One of the highlights of my trip to Jeju was a day I spent with fellow solo traveler Stephanie at Udo Island. We lived inside a postcard the whole damn day. The things we did took me right back to my childhood: cycles, candies, winding roads, spiders and seaweed and just plenty of time to be, a time where there was no concept of time!
Ferry to Udo
We took a bus from near our guesthouse (Surf 'n' Joy) at Dodu Bong in the west of Jeju Island to Seongsan Harbor on the eastern side. From here, Udo - a lava plateau - is a 15 minute ferry ride, and round fare to the island is about 10000 Won if I remember correctly. Three things we wanted to tick off at Udo: cycling, lighthouse, and the island's famous peanut ice cream!
Peanut ice cream
The island is named so because of its shape, of a 'lying cow' or Udo in Hanja. I didn't quite catch the cow, but as soon as we landed, I did catch freshness and nourishment in abundance! We helped ourselves to a massive, delicious seafood ramen replete with abalones, king crabs, shrimps, oysters and so much more, fresh from the seaaaaaa! We were too hungry to take pictures. And then we rented our cycles for 10000 won each for the day, and thus began our exploration of the happiest place on earth!
Seaweed being dried
Stephanie from Sweden is a friend I made one night while hanging out at Hongdae Playground in Seoul, by virtue of being female solo backpackers doing this as a way of life, these bonds are strong. For her, cycling around pristine hills is kind of a no biggie. But for me ... holy moly! My heart was exploding at the greens and blues and golds blooming all around me. I don't think I have seen the sun cast its rays with such glory, or even reeds sway in the breeze with such grace and intention. I think we started with the Udo island Olle trail and then deviated where and when we fancied. I was tripping so hard at the sheer simplicity and sweetness of this island and its people.
Udo's scenery is split into categories like day and night, east and west, front and back, sky and ground and such. These contrasts can be felt in the island's fluid colors and textures. Once we finished cycling round 3/4 the circumference, we reached a point that was selling our desired ice cream made of locally grown peanuts, and had that stairway to ... urrghhhh ... i won't say it ... the lighthouse - and that is another world of its own!
Stairway to .... bwahahaha!
We went in October, and given my tropical temperament, it was damn chilly for me, and I would call it cold weather while the others call it "pleasant". As we walked up the steps to the lighthouse, we could experience the entire landscape transforming around us. And once atop - it was indeed a sight to BEHOLD!
And as the sun began to set, with a heavy but fully satiated heart, we bid adieu to this treasure of an island, and caught the last ferry for the evening (1730) back home. There were options to stay on the island, buttttt we just went on right back the way we came!
xxx THE END xxx