A journey to Jeju

Yes, we are still here! Sorry, for taking so long between blog entries. We've been busy playing travel guides for Trent's Mum, who has just left after a 10 day stay. During her time here we visited Jeju Island, the most Southern part of Korea. The island is home to South Korea's tallest mountain- Hallasan, a volcanic peak that takes up much of the island's centre. We stayed at Seogwipo, a southern port town with a rugged shoreline, home to a number of spectacular waterfalls.

Just in case she forgot what we looked like!

Denise and Trent at Cheonjiyeon waterfall

Riverscape around Cheonjiyeon waterfall

Jeongbang waterfall- we are told that it is the only waterfall in Asia to fall directly into the ocean

We arrived in Seogwipo during the Chilshimni Festival and stumbled across a community event, which we initial thought was a diving competition staring the famous women divers of Jeju island. These women, who are mostly over 60 years of age, are famed for their ability to dive to depths of 20 metres without diving apparatus. They began doing this to feed their families seafood during hard times on the land. We sat thought speeches by local dignitaries and watched in anticipation as these women suited up and the crowed started cheering for their favourite teams. We then had to laugh when the women, instead of plunging to the depths of the ocean floor, used their baskets as kickboards and had a 10metre sprint race!

Jeju women divers/kick boarders suit up as local officials open the event

Halla Mountain (Hallasan) is an extinct volcano that is 2000m tall and commands most of the inner portion of Jeju island. In Autumn it is covered in the warm tones of turning leaves and made for an exhilarating (if sometimes steep and uneven) climb. Here are some snaps from the day.

Autumn foliage frames a scene of rugged volcanic peaks

Trent's mum negotiating a path of volcanic rocks

After a steep 2 hour climb we were pleasantly surprised by the flat boardwalk that awaited us at the top, above the clouds

Looking down on Jeju's landscape, dotted with volcanic craters