Sunday, August 8th
So...Amsbry, Blake, and I decided to go check out Gampo Beach. We met up and took the #150 bus out to the beach. The drive was beautiful! I had been out this way once before when I went to the Hundred Year Old Tea House. The road winds through the mountains and along a lake, then through a small village before reaching the beach. Once we got to the beach we got some ramen for dinner at a korean style beach stand, sat at a plastic table, and ate our ramen dinner looking out at the Ocean. Gotta love the simple things in life ^_^
This beach is known for the Tomb of King Munmu. I would have liked to have been able to go out and explore around the rocks, especially since it really didn't look that impressive - just a group of rocks near the beach. The tomb is just a set of rocks near the beach. This site has actually never been excavated, but this is said to be where he was either buried or his ashes were scattered. It's said that he chose this spot so that his spirit could become a dragon and ward off Japanese Pirates.
Anyway, we sat on the beach and Blake went out for a swim in the freezing cold water. He was slowly walking into the water when this random Korean guy came up behind him and just started splashing him. Amsbry and I couldn't help but laugh, haha. After that, Blake just immersed himself in the water and swam while Amsbry and I laid on the beach.
This week was my last week as a Wonderland Teacher. It was bittersweet - I was sad to leave these kids I have come to love, but really excited to start this next year at the new school. The new teacher, Gina, arrived on Wednesday night and shadowed me for 2 days. She will be great with the kids. Friday was my last day. I was fine until we gathered in the lobby and the kids sang a song in Korean. I have no idea what the song was, but the melody was enough to finally break me down and I cried. All the kids lined up to give me hugs.
My classes were so sweet. The Apples and Oranges (classes have fruit names) all said they love me and gave me big hugs.I lost it again when I helped the Apples pack up to go home and said my last goodbye. The rest of the day was fine, I'm much less attached to my older afternoon classes than my kindergarten students. I got some ice-cream cake for the teachers and my last 2 classes and before I knew it I was officially done! I cleaned out my desk and moved out of my apartment. I will now be staying with Liz and Ryan in their spare bedroom until I can move into my new apartment, I believe on the 26th.
This past year has been so great, and didn't really fly by like I expected it too. I've had a chance to do so many things and I think teaching has been - and will continue to be - a great experience. Thanks to everyone who has been a part of my life and of this past year. ^_^
Monday, August 30th.
Unfortunately I never did get around to writing a specific entry about my trip to Jeju Island. So I will do that now ^_^
Jeju is a little Korean Island just to the south of the mainland. Think of it as Korea's answer to Hawaii. Though I've never been to Hawaii, I was very happy with Jeju! I flew in on Saturday morning and left the following Wednesday morning. I made the perfect decision of staying at the Hyatt Regency.
The Hyatt is located on the southern part of the island in a resort area known as Jungmun Beach. I gotta say, the hotel was absolutely perfect. The first night I got there I had been put in a Korean style room, but I was able to switch to a Western Style room for the rest of my stay. The Korean style room isn't bad, it's just that there is no bed, but a pad on the floor. It's not very comfortable if you are use to a bed. My whole stay I got to enjoy a room with a balcony overlooking the beach. Here are some shots of the view from my room...
Even though the room was incredibly comfortable and I spent A LOT of time sitting by the pool, I did manage to not be a total bum and to go explore the area a bit.
I'll start off with Jungmun Beach. From the Hyatt there is a set of stairs that leads down to the beach.
The beach was pretty typical, nice sand, cool water, and a great view. As some of you know, I'm not much of a beach person, so I didn't actually go out into the water. (The reason for this being that there is just too much stuff in the water to swim with, I don't enjoy run ins with seaweed, jellyfish, fish in general, trash, and other objects that I have come into contact with while swimming...)
I also did some exploring of the Hyatt territory. The most intriguing thing I saw was that there is a side walk around the edge of the cliff the Hyatt sits on and leads up to a hiking path. The path was closed due to danger of falling rocks, but I was able to see this...
I also managed to get out and see 3 waterfalls close to the resort area: Cheonjeon Falls, Jeongbang Falls, and the third of which I don't know the name.
Cheonjeon Falls is actually a series of 3 waterfalls Cheonjeyeon Valley. The water pours from the ceiling of the cave, through the waterfalls, and finally into the sea. It's know as "The Pond of God"
When making my way to see Jeongbang falls, I found another waterfall. Though I had made a mental note of the name, I have since forgotten it. I walked down near the Paradise Hotel, through some traditional Korean houses, over a bridge, and this is what I found.
And last, but not least, was Jeongbang Falls. This was a typical tourist spot. There were tons of souvenir stands and you had to buy a ticket to see the waterfall.
On my way back from exploring the waterfalls I walked around the beach again as well as the resort area. My favorite thing I stumbled upon (not including the waterfalls) was every little girl's dream.
That is pretty much the extent of my not too interesting vacation in Jeju. I'm definitely thinking about going back next year once my current contract is over, before going home. I would get too see all the things I was too lazy to do the first time...
And now, I must stop. Hopefully later this week I will be here again to fill you in on my trip to Pohang last weekend and the wonderful guest I had this past weekend.
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