Island Life

Summer vacation has come and gone. Although I am mourning the fact that it is over, I take solace in knowing that I had the best vacation of my life. Being an adult sucks in many regards; IE working full time, having to pay for everything on my own, and needing to fall asleep at 9pm. However, the one thing that I love about being "responsible" is having a paid vacation. We took advantage of our break by running away to Korea's most popular island: Jejudo.

On the ferry

A two hour bus ride (that we almost missed) took us to a port where we jumped on a high speed ferry that took us over to the island in about two hours. We were assaulted with a face full of hot, humid air that left us breathless, yet giddy. The island life had begun.

A taxi dropped us off at our first guesthouse of the week, Doona's Guesthouse. I have never been so excited to see a porch! One downside about living in Korea is the lack of time we spend outdoors. We seem to bounce from our school (where we are locked inside for 9 hours a day) to our shoebox apartment, and the only time we spend outside in the week is during our half hour walk home. The wrap around porch and garden at Doona's were a welcome relief from the urban life we live. Doona's is located in the southern part of Jejudo, in a small city called Seogwipo. Views of the ocean, lush valleys, and volcanic cliffs replaced the usual sight of high rise apartments and Paris Baguette bakeries.

View from our hostel's porch

Our time at Doona's rushed by as time on vacation always seems to do. We visited waterfalls, lava tunnels, parks, volcanic craters and beaches. The best way to get around the island is by city bus which took us through green fields and along ocean coastlines. Apparently Jejudo has been named as one of the seven new wonders of the world and I can understand why.

Small waterfall

Jeongbang waterfall

Beach <3

Lava tunnel entrance

Stone statues

For the hopes of reunification

Jeju

Traditional house and kimchi pots

View from the crater

Sunrise Peak crater

Aside from the porch, the best part about Doona's was the people that we met. There is something bonding about sharing a hostel with fellow English teachers enjoying the "island life", a term that was repeated an incredible amount of times yet never got old. New friends from Seoul inspired Aaron and me to embark on a longer Southeast Asia backpacking trip (but I will explain that later). The most memorable night of the trip occurred when we were on the porch (of course) drinking beer and eating pizza (like true Americans) and Doona's husband ushered us into his van to go night swimming. He took us to a place revered among locals where ice cold water that flows under the island rushes into the warm sea water. Soju bottles in hand we all stumbled and giggled our way into the ocean to gaze up at stars (which I have not seen in 5 months), and at that point I felt utter contentedness: life was perfect.

Sarah and Belva

Since we were living the island life it only seemed appropriate that a typhoon would sweep over the island during our stay. The rain came in waves, pounding down on us with such intensity that all other sound vanished, but then it would stop again leaving us to wonder if we had imagined the whole thing. On the day of the "hurricane" we traveled up north to stay in Jeju city, the biggest city on the island. We found ourselves reunited with our Doona friends in a small Indian restaurant with fist fulls of naan and chai tea. After sufficiently gorging ourselves we moved to a covered patio, smoked a traditional hookah, and listened to the storm rage around us. This was the second time in my trip that I felt euphoric happiness, everything was exactly as it should be.

Hookah at the Indian restaurant

The evening continued with a quest to find a German Brewery. I cannot stress enough how terrible Korean beer is so the prospect of a decent brew had us wandering the streets in a downpour, unrelenting in our search. With a cheer and immediate cry of anguish we found the brewery, it was closed. We decided to duck into The Witch House across the street. This bar with its musty cigarette smell, black tinted windows, and red painted walls would fit in Reno perfectly. However, 10 Cass beers, a few pieces of pineapple, 4 peanuts and 100,000won later it had us running to the now open brewery. A few very intense games of Mafia, far too many pitchers of stout, and an embarrassing session at a norebong (Korean singing room) finished up the night.

Happy with good beer in hand

Our last day was spent on the beach as we attempted to soak up enough vitamin D to last us through the winter. Epic amounts of planning for our Southeast Asia trip in March took place while floating in a roped off, patrolled area of the ocean (damn Korea). That night as the sun set we made our way to a scandalous place known as Loveland. For such a conservative country, South Korea sure does love dick statues. The erotic theme park filled us with embarrassed giggles, shocked exclamations, and downright curiosity.

Hyeopjae Beach

Perfect

Loveland

Loveland

Loveland

Loveland

Aaron and I have decided to spend a week in the Philippines then a few weeks volunteering in Borneo before heading to lounge on the beaches of southern Thailand. We will then make our way up north into Cambodia and Laos before finally relenting and returning the states at the beginning of May. I cannot even begin to explain my excitement and enthusiasm for this trip. I believe now that I was born to travel, and I don't think I will ever be able to settle for anything else.