Tap-dong Street was our last stop in our Jeju tour. The street was said to be a place where one can enjoy night-time shopping and recreational activities. Then of course, we were not there for shopping and during the short time we were there, we merely took a stroll on the streets. There were vendors selling Korean snacks, I think; but didn't notice restaurants or pubs there; wasn't paying attention, I suppose. After this, we had our dinner somewhere, not in  Tap-dong Street and we would leave the island the next day to exploe other parts of Korea. 30 ..read more

At the Boutique: Tap-dong Street is conveniently located at the heart of downtown Jeju. We just have to trudged there from the boutique just like we did Gwandeokjeong.  Tap-dong, being the largest shopping district in Jeju Island where. shops may stay open until 4 am; one would expect it to be bustling. Then, we were there just as evening was setting in; so, I suppose the crowd hadn't come in. My first impression was the street was clean, attractive too where the big shops were. Back alleys may not be so; but we didn't venture there. Tapdong 29 ..read more

Gwandeokjeong, I figure wasn't really a big place. Concerts probably were held there occasionally; some people were meddling with musical instruments;  and there seemed to be a crowd and policemen were seen at the entrance. Our photoshoot having ended, we trudged back to the boutique to return our traditional costumes. Then it was off to Tapdong Shopping Street in downtown Jeju.  Tapdong Street : 28 ..read more

Gwandeokjeong may be an old building with  painted girders and murals but we had hardly the opportunity to scrutinise them. Just before we visited the place, we were all huddled into a boutique run by a pretty Korean woman. There, we got to pick traditional Korean costumes and dressed up as Koreans. All dressed up, we trudged together like school children to Gwandeokjeong which was just a short distant away, less than a 5 minute walk. In Gwandeokjeong, we spent the time taking photos of ourselves. You can say we had a photoshoot! A photoshoot in Gwandeokjeong: 27 ..read more

Black pork or normal pork, I really couldn't tell the difference both in terms of look and taste. Never mind that though, we were off to Gwandeokjeong, a historical landmark in Jeju Island. Gwandeokjeong was built by a general, Shin Suk-Cheong in the 15th century. Then, it was used as a training place for soldiers. As one of the  oldest building in Jeju Island, tourists flock to it. The building supposedly is supported by intricately painted girders and is adorned with murals. A signboard there is even said to feature the handwriting of Prince Anpyeong from the Joseon era. Check out&nbs ..read more

The houses in Seongeup Folk Village, I read were made of clay; not every single one I suppose cause some probably were made of wood. Since the village dates back to the fifteenth century, visiting it is like stepping back in time. A popular 2003 Korean period drama Jewel in the Palace was shot here. A fading poster of the drama was there but the performance by our guide during dinner was more interesting. 25 ..read more

Seongeup Folk Village supposedly is at the foot of Halla Mountain but the little town seemed like on a flat land, far from any mountain. It definitely caters for tourists. There were exhibits in some houses that suggests that some of the famed Haenyeo women divers lived here. Some of the villages openly welcome us and I believed, one could at a small fee, get them to guide us round the village. There were restaurants serving Jeju Black, the Korean breed of domestic black pig; not a surprise really since the pigs originate from here, Jeju Island. Have lunch of black pig with us! 24 ..read more

The oranges in the farm in Jeju Island looked like the oranges back home, not the ones with humps, the famed Hallabong oranges ofJeju Island. They were not sweet; no wonder they let tourists messed with them. It did not matter then that we could just take two oranges each. The interaction with other fellow travelers was more furfilling just like the buying of Jeju Island chocolates. Then it was off to Seongeup Folk Village, a protected folk village with cultural relics from over a wide period of time from 1410 to 1914. Have a peak at Seongeup Folk Village! 23 ..read more

Leaving Seongsan Ilchulbong, in the bus; our guide said he knew of a lady who owned an orange farm. Jeju Island is famous for citrus fruit. Some stalls in Seongsan Ilchulbong were selling orange juice. Autumn is the season for oranges; and our guide said we would go to the farm to hand pick some oranges. So, here we go! 22 ..read more

Since it was our first trip to Seongsan Ilchulbong and an organised one at that; where every minute mattered, it should not be a surprise then that upon reaching Seongsan Ilchulbong, we had quickly made our way up to its peak. Except for some boulder-like structures at its foot, everything else seemed blurred out of sight; at least not until later when we came down from climbing Seongsan Ilchulbong. There was a wide expanse of treeless land which looked like a big meadow where little plants with pretty purple flowers that reminds of asters, grew. There seemed to be a street in the distant ..read more