Jeju Island: Day 1 (Part 1)

Day 1

My friend and I get off the ferry at 6:40 AM, feeling pretty gross from a lack of a shower (remember in my last post, bring wet wipes!). The first thing on the list is going to pick up our rental car. We need to get a taxi to get to the rental place, but none of the taxi drivers are willing to drive us there because it’s so “close.” After it becomes clear that there weren't many people on the ferry, a driver reluctantly takes us to the “close, in walking distance” airport, a whopping 6 kilometers away. We easily pick up our car (even though pick-up time was supposed to be 8 AM, but the people were super nice) and headed to our first destination.

 Stop 1: Dragon Head Rock(용두암 ‘Yongduam’):

When we arrived, it was completely packed with Chinese tourists, which actually made this section of the trip really annoying. After being pushed and having our pictures butted into, they were finally called back to their tour buses so that we could actually enjoy the site.

There’s really not much here other than volcanic rocks that if you squint your eyes and tilt your head just right, it looks like a dragon head, but it’s supposed to be good luck to go and visit.

We got there early enough, so we didn’t have to pay the 1,500 parking fee. If you’re just dying to see this formation, go for it, otherwise, I would say save your breath and time for some of Jeju’s far more breathtaking features.

Stop 2: Love Land

Love Land is Jeju’s famous sex museum. My friend and I were a little nervous because we got there when it first opened, and we didn’t want to seem to “eager” to go into the museum, but the park quickly filled up.

For a country as conservative as Korea, it was really actually quite shocking to walk around this museum where penis, vaginas, and breasts litter the landscape. It’s interesting to watch the young couples giggle and the old couples act excited and giggle, too.

There were definitely some interesting sculptures as well as very tame ones (I'm not posting any obscene ones; this is still an 'educational, travel blog'.

There were little things too, like penis-shaped red bean bread that had all the girls giggling. There was also a large museum dedicated to showing and selling sex toys. There were enthusiastic giggles from most everyone in that section of the museum.

I know these are tame, but my pastor reads this!

The museum was cute and worth the 7,000 won entrance fee. I recommend it if you want to have a good time and go back to the days where we were all in middle school.  In all seriousness though, the museum was a blast and you’ll get some pretty priceless pictures and laughs for the nominal entrance fee.

Stop 3: Mysterious Road

Right next to Love Land is the Mysterious Road where it looks like you’re going uphill, but your car actually accelerates!

Whee!!

Nothing to see here. Really. We tried to get it to work, but it really didn’t. Basically what you do is go down a hill with the car in neutral and then you go up a hill. Surprise! You’re still moving!

Stop 4: Eco Land (에코 렌드)

About an hour’s drive from Love Land is Eco Land. It’s a nice little park divided into 3 sections for you to go and walk around in (you're delivered by train). Entrance is cheap for what you get, about 8,000 won.

The train first drops you off at a giant pond.

After going through the pond, you walk into an area designed to mock the look of the Netherlands. It’s really quite stunning with the mountains in the background.

The next section is actually two sections: child’s land and a hike. Child’s Land has a bunch of different houses for children to play role-play in and is super adorable.

There are two different hikes that you can take: the longer 3 kilometer hike, or a short 1 kilometer hike. My friend and I went on the 3 kilometer hike, and were not disappointed.

You go through a picturesque trail that tells you about the ecosystem on Jeju. They list the different trees and plants that grow and also tell a few facts along the way (like how Jeju is the only place in the world where subtopic, temperate, and frigid plants all grow).

You walk around this until you reach a café where you can sit and relax for a bit (leave a romantic note ;) ) and also do some foot therapy” by walking barefoot on some volcanic rocks.

After this stop, the train comes to pick you up again and you’re taken through a truly scenic train ride of Jeju. I highly recommend Eco Land and recommend that you have a camera prepared at all times during the train rides. You never know when something beautiful will pop up.