Holiday Journal

• Start
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• Oedo
•  
• Sinsheondae
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• POW Camp
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• Finish

Halleysudo Waterway refers to the waterway that connects Hansando of Geojedo and Yeosu. There are countless islands on this waterway, and Geojedo is the biggest and largest island next to Jejudo in Southern islands. However, if you plan your trip loose because it's an island, you might spend the whole day on the winding mountain path. It's a big island so you have to make a detailed plan. I can't be sure the places I'll introduce you are enough to show you around the island, but I hope I would be helpful as possible. So shall we start?

Hill of Wind where the Fresh Sea Breeze Blows 바람의 언덕

First place to show you in Geoje is Hill of Wind in the fishing village in Dojangpo. This is named because the fresh breeze blows for four seasons, and I bet if you travel Geoje you shouldn't forget to drop by this place because there's a ship to Haegeumgang or Oedo departing from Dojangpo. The ship to Haegeumgang or Oedo departs almost once an hour so if you are about to miss it, just make a reservation for the next ship and take a look around this place. If you got to Oedo first, you might get hungry with sore legs so you wouldn't want to see here!

If you drive 30 minutes along national highway to south from Geoje Bridge, you'll see a protruding village, Dojangpo Fishing Village, to the left of Haegeum River and Hill of Wind on the top of the hill. This place used to be called Ddibatneul that refers to a hill covered with band(ddi), but it was renamed in 2002.

It used to be a really quiet fishing village with few tourists even 7-8 years ago but now, you can find old ladies who sell stuff on the coast and big franchise coffee shops which practically turned this place into a tourist attraction. I am just happy that I can buy corns and trumpet shells the old lady with wrinkles sells for a couple of bucks.

Oh, at the entrance to the stairs to the hill, there was something I'd never seen before. It's a shop that sells coffee, beverages and hotdogs.

It's seems to be popular among tourists so I couldn't help it as well. I tried it. This hotdog, 'Hotdog of Wind' costs 2,500 won.

Unlike regular hotdog, it had two soft pieces of ham. The batter was chewy and inside was soft and properly salted. White powder on the batter is not sugar but coconut powder. It's yummy. You're going to have to eat meal soon so try only one just for a taste. ^^*

When we went up a little bit, we could see the Hill of Wind. It looked a little deserted in winter but the green grass made it look warm.

Under the clouds that look like a lap blanket, there stood a windmill. It seemingly says “this is where the wind blows~".

As usual, the sea breeze coming from uncontaminated area of the sea is fresh on the hill. There's a ship coming back from Haegeumgang and Oedo.

The day I visited was a national holiday so there were so many tourists from the country. Everyone was happy in front of the windmill taking pictures and making memories. There are so many people who have a selfie stick, maybe I should buy one to take pictures of me. ^^*

I feel so great and fresh whenever I come here with the view over the fresh sea. TV drama titled and was filmed here, and it got more famous after it was aired on KBS entertainment program '1 Night and 2 Days'.

Down there is Dojangpo cruise ship dock. The ship just arrived. There's enough parking space here but on weekends, it's not enough. If you get in the end of parking lot on weekends to park your car, you might get stuck in the middle for over an hour.

If I give you a tip on parking here on weekends, you see that road around the hill to the right in the picture? That white line on the street is space you can park. If there are too many cars, you just park your car there not to disturb the traffic and walk approximately 100 m so you won't get stress. Remember that!

Behind the windmill, there's a way up to the observatory. There's always strong sea breeze here so the trees are so short. Around the trail, camellia tree habitat was formed so red camellia flowers bloom in full in winter.

Going up 5 minutes through camellia tunnel that has been through sea breeze for a long time, you'll see the observatory.

Sometimes when we have a hard time in life we get comfort by beautiful scenery and I guess Hill of Wind is one of those places. There must be some who couldn't enjoy the view due to too many people but if you just a little bit calm down and watch the view, you would get relaxed and comforted.

I really like the cool and wide sea here. Across the ocean far away, you'll see the famous Hakdong Mongdol Beach. I'll show you around that beach soon.

Move forward to the right of the hill, Geoje Haegeum River spreads out. It was a little bit foggy so I couldn't get a clear view but it's not enough to ruin my day. If you want to feel cool, you should definitely be here!

I don't know why the winds are so strong but it is constantly blowing from the sea. For people from the suffocating city where you cannot even breathe deeply, this place is like heaven. Open your mouth and take a deep breath of the sea. You'll get rid of stress from work or school.

Address : San 14-47, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 거제시 남부면 갈곶리 산14-47)
Telephone : 055-639-3399
No holidays, free parking, no entrance fee

Geumgang Mountain for Ocean, Geoje Haegeum River Cruise Ship Tour 거제 해금강 유람선투어

So after you took around Hill of Wind, now have you got to Dojangpo Port on time? Geoje Haegeum River has considerable value for ecological preservation and its original name was Galdo(葛島, kudzu island) because it looks like the roots of kudzu spreading out. This 0.1㎢ x 116m (height) small island shows different shapes wearing away by wind and waves for hundreds of thousands years and it was designated as the scenic spot No.2 in 1971. FYI, the No.1 scenic spot is Segeum River in Odesan National Park, Gangreung.

The fees for the cruise to Haegeum River and Oedo are as above. You might think they're expensive a bit but departing from Dojangpo is cheaper than the one departing from Jangseungpo or Gojura. Oh and the ship does not depart on time, it could be delayed a little bit or depart earlier depending on the number of passengers so you should confirm the course and time while you are ticketing.Normally, the cruise departs once an hour.

The No.2 course is through Geoje Haegeum River, get into Oedo Botania, and got back to Dojangpo. It all takes 2 hours and 10 minutes as it starts.

You're going to have to write down your name before boarding and can you see the 3,000 won discount coupon? If you submit that, you'll get a 3,000 won discount. But we were the only ones who used it. People didn't seem to know about it. And the employee said few people use it. You can print out the coupon from the website of Dojangpo cruise ship and here it goes. ☞ click

Tada~ So this is the ticket that we bought with 3,000 won discount coupons so we saved up 6,000 won. Oh, if you are a Geoje citizen, you can also get a 3,000 won discount and 50%, which is a 4,000 won discount to Oedo. But you can't get a discount for Oedo here, instead, you should go to the office on Oedo Island so they'll give you a refund in cash. I'll mention this when I introduce you Oedo Island later.

Feeling excited, we left for Haegeum River on the ship named Badayeohaeng(ocean trip) No.3!

I thought there was going to be few people on national holidays but I was wrong, big time. There were so many people who travel on national holidays instead of going hometown! And there were foreigners of course, so the area was full of people. Well, I was one of them. ^^* Normally, it's not so crowded like this.

Anyway, the ship started to move guided by pleasant captain. It would've been nice if it's 2-story ship but this is only 1-story one so when it starts to move, you should sit inside.

First place we stopped is Lion Rock which was named after lion because it looks like it. Starting from this rock, the ship take around the island to left and comes back here.

Valuable medicinal herbs are growing on the island in Haegeumgang, and this island is also called Yakchoseom(medicinal herb island) since people used to come here to get herbs for eternal youth for Qin Shi Huang. The rock island with different layers formed over a long long time looks beautiful.

When I passed by this island on ship, it made me feel like I was seeing Phang-Nga Bay in Phuket, Thailand, but it's smaller and more elegant.

Wait, a bigger ship was moving back between rocks! Oh, I guess we can get inside there as well. It's called SipjaDonggul(cruciform cave) which is accessible for one month a year. It's because ships can't go inside if the waves get heavier or stronger. But that day, the waves were weak so we had to get in before the waves got bigger.

I guess this is the best place in Haegeum River. Narrow cave surrounded exotic rocks and cruciform cave at the end of path which is exposed only at low tide was mind-blowing. Every passenger was stunned to see the view.

Especially, you'll see why it's called cruciform cave when you look up. The sky on the ceiling is the shape of cross which is harmonized with blue waves in the sea. I guess the fact that you can see this only a few days a year would make tourists more desperate.

The cave is sinking at flood tide so you can only see this at low tide. On a day with weak waves, I would like to go there on a small boat. I used to live near the sea since I was young so I am used to being on a small boat in the middle of sea. On a small boat in the middle of sea, somehow I have fear and anxiety. But when it passes, it becomes calm and happy. It's been decades since I felt this.

So was I too chatty? If you've been to this cave on the ship, you would've been chatty and clapping to see the cave. I am just devastated that I cannot show you exactly how it looks like in the cave, magnificent scenery it is. The picture says it enough though, doesn't it? ^^*

This is the northern part of the island called Chotdae(candlestick) Rock. That way is west and when the sun sets, the sun looks like a fire on a candlestick. I know that they do not provide cruise ship service around sunset time but if there's one, I would be the first one aboard!

I guess I had all of my lucks on that day. I met a school of dolphins that's so rare that you can only see a few times a year. They showed up out of blue and the ship was rocking so I couldn't take pictures, only the back of this one. There are two in the picture but I saw a dozen of dolphins.

So this is the northern part of Haegeun River and over there is Geoje Island. The place on the top is called Ujebong where you can see the whole view of Haegeum River. It has a beautiful photo zone and the view is amazing so if you're not going to use the cruise ship program, I suggest you go there.

Now along the back of the island, we headed to Oedo. Unlike the cliff that's worn off by the waves, the back of the island was gentle.

That rock over there is fell off from the island.

As I took a closer look, it somehow looks like a person…

If you look at the top of the rock, a woman in a skirt is praying folding her hands. So this rock looks like a praying taoist fairy. How is it possible leaving this part and the rest being swept away?

So we're back to Lion Rock we saw first. The sun falling between the lion rocks is amazing as well. You know Omega? This is the spot for taking pictures for Omega. Of course not on the ship, you would have to use a telephoto lens around Haegeungang information centre on Geoje Island. Next I'll show you around Oedo Island.

+ Dojangpo Cruise Ship Fees and Information
+ Dojangpo→Haegeumgang(Haegeum Island)→Oedo(Island)→Dojangpo, Adult : 24,000 won (Cruise ship 16,000 won + Oedo entrance fee 8,000 won)
+ With a coupon downloaded from website, you'll get a 3,000 won discount for each person.
+ Time Required : 2 hrs and 10 mins (Haegeumgang Tour 40 mins. + Oedo tour 1 hr 30mins)
+ Please confirm your reservation because you might not be able to tour Haegeumggang or Oedo according to the weather condition.
+ Address : 292-6, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도 거제시 남부면 갈곶리 292-6)
+ Telephone : 055-632-8787~8

Isolated Island, Oedo(外島) Bonania 외도 보타니아

Oedo standing alone in the southeast sea of Geojedo is a place you can't skip on your trip to Geojedo. Get on the ship to get to the island and you'll see a 44,000 pyeong island with gardens decorated with natural camellia forest and subtropical plants including various cactus, palm trees, gazania and sunshine, all over 3,000 kinds of trees.

Everyone who's been here always goes back to this beautiful island and this used to be an alone island with a few thatched roof houses before Lee Chang-ho and Choe Ho-suk couple accidentally found this place in 1969, bought the whole island in three years and decorated the whole island for over 30 years. Even now, it's changing a little bit every year.

If you are finished with Hill of Wind and Haegeum River, now it's time to go to Oedo, the alone island of Geojedo. You can take the ship for 2 hours and 10 minutes at Dojangpo, and the direct route No. 3 which does not stop at Haegeum River is not currently available. It probably changes depending on the weather condition but mostly you could choose course No. 2 for taking a look around Haegeum River(ship fee 16,000 won) together with Oedo (entrance fee 8,000 won).

So after the 30-minute tour in Haegeum River, we arrived at Oedo. You have time limitation herebecause the cruise ship goes back exactly in 1.5 hours. If you get on the wrong ship, you might end up going to Jangseungpo or Gujora, or if you have to go back to the paved road to park your car or some reasons, you would have to wait for at least another hour until the next ship comes in. Indeed, 1.5 hours is enough time to take a look around the island though, so you'd better get on the same ship if possible to avoid troubles.

Everybody got busy with taking pictures as soon as they set their feet on the island. Just like Jejudo, Geojedo increasingly has more Chinese tourists. It's good news!

It was during Chusok holidays so the island was crowded with people. The guard said it's not usually this busy. I guess I picked the wrong day. But what can I do? I spent a fortune to come here so have to take a look everywhere right?

I wonder how they grew the tree like this. It's not like Korea, it's like a botanic garden in Singapore or a street somewhere in southeast Asia.

There were plenty of interesting trees that look like Papa smurf with bears. I could feel that everywhere, everything here is sincerely taken care of.

This is Coccus Garden. Whenever you set your eyes on, you won't find a single thing that isn't taken care of with love. It takes a little bit more than an hour to take a look around the whole island and time really passes once you are drawn to the plants.

A long ivy road is pretty and palm trees are exotic.

Winged Victory of Samothrace displayed in Musee du Louvre is also here. Of course it's not original. The art pieces displayed in world's famous museums were imitated and displayed here around Venus Garden. And those were the sites for people to take pictures.

Whenever you go, your eyes will be satisfied with beautiful flowers. In winter, the only flower you can see is camellia flower but other than winter, you'll see beautiful flowers for each season.

Among numerous flowers, these caught my eyes that I couldn't leave for a while.

I went up to Venus Garden. This used to be a playground of a branch school of an elementary school but it's rebuilt based on back garden(後庭) of Buckingham Palace as a motif. I guess this is a symbolic place of Oedo Botania.

Venus sculptures were standing in a few places harmonized with frame made of camellia. You might think this is artificial but this place is decorated with artificiality and nature with the minimum damage to the original landscape, which is school playground.