Holiday Journal

• Start
•  
• HanDam promenade
•  
• beaches
•  
• Bangseonmun Valley
•  
• Saryeoni Forest trail
•  
• Hanwha Resort
•  
• Bird Island
•  
• Finish

This is Hallym Kalguksu(chopped noodles) restaurant, 10-minutes away from Hyeopjae beach by car. The restaurant looked clean and modern, like it's a new building. It's already became famousand is a quite popular restaurant.

In addition to chopped noodles, they also serve Top Shell Rice Porridge, Gimbap and Bulgogi so you can enjoy a variety of foods. I carefully explained the article and checked that they use seaweed fulvescens and Top Shells that are caught in Jeju's sea, and black pork meat from Jeju. It made me to anticipate the taste even more.

A simple menu board of Hallym chopped noodle restaurant. A bowl of rice is provided free of charge, along with the reasonable prices of the restaurant. We ordered one Noodle Soup with Top Shells, the best menue of Hallym and a spicy black pork Bulgogi.

Fresh Kimchi and radish kimchi that goes well with noodles and a few side dishes for the Bulgogi came out. The side dishes wasn't spicy or salty, and were attractive overall, .

This is Noodle Soup with Top Shells, the first one that came out. As the main ingredients are Top Shells and seaweed fulvescens, also called as gastropod of Jeju sea, the soup's color is green.

The look of the noodle was different from other clam noodles that I often ate, and it made me wonder of it's flavor.

Where is the Top Shells? I scooped a spoonful of the noodle and found them at the floorof the dish. The size was small, but the texture of them was chewy and savory and sweet, the more I chewed, it gave me a very good taste.

Every time I lifted the noodle, I could eat the seaweed fulvescens that has the flavor of the sea. The harmony of the soft chewy noodles and seaweed fulvescens was well. The soup was the most delicious part!! The soup had a thick and clear taste, making me to lift my spoon again and again. The amount was plentiful, I wanted to put my ricein the soup and eat it up, but I was too full.

The spicy black pork bulgogi came out as the second one. In Jeju, other rertaurants sell pork with the price of 3-40000 won per 600g, without selling 200g each. But it's too much and also expensive for two travelers. But here, people can eat Jeju pork with 7000 won, which is thankful for us.

The spicy seasoned pork was completely grilled, including the skin! It's very delicious with the spicy and chewy flavor.

This is Chilled Cucumber Soup served with Bulgogi. The sense to chill down our heat, caused by the weather and hot food is well shown in the chilled soup.

This chilled soup is different from other clear chilled soups, because it is turky. The soybean paste released in the chilled soup made the soup taste sour and refreshing.

It's good to wrap spicy Bulgogi in lettuce with garlic.

Plcing Bulgogi just over warm white rice also tastes good.

Hyeopjae beach is always crowded because it is famous for many Jeju tourists. So there's a number of restaurants in front of Hyeopjae beach, but is always crowded. If you drive your car just a bit more, it is possible to have a quiet meal at Hallym restaurant.

Address: 1328-15, Hallim-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do(제주 제주시 한림읍 한림리 1328-15)

Phone: 070-8900-3339

Opening hours: 07:00 to 16:00 (closed on Sundays), closed early if all of the materials run out

'Dalsup Guest House', providing relaxing independent spaces 달숲게스트하우스

Since several years ago, many unique guest houses had flooded all around Jeju island, making travelers want to visit and look around. The previous guest houses only provided the bedrooms as private spaces, with the other amenities for common use like dormitories. But recently, guest houses providing private rooms and bathrooms, called Couple Guest House are in the trend. I stayed at 'Dalsup Guest House', one of the popular Couple Guest Houses.

'Dalsup Guest House' is located in Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si. Beautiful Hyeopjae beach takes 5-minutes by car, from 'Dalsup Guest House'.

This is a place of the guest house, a Check-In / Check-Out office and also a place to eat breakfast in the morning, and in the afternoon it has a seating area, letting guests to read a book or work with laptops.

One feature of Jeju's guest houses is the lovely decoration. And Dalsup also is beautifully decorated, just like other guest houses of Jeju.

The ornaments are ones that women would prefer, than men would. Booking a room will make your girlfriend give a little praise.

Because it wasn't peak season, the reservation was not really that hard, but there was only one 'sea room' left. The reservations were already completed from mid-June to September, so I was lucky being able to book a two-night in this popular guest house.

The interior reminded me of the sea, having aqua blue bedding, and the whole had a neat taste. There was no closet, but instead was a pretty ladder hanger, and used it well. Some guest houses are so full of personality, but to me, the neat spirit is felt good, making me comfortable.

The room had a suitable size, like a master bedroom of a regular apartment, not too large or small. There's a fridge, TV and drawers are below the mirror, with a hairdryer. Previous guest houses had no TV, to let guests rest in an analog way. But here in Dalsup had a TV, so we spent the silent night of Jejuwithout any bore.

There's a Wi-Fi Internet router for internet, which was helpful when I was using my laptop.

The toilets inside the room. It's a feature of couple guest house, that there are separate rooms and toilets!! They had put enough towels for 2-days in advance, and the bathroom was very clean. Toiletries are soap, shampoo, toothpaste and other things you need are to be prepared individually.

In addition, a few snacks like tea, coffee, and cookies, which are my favourite, were also prepared. Of course, even the coffee pot was ready.

2 bottled water per day, so we had 4bottles prepared.

We gotta drink a celebratory drink for our first night of Jeju trip. I have spent the first night with a delicious 'soju with beer' drink, which is a drink of mixed Halla soju and cold beer, searching the internet for our next destination with my laptop.

The next morning, before eating breakfast we looked around the unseen guest house.

Surrounded by clunky but also beautiful stone walls, the yard was paved with green grass and the garden was well decorated. Room's inside and outside were also neatly managed.

The daughter of the owner, who is the manager prepares breakfast herself. Breakfast hours are from 9:00 to 10:00 in the morning, if you book the time for breakfast a day ahead, she prepares in time.

The drink menu is coffee, milk and juice, and in the morning we always choose coffee, anytime anywhere!! This the manager, who's also a Barista had made this coffee with the espresso machine. The taste was thick and sour, it was delicious enough to wake up the morning drowsiness.

French toast with few slices of fresh fruit was served for breakfast. The French toast was baked with plenty of soft butter, kept with milk and egg water was very good.

I had breakfast at Dalsup the next day too, because we stayed two nights. Before the meal I played with the puppies in the yard. The yard was always neatly cleaned up, every time I went there. The owner must be a tidy person, always paying attention to cleanliness.

The breakfast of the second morning. It's a bit different, the butter baked crispy bread was served with some fruit.

The whipped cream is soft and sweet, a common taste but the citrus jam next to it was very delicious. It was a taste not found in other places except in Jeju.

I looked around the cafe one last time before leaving, and found a jewelry accessory called the sea jewel. If you look closely they are common shells seen at the beach, but the pretty painting and decoration made them look like real sea gems.

Lately in Jeju, there are Guesthouses here and there because of the trend. If you want separate toilet and room, but not just any drab motels, I recommend Dalsup guesthouse.

Address: 1319-1, Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 한림읍 협재리 1319-1)

Phone: 010-8990-7037

Reservations and operational information: Refer website click

There is a popular cooking contest program on cable called 'Master Chef Korea'. There is a restaurant, of Gim Seung-min Chef, the winner season 1.

This place is named 'Aru yo 2'. 'Aru yo' means "There is~" and is interpreted as "There is delicious food~", "delicious~", "There are ingredients~". It's a fun name.

'Aru yo 2' is located in Jeju Yeon-dong, 15-minutes away from Jeju International Airport. 'Aru yo 2' means second branch, 'Aru yo 1' is located in Yusuam-ri, Aewol-eup. The 1st Shop is now operated by another Chef, and Chef Gim Seung-min works in the second restaurant. Even though the name 'Aru yo' is same, the menu is different.

The restaurant's size is small. The man with the shiny bald head in the picture is chef Gim Seung-min. I'm anticipating the food of a famous chef.

The menu board of 'Aru yo 2'. There's mainly Japanese cuisine. There are various types of bowl of rice served with toppings, and Ramen. The price is not expensive, nor cheap, just good. We ordered one Kakiagedong (Rice with Deep-fried Vegetables and Fish) and one Butaten syoku (Pork set).

The first served pork set. Kim spice powder sprinkled rice, three Kimchi side dishes, a cool sea-flavored stew, and pork food I have never seen.

Seeing the picture again makes my mouth watering. After roasting the pork with cabbage and onion gravy, pork stew was poured and fried egg was baked deliciously with the chunky pork. The food was a new one to me, and it tasted very good. Soaking the grilled pork in meat broth was a new way of eating, the broth soaked in the chunky pork made a soft moist texture.

The soup's taste is similar to Donkotz Ramen, but it didn't have the smell of pig and was delicious. It had thick taste, but wasn't greasy, I put my rice in the soup and enjoyed.

The Rice with Deep-fried Vegetables and Fish also came out. This is a food of rice with big vegetable fries on top of it.

Sesame, wormwood, onion, corn, green onion, etc vegetables are fried in one piece. Because clean oil was used for frying, the vegetables wasn't greasy, and was crispy. The neat one-fried vegetables had their unique flavors alive.

Below the fries, seasoned soy sauce was sprinkled to add the crispy-spicy flavor.

My wife whispered to me as we were coming out. That the picture of the cat in the picture is a painting of singer Lee Hyo Ri~ I asked the host, and checked that it's right. The painting looked special after I knew it was a celebrity's picture. ^^ *

'Aru yo 2' restaurant's working hours. 'Aru yo 1' has a break time, but here to second branch operates until 10 pm without a break time.

I anticipated a lot, because it is a restaurant of the winner of Master Chef Korea. The food might be common in Japan, but to me, it was unfamiliar, but the clean and luxurious taste was satisfying. Japanese food restaurants are common in Seoul/Gyeonggi area, but this kind of food is uncommon, so I recommend to visit 'Aru yo ' when you go to Jeju.

Address: 255-6, Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 연동 255-6)

Phone:, 064-745-4858

Open Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Closed: Sundays, holidays

Again, we'll introduce a really beautiful and mysterious place although tourists doesn't come often. I've never met anybody here whenever I come to this place, even though I visit here every time I am at Jeju island.

This means not many knows the place, and that you can feel the mystery of the unspoiled place. Now, let's shall we go for a refresh?

Two Dolharbangs guarding Bangseonmun valley. This mark gives me the feeling that beyond is the unknown world.

The name Bangseonmun means "Place where mystical ascetics come by", and on the rare looking rocks, you can see the old phrases put the good olds have inscribed.

Down the stairs, below the valley there was a small space looking like a hideout, surrounded by trees and the cliff. The eerie atmosphere was my type ^^ *

I don't if fell from the sky, or fell away from the wall, or rolled down from the river's upstream, anyway there were very large rocks, which I don't know where those came from.

The fascinating sight of the valley is found only in Jeju Island. The only sounds I can hear are the sounds of rain falling on the leaves and the birds. The atmosphere was really nice. Because of the rain, the rocks look slippery, but to my surprise it wasn't.

I wonder how the rainwater will flow in this valley, when summer rainy season starts. The pictures in the photo is bound to be slightly different from the actual sight, and Bangseonmun's actual sight has a weird and mysterious beauty.

In addition, the floor is covered with black coarse sand like Suwolbong Black Sand beach. The crunching sound of my footsteps were good.

I felt the feeling of the primitive nature, as if the place was not reached by the hands of people for a long time. There maybe hatching eggs of dinosaurs far away. ^^ *

The big hole below the big rock, looking like a door to a new world is Bangseonmun in the picture. There's a legend that mystical ascetics come from heaven, through Bangseonmun. Although it's a little bit hard to really understand the legend, but Bangseonmun's legend is enough to understand from the bottom of my heart.

The letters which scholars of Joseon Dynasty had inscribed are upon the rock(at the bottom right) in the end of the passage of Bangseonmun hole. People leaving their names are same now or then, huh? ^^ *

Someone had came here to make a wish. Then I shall make a wish too? There is a stone which I posted is somewhere among these~?

The valley is a place where one side along there's a small waterfall, and there's a fairy tale that Taoist fairies come down and take a bath. Because of the rain, the place is full of muddy water. The small pool made of water from the deep places gives a mysterious feeling.

Like exploring the interior of a living creature, the place kept it's mystery of the beginning, therefore was a very different experience.

Please visit Bangseonmun valley if you travel Jeju island. Probably the first great landscape to see will unfold in front of you. I liked it more because it was a hidden attraction with no people.

Address: 3819-11, Ora2-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 오라2동 3819-11)

Beautiful cedar forest trail walking, Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest 절물자연휴양림

In Jeju, there are many good uphills or trails to walk. Today we'll walk the National Natural Forest located in volcanic crater, Bonggaedong, Jeju city. This is an area where the total of the receipt is of 3 million ha, and over 90% is filled with Cedar trees aged over 45 years. And maybe that's why the place is so cool, when walking through the forest even in summer. Let's go down to check it out.

Unlike the places we have gone so far, there's quite a lot of people here. Maybe because there are not only walking trails, but also cottages which can be accomodations. Cottages in the woods are operated by the Forest Service, are very difficult to book like catching a star from the night sky. Instead, the price is very cheap, so if suceed, you should go absolutely!

Charming flowers and moss grows on top of the unique stone wall of Jeju Island. That's very pretty and unusual indeed.

Jeolmul Natural Forest collects some admission and parking fees. Admission is ₩ 1,000 for adults, and parking fee varies 1000~3000 won depending on the model.

Let's walk past the Dolharbang and into the woods~

It was a pretty hot day, and the look of the shade of the forest gives you the cool feeling, doesn't it? The piece of wood greeting me is impressive hehe.

There's low wooden benches in the forest here and there, so you can have lunch or take a rest for a while.

But there's a lot of Cedar on the island, isn't it? The reason is that Cedar were planted as windbreaks, to protect the Citrus trees. That's why Cedar are planted wherever in Jeju Island.

There were many interesting pieces made of Cedar wood. Looks really good to take pictures with your families, huh?

When you pass by the "Laugh out loud Zone", you should laugh out loud to get healthy. ^^ *

There were sliced Cedar placed around, and I coveted them. With those, maybe we can even create a chair or a table with them. Even just stacked like that, Cedar are beautiful.

There are many trails with various themes in the Natural Forest, and this is the trails of Longevity. Maybe if we pass here, we will live long! I went in and ate berries, sucking up the energy. ^^ *

This is a low wooden bench under a petal falling tree, and flowers are fallen all around the tree. It's like calling me to sit here.

There are beautiful resting places everywhere. Anywhere I sit, it becomes my place.

The cut stumps is also an art. I wonder what this tree had become? Pieces? Table? Anyway, I wish it had reborn into a great thing.

Things that are likely to be in Natural Forest are all found here. There is also a beautifully decorated pond.

When I threw little bread pieces, the carps crowded around.

Promenade courses vary from short to long ones, and taking a walk in the forest is about 2km, so it won't be hard, taking about 40 minutes to look around, considering the uphills and downhills. And the whole downhill and uphill sections don't have any staircases, and parts of the floor is of wooden deck. Otherwise is flat with stone floor as shown in the photograph above, so it's suitable for bringing a stroller or wheelchair.

This is a mineral spring, do you know why the forest's name is 'Jeolmul'? Right next to the mineral spring there is a hermitage named Yaksuam, because the water is right next to a temple, it is named 'Jeolmul'. The spring water that springs from this mineral spring has effects to cure neuralgia and gastrointestinal diseases, and Jeju city manages the water as number 1 edible water.

I came in quite deeply, and the wooden deck trail still continues. Seeing the lady dragging a stroller on this way shows you how easy this trail is?

A little bird have built a house on a lower branch. When I peeked in, there was no eggs, maybe there will be eggs and baby birds growing up later.

Now, I've come almost one round. Take one last deep breath to clean your lungs.

There are Calanthe discolors planted tightly under Cedar. It seems to be where you can make your way to the middle, and able to take closer looks. Looks good to walk and talk with your children.

I should give one food for my body as a reward, for using energy walking for an hour. hehe~ A cup of black coffee and an Olle-gil honey bread Kya~ There is a nice trail called Saryeoni path, 3.3km away from Jeolmul Natural Forest. I'll have a meal first and introduce you a less crowdy course among Saryeoni path, where is easy to park. Please wait!

Address: San 78-1, Bonggae-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 제주시 봉개동 산78-1)

Phone: 064-721-7421

Namokdo, a famous Jeju restaurant where Locals haveappreciated 나목도식당

These days there are many cheaper and cleaner guesthouses, thanks to low-cost flight airlines. But because tourists should buy every meal, the restaurant's prices that are nearby tourist sites are still a burden.

So, today let's go in Namokdo, located in Gasi-ri, Pyoseon-myeon where we can enjoy local Jeju pork with a reasonable price.

Namokdo's appearance at the entrance of Gasi-ri village. It's just an ordinary restaurant in a rural village of Jeju, with no sites nearby, but it's reputation is spread, and many tourists come to enjoy the tasty food and low price.

Because many tourists take photos, local kids take a nice poses for photos. I'll give you guys cool sunglasses, for your portrait rights. ^^ *

This is the menu board of Namokdo restaurant. There are many menus from the most popular rib, pork belly, and other meat and sundae meal with sidedish, sundae sidedish and etc.

The price is very reasonable, isn't it? If you would like to eat pork belly in other tourist sites in Jeju island, 200g for 1person is about 15,000won.

But here in Namokdo restaurant it takes 9,000won, even raw meat is 6,000won. And noodle is 3,000won!!! We came to have a meal, so we ordered flavored roast for 2 people.

4 side dishes and ssamjang, vegetables came out. The Kimchi and kkakdugi tasted a little bit different with Seoul/Gyeonggi region, but wasn't that bad.

And this is salted and fermented anchovies, the sauce that local residents eat with meat!! Big salted and fermented anchovies. It had some fishy taste of the anchovies. Those who hate fishy taste would reject these, but those who were born at the seashore, like me, will enjoy eating white rice with salted and fermented anchovies.

They served flavored roast over a hot grill and poured a bowl of meat broth. After that, the costumers should cook and eat themselves.

I wondered what a flavored roast was, but now I see it's like stir-fried spicy pork, with red pepper paste seasoning. When the meat is done, you can put bean sprouts and seasoned onion with vinegar and fry it together.

Bowl of rice was additional with flavored roast, so when I ordered, they also served radish bean paste soup.

As like warm-hearted rural area, the rice was plenty.

When the meat is almost done, don't wait for the waiter and fry bean sprouts and seasoned onion with vinegar yourself.

There are many restaurants that serve pork with it's skin together. Maybe that's why the seasoning's taste is more chewy and spicy.

It's not sweet or salty like stir-fried spicy pork, the bit spicy and clean seasoning worked along with bean sprouts and green onion.

It's tasty to eat a big slice of meat with bean sprouts and green onion and lettuce~

Or to mix the seasoned meat with rice is also tasty.

Gasi-ri Pyoseon-myeon, where Nomokdo restaurant is located, is a quiet rural village in Jeju.

After your meal, take a walk around the village for digestion.

Like in the picture, innocent kids come to ask for taking photos, or cute village puppies follow you to play.

Hehehe I tried to take photos of my wife, and the puppy kept blocking between us.

This puppy must be smart. We laughed a lot, amused by him.

Nomokdo restaurant was actually a place popular to local residents, but recently was known to tourists, so many tourists also visit too. Although, it's still a restaurant for residents so we heard Jeju dialects throughout our meal. The food is tasty and plentiful, but also we had enjoyed the friendly atmosphere of Jeju's countryside at Nomokdo restaurant.

Address: 1877-6, Gasi-ri, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (제주특별자치도 서귀포시 표선면 가시리 1877-6)

Phone: 064-787-1202

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., holiday unspecified.