Your Guide to Jeju Island When You Make Your First Visit

Islands are always interesting and worth discovering and exploring more with their special geographical characteristics. Not only do islands usually have more unique landform features, but they also embrace their own cultures and lifestyles which is even more important to make them special in their own way. Jeju island is one of them that impresses me a lot with its diversity and natural beauty. Here are some of my recommendations from my previous trip that you shouldn’t miss!

Some must-do:

Visit Camellia Garden

I am really glad to have visited Jeju during December which is also the blossom season of camellia. There are a few places to appreciate the beauty of the pinky red camellias while we went to a self-serving cafe called Dong Bak Nang with the whole camellia garden for customers to explore and wander around with their cameras. Just feel free to grab your coffee and some free mandarins after paying the entrance fee. Surround yourself with plants and flowers, you may take a closer look and breathe in a fresh pleasant smell when you walk by the trees with hundreds of flowers on. If you are not visiting in winter months, don’t worry, hydrangeas and muhly grass would be the spotlights of Jeju in other seasons. Next to the cafe are some local stores selling lovely postcards and accessories so it’s a good idea to get your friends some souvenirs there too.

Hike in Hallasan and Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Being the tallest mountain and the national geopark in South Korea, a hike in Hallasan is a must. There are a few routes to choose from according to your own ability as some of them are for professional and experienced hikers. We picked the most popular one but found a bit challenging when walking up the steep slope with stairs non-stop. The weather was gloomy on that day so the temperature dropped even more but the views alongside were still stunning. On the other hand, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is listed by UNESCO as one of the World Natural Heritages. With volcanic eruption going on in this area centuries ago, the peak is indeed a bowl-shaped crater with jagged edges which looks exactly like a crown on the outside. The hike was not as tough as Hallasan so it was relatively easy and accessible for everyone, even the elderly. We were lucky enough to enjoy the breathtaking top views as well as to catch the sunset when we were getting downhill.

Cafe-hunting in Aewol-eup

Located near the coast, Aewol-eup is an area full of seaside cafes and restaurants that keep you in good vibes only. Among all the choices, we went to Cafe Mônsant De Aewol which is also called the GD cafe as it is opened by the well-known K-pop star G-Dragon. I am not a big fan of him but still I must say the design of the cafe is really cool and smart. The outlook of the cafe is in plain wide mirror with the idea to reflect the seaview and the sky which are the simply the best of this area. Everyone would see a different picture of God's creation upon their visits as the sky of different times or days would never be the same. Although the food and drinks here are more pricey than the normal price range, the Udo latte (peanut flavour) tasted so good with peanuts crisps in the drink and so did the carrot cake. After the coffee break, you may walk along the seaside and see lots of the dolhareubang (the grandfather stone statue) which is another symbol of Jeju in different poses throughout the way. We even had a photo with the grandfather statue in Santa Claus costume looking so cute and funny.

Some must-eat:

Jeju’s Black Pig

There is a Black Pig Street in Jeju with all restaurants featuring the barbeque black pig. We got into a famous one named Dombedon at the entrance of the street as our first meal of the trip. What I like the most about Korean cuisine is the little plates of appetizer all over the table, kimchi, pickled carrots, sauced sprouts and shallot, to name but a few. They enrich the taste when you put them together with the grilled pork cubes wrapped in lettuce altogether. I am not exaggerating but they are really juicy with the right balance of flavours and oiliness! Don’t forget to order a Korean beer to side with the food, they are always a perfect match!

Food Hunt in Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market

Just like many street food markets in Japan, Thailand and Taiwan, Jeju also has a few! Everything smelt crazily nice that we almost wanted to get one from each and every store. We ordered some Korea fried chicken with garlic and mandu (korean dumplings) while you would definitely be able to tell which store I am referring to just by seeing the long queue. Pick your favourite snacks and street food!

Rice Roll

When it comes to the best breakfast in the heart of Koreans, it must be the rice rolls! We tried 2 very quality ones. I highly recommend the ‘Jejusi Saewoori Jeju’. There are 2 stores on the island and I went to the one near Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak after the hike. The colourful rice roll is made with shrimp and yellow turmeric rice together with the tiny flavoured cabbage cubes adding some spice to the rolls. It was already full and satisfying just to share the rice rolls among ourselves! With the abundant supply of seafood on the island, another popular rice roll is made with abalone mixed in the rice with sliced egg in the middle. The side dish like kimchi octopus is one of the best too. Aww…I am craving for them right now! Make sure you give it a go when you are there!