you why my ass burns everytime after doing no. 2

--trpday2--
sun woke me up after breakfast time in low budget hostel next day - i packed my humble belongings and ran out to catch a bus to get to the beach (this time it all seemed better!!), nice older couple showed me the right direction and it worked

almost florida :-p

i simply enjoyed warm sunshine while stepping in sand splashed by waves repeatedly - i just only wished i could have been there with my Lovely partner together---------

wow these little babies measure up to 2 meters :-O

yea just almost florida, it cannot be everything all shiny and beautiful

it was hot and clear sky so one would expect crowded resorts but opposite is rather true....no good diving here concerning aesthetical aspect - just sand, a few shells, patches of seagrass, no eye candies....

i continued my near-to-fantasy walk along sea having notorious wired fence on my left hand when suddenly whistle sound stopped me, i looked up and there was soldier standing in front of military base with his arms crossed in letter x telling me to keep out - or die :D......so i had to return all the way back along the fence :/...well, why to be surprised, no locals were there anyway, right..

there and back again

i am not interested in walking the road on feet which was my primary option, the bus would not come so i hitchhiked and in two minutes smiling driver is waving at me to get in the car

--note: what i consider positive is korean loyalty, i only saw very low figure of non-domestic cars (VW, BMW, Toyota...) but the rest - let's say 95% - is Hyundai, KIA, Daewoo/Chevrolet, Samsung motors cars, it seems they are proud of their own brands --noteends

so this korean family (parents and 14yrs old boy) gave me a ride, they were cool, coming back home from chuseok however at that moment just wondering around since highways were jammed - thus they planned the way back for night time...i introduced them my plans of visiting naksansa temple.
they would joined me, and what is more, they agreed with idea of shared lunch beforehand

traditional korean sitting on ground

naksansa is large complex situated on hill peacefully overseeing east see

chill gazebo

goddess of mercy

ding dong it is lunch time ;)

i obtained contact card from family to visit their chicken restaurant in seoul, i am thankful to them for feeding, driving and accompanying me. i will visit! before we said hello i gave them menthol mints antiperle and they presented me with ginseng extract pills in return. bye

from there i took bus to sokcho where i checked fish market, it is very lively place, i shot a quick videoclip - you can see a woman trying to break off the head of a flatfish unsuccessfully and it then flap itself again :/ (YT - 0:16)

rather soon i fall asleep in marine guesthouse for i expected myself to wake up at 5:30 to experience sunrise above sea

--trpday3--

i was a little disappointed by clouds covering the east..there were maybe 10 people waiting with cameras for the moment at 6:00..it was not as i had imagined, but still looked nice :)

there is hope coming on every new day

in this province (gangwon) there will be held winter olympics 2018 

due to the corrosion i say: they waited long enough :D

that day i called hiking day! welcome to seoraksan national park

far over the misty mountains cold - in dwarven 설악산국립공원 

be patient

thirsty? mountain water cooled refreshment

and i aimed for ulsanbawi rock - from sea to 873 m

"all your base are belong to us!"

final 1 km was very steep, a lot of senior people made it to the top though - kudos to them

i chilled there for a while feeling peaceful

there is so much more to climb but time dotation was too humble

(fake alert!) not each temple is 1000 yrs old

just after hiking a was about to relax on the sokcho beach - even it was not perfectly sunny, water was o.k. with many "beach tourists" visiting this place keeping their clothes on...

weeeee

i just loved resisting the waves along with numerous asian kids...i think that chinese(?) people especially enjoyed this activity also, mama: "hahahahaha - aaaaaaaaaaahh" :D (YT - 0:16)

being hungry after water fighting i ate super spicy 제육덮밥 and took "death race" bus to city of chuncheon...my bed reservation was canceled but i found refugee in jimjillbang - for 7.000w you enter floor with steam, dry and salt sauna, hot tubs, cooling pool and  to top it off, you are offered a thin mat and place to sleep, on hard wooden floor

--it was very liberating to spend relax&hygiene evening with dozens of naked men and to rest with them snoring around you in one large communal room. no photos from here :D

--trpday4--

bumpy bridge

on the way to the intercity bus terminal another alternative style statue(?) was placed

spank me, spank me i am dirty, dirty boy

i went by bus to less civilized place

there i felt tired of walking so i rented a bike to get to nearby waterfall (i got vlog with cz commentary to come!!!)

gugok falls

the same day i visited nami island, it was crowded there, i was interested in zip-line (zip-wire) however i was not excited after riding it, not so fast enough ;)

http://tong.visitkorea.or.kr/

truthfully that moment time it was just the right amount of new impressions and experiences for the first trip so i took taxi to train station and returned back to seoul by train.

i believe that you enjoyed this 4-day photo journal, may it introduce korea a little to you and stay tuned for next one :)

--more to come