A few days earlier, Sam (photo teacher and biking buddy) and I were biking all over Gwangju, something we do more frequently now, and I mentioned how I was going to Jeju. He said he had a friend there who spoke English and he'd contact him and see if he'd be willing to pick us up from the airport and take us around. After that conversation, I forgot about it until Sam texted me the Friday we were leaving. I was really busy that day with classes so I didn't answer until close to 5:30pm. Sam wanted to know our flight details. I wasn't exactly sure of them so I estimated our arrival time. Sam and his friend were looking at the flights and were royally confused with when I said our arrival time would be (I estimated around 9pm). So he wanted exact flight details (it was about 6pm now). Between texting him and frantically packing (since I had banking problems (not going there. Stupid stupid banks.) earlier and hadn't packed yet), I was calling Gab and Kristen about other details we were working out (6:10) . Eventually I started getting a little worried based on Sam's texts so I called Cindy(6:20). She has night classes on Friday, but hadn't started yet. She double checked the website, calls me back (6:30) and says: "You know your flight leaves at 7:20 right?" she said it in a way like I should've known that. I nearly died, but since I had started thinking this was a possibility in the previous 15 minutes, I had started to prepare for it by putting my stuff by the door and my shoes on. I said some gibberish that I'm pretty sure Cindy didn't understand because I was talking over myself, hung up, and ran out the door. Just after I hung up, I got a text from Sam saying, NO! 8:05 is arrival time. 7:20 is departure. Oh great. Double confirmation that we're about to miss our flight. On my way down the stairs with all my luggage, I called Kristen, "our flight leaves at 7:20 GO GO GO!" I heard: "Oh SHIT!" hung up, called Gab, same deal, hung up and ran. At this time we were freaking out because the airport is a 30 minute taxi drive away and of all times, we couldn't find an empty taxi. Finally we found one and told him to BALI! (quickly!). Thankfully there wasn't much traffic, we got to the airport in record time, gave our driver a tip (no time to take the change after all) and ran to check in. We got there in plenty time too. We were impressed with our taxi driver. It took 20 minutes, we were there at 7:55, boarding was 10 or so minutes later and since everyone else was already there we went through security in record time (I am positive they were laughing at the foreigners running in and being the last ones to go through) and we were off to Jeju! Talk about an awesome adventure! I've always wanted to have to run for a plane. I can check that off my list of things to do before I die! thankfully that was the extent of our problems in Jeju. Here's the story of the following three days...sit back and enjoy the pictures (and maybe pay attention to a little bit of what I wrote...) because this'll be a long post...
Thanks to Sam, we didn't have to worry about anything when we got to Jeju. We were the only foreigners on the plane so it wasn't difficult for Sam's friend and friend of that friend to spot us. They took us to a really cheap, but surprisingly nice motel where we dropped off our things and then went out for some delicious cold noodles. I have become addicted to cold noodles in Korea. First time I had them I wanted to puke. Since then, I've developed a craving for them. After eating they took us to a serve yourself coffee shop where there are no waiters and pay is done on an honesty basis. You make your own drinks (coffee, hot choco and the likes), get your own snacks, and after, wash your own dishes and put the money in the box by the door. It was a really cute place with a beautiful view of the night ocean. We were exhausted though so after deciding that the rain forecast for the next day meant no hiking Mt. Halla, Hoon (the friend of Sam's friend whose last name is Boo...haha.) said he's drive us around the island. We decided on a few places and the next day got started exploring Jeju Island!
Part One: Trick Art Museum
The first stop on the agenda was the Trick Art Museum...which we definitely could've spent two more hours at, but we were all pictured out, my camera memory was full, and we were hungry. Following is a small sample of the pictures we took. And by small sample, I mean small. We took a bazillion, I swear.
Me and the naked guy are lovers. I was a little embarrassed for him though so I covered him up a little...
Death by horse in Korea. Kristen saved my life.
My frog prince that I married after kissing him. It was a shotgun wedding so I didn't have time to tell you all...sorry you couldn't come!
I don't normally steal things. This just looked so delicious!
We are the picture.
There was a picture of me in this one, but I think it was on Hoon's camera. Sad.
It was a hot day. Even the dog thought so!
What I didn't tell you all is that Gabrielle is really a former convict who was sent to Korea to teach English so that she could work off her probation.
Stealer.
The museum loved me so much they put me in a picture.
Only the most adorable thing ever!
I learned to levitate.
I am pro-star. What can I say?
I died. I'm not the real Tara writing this.
I grew. A lot. Kris shrunk. A lot.
We all died. Again. Man, we die a lot.
I turned into an evil thing thing.
This was a classical era area...my camera was full though so the pictures are on other cameras. Sad for you. Can't see the rest.
The palm trees. It serious is the Hawaii of Korea in Jeju... BEAUTIFUL!
Our lunch. Delicious!
This is the Jeju man. Statue of the Father of Jeju, all over the island.
Kris, Gab, and, Hoon, our wonderfully driver for the weekend who took us to all these places.
See Toronto?
They look like skeletons, but wait! They're rocks! It's amazing what water can do to rocks.
Once we left the sea, the clouds were doing the coolest things ever over the mountain.
We went to another beach area to take more pictures. Basically pictures was the reason we did anything that day. It was awesome.
Another lighthouse we went to.
I love my Korea!
Part Three: Hiking Hallasan!!
The journey to the summit.
It was raining when we left which made pictures difficult.
Then it stopped for a little bit.
So we could take a few pictures.
The midway point was a water spring. Delicious Hallasan water!
Where those people are standing is the entrance to the last leg of the hike. Unfortunately, when we got to this point, it was pouring rain and insanely windy that we almost blew over. They closed the last leg of the hike because of the dangerous weather so we weren't allowed to hike to the top. I was so upset, especially since the trip thus far was agonizingly slow. I like hiking at a fast steady pace. For reasons I am not going into, I was forced to learn a bit of patience while we moved up the mountain at a pace slower than snails move.
Facing the top of the mountain. There's a lodge just before the last stretch where we could take shelter before climbing the rest. Well, if we got to climb the rest.
At the bottom of the mountain again. There is the summit. I'm still bitter about it all, but I guess this means I'll just have to go back to Jeju-do again!
The entrance to the lava flow.
Inside the lava flow. It rains down there at this time of the year and it was really cold, but SO COOL!
There were descriptions about all the different lava formations down there.
Turtle rock. or rather.... 거북이!!! (Kabokki=turtle/tortuous)
At the end of the lava flow was the formation (see the first picture at the top which is a statue of this)
They used to let people closer. Alas, that was five years ago and this was the closest we could get. Just like everything else in Jeju, this has become a money grab.
Coming out at the top again.
This pretty much sums up Jeju in a picture (other than the mountain). They have stone walls marking the boundaries to every farm and field. This isn't done on main land Korea. The flowers in the picture are wild flowers and grow all over the island.
Sunrise Peek. We didn't have the time to climb it before our flight left so when I go back I'll have to do that as well. It was still beautiful though.
Lastly, we stopped by a park. This train was brought onto Jeju by Korea's president years ago to teach the children of Jeju about trains because there's no trains on Jeju so most people had never seen one unless they had been to mainland Korea.
Saying goodbye to the wonder of Jeju and Halasan!
Hallasan from the air. Yes, I am STILL bitter about not making the summit. It's my life. They should let me risk it rather than them deciding whether I can climb or not. Joking Mom. Joking. Sorta :)
Me and the naked guy are lovers. I was a little embarrassed for him though so I covered him up a little...
Death by horse in Korea. Kristen saved my life.
My frog prince that I married after kissing him. It was a shotgun wedding so I didn't have time to tell you all...sorry you couldn't come! 
I don't normally steal things. This just looked so delicious! 
We are the picture.
There was a picture of me in this one, but I think it was on Hoon's camera. Sad. 
It was a hot day. Even the dog thought so!
What I didn't tell you all is that Gabrielle is really a former convict who was sent to Korea to teach English so that she could work off her probation. 
Stealer.
The museum loved me so much they put me in a picture. 
Only the most adorable thing ever! 
I learned to levitate.
I am pro-star. What can I say?
I died. I'm not the real Tara writing this. 
I grew. A lot. Kris shrunk. A lot. 
We all died. Again. Man, we die a lot. 
I turned into an evil thing thing. 
This was a classical era area...my camera was full though so the pictures are on other cameras. Sad for you. Can't see the rest. 
The palm trees. It serious is the Hawaii of Korea in Jeju... BEAUTIFUL! 
Our lunch. Delicious! Part Two: Waterfall!
I forget the name of the waterfall, but it starts with a C.
This is the Jeju man. Statue of the Father of Jeju, all over the island. 
Kris, Gab, and, Hoon, our wonderfully driver for the weekend who took us to all these places. 
See Toronto?
They look like skeletons, but wait! They're rocks! It's amazing what water can do to rocks. 
Once we left the sea, the clouds were doing the coolest things ever over the mountain. 
We went to another beach area to take more pictures. Basically pictures was the reason we did anything that day. It was awesome. 
Another lighthouse we went to. 
I love my Korea!
Part Three: Hiking Hallasan!! The reason I came to Jeju...summit the mountain!
The journey to the summit. 
It was raining when we left which made pictures difficult. 
Then it stopped for a little bit. 
So we could take a few pictures. 
The midway point was a water spring. Delicious Hallasan water! 
Where those people are standing is the entrance to the last leg of the hike. Unfortunately, when we got to this point, it was pouring rain and insanely windy that we almost blew over. They closed the last leg of the hike because of the dangerous weather so we weren't allowed to hike to the top. I was so upset, especially since the trip thus far was agonizingly slow. I like hiking at a fast steady pace. For reasons I am not going into, I was forced to learn a bit of patience while we moved up the mountain at a pace slower than snails move. 
Facing the top of the mountain. There's a lodge just before the last stretch where we could take shelter before climbing the rest. Well, if we got to climb the rest. 
At the bottom of the mountain again. There is the summit. I'm still bitter about it all, but I guess this means I'll just have to go back to Jeju-do again! That night we had a pizza party and called Hoon to plan our next day of adventures.
Part Four: Volcano's and Sunrise Peek!
The entrance to the lava flow. 
Inside the lava flow. It rains down there at this time of the year and it was really cold, but SO COOL!
There were descriptions about all the different lava formations down there. 
Turtle rock. or rather.... 거북이!!! (Kabokki=turtle/tortuous) 
At the end of the lava flow was the formation (see the first picture at the top which is a statue of this) 
They used to let people closer. Alas, that was five years ago and this was the closest we could get. Just like everything else in Jeju, this has become a money grab. 
Coming out at the top again. 
This pretty much sums up Jeju in a picture (other than the mountain). They have stone walls marking the boundaries to every farm and field. This isn't done on main land Korea. The flowers in the picture are wild flowers and grow all over the island. 
Sunrise Peek. We didn't have the time to climb it before our flight left so when I go back I'll have to do that as well. It was still beautiful though. 
Lastly, we stopped by a park. This train was brought onto Jeju by Korea's president years ago to teach the children of Jeju about trains because there's no trains on Jeju so most people had never seen one unless they had been to mainland Korea. 
Saying goodbye to the wonder of Jeju and Halasan!
Hallasan from the air. Yes, I am STILL bitter about not making the summit. It's my life. They should let me risk it rather than them deciding whether I can climb or not. Joking Mom. Joking. Sorta :)
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