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Friday, July 28, 2023

Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korea

2023 Spring Asia Cruises II - 9-Day Kyushu Spring Flowers Cruise, Roundtrip Yokohama, Japan
March 19, 2023 (Saturday) - Seogwipo, Jeju, South Korean

As our ship slowly moving towards the island of Jeju, the most southern tip in South Korea, we could see it vaguely on this foggy morning. This will be our first time on this island and we are certainly excited!

Jeju in sight on deck.

As we docked around 10:00 at the cruise terminal, we could hear the drum banging and music sounding right next to the ship and this was what we saw... Apparently, our ship was the first cruise back docking at Jeju port after the pandemic and there was a huge welcoming festivity going on at the port.

Reporters waiting to record the event.


Police on horse back were there to greet us also.

Very special, indeed!


A modern and new cruise terminal. We were presented with beautiful gifts and souvenirs as we walked out of the terminal. A nice gesture indeed.

Originally, we were just planning on getting to downtown Seogwipo to explore the market and the waterfalls nearby. Transportation is lacking at this port and the shuttles provided by Diamond Princess were expensive. Fortunately, there were taxis trying to get business for the day tour outside the cruise terminal. Somebody flagged down a driver with a van as soon as they were aware of our need, a vehicle that fits all 8 of us. The negotiation ended with a one-day tour of some important sights on the island for about $200 USD (which we had to pay in Korean currency). Not bad for the 8 of us, so we were off for our exploration. The driver had places in mind and he discouraged us from going downtown claiming there is nothing in town that's worth our time there. He would take us to the most eastern side of the island and also to a cultural village instead. We really didn't know any better so off we went.

Seongeup Folk Village
The first stop we were taken to was a place called Seongeup Folk Village, where the very popular TV series "Dae Jang Geum" was filmed. It also gives a good historical and cultural background of people who used to live here many years ago.

Entrance to the Folk Village

Main Gate


The two statues of their Land Gods guarding the village.

The government official on the left and the military official on the right.

Grinder



Houses with roof made of reeds.

What is he doing?

Guarding against the black pigs that each household would raise while going to the restroom.

Some important wares that women used in the past.



"Dae Jang Geum"

Selling products of the village.




Beautiful flowers all over the island.

After our visit to the Folk Village, we were brought here to this restaurant that is just outside the Seongsan Ilchulbong for lunch.

Korean pancakes

many small dishes of appetizer 

Main dish, assorted fresh seafood pot with abalone, prawns, octopus, sea snails, and a whole belt fish underneath. Some of the seafood was still wiggling and alive.

Grilled Belt Fish. Seems like Belt fish is an important dish serve here.

Famous abalone porridge.

What an unusual and wonderful meal!

Their signature dish.

Seongsan Ilchulbong
This site is at the very east of the island, therefore, famous for their sunrise as indicated in the name Ilchulbong (Sunrise Summit). There were many visitors here, mostly Koreans, visiting this place on this Sunday. Jeju is also know as Honeymoon Island, so many newly weds or lovers enjoy spending time here. 

A shot that I took from the door of the restaurant where we had lunch of the summit.

This is a huge park with one side to the top of the mountain for a fee and there is an observation deck on the left with the women divers show on the left that is free.

Walking down to the Women Divers Show by the water.




Beautiful site!


A lot of walking though.



After the summit, the driver was going to take us to another site but seeing that our time was running short, we told him we will skip and just get us back to port. We never want to cut too close to all aboard time. Before dropping us back in port, he took us to a quiet factory that makes chocolate covered orange and orange cookies. We were able to try and buy some delicious local treats.

We ended up not seeing much of the downtown area even though the driver drove through parts of the city as we were going back to port. We were happy with what we did on this short day. I think for someone who knew what they want to see may tell the driver where to go but for us we really did not know where we should go, so it was OK that we spent our day just as the driver suggested. Jeju is a beautiful island! We really enjoyed the scenery as we drove through the many parts of the island from port.

Back at the cruise terminal, they had some vendors selling local products both inside and outside the building before we had to go through the immigration process to exit the country. We should be back in Japan tomorrow.



Dinner was good, with enough choices for our different taste buds to end our interesting day in Jeju.

For video of the day, please click here.


"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."   -- Acts 4:12

 

Friday, July 21, 2023

Rushing Through Kagoshima

2023 Spring Asia Cruises II - 9-Day Kyushu Spring Flowers Cruise, Roundtrip Yokohama, Japan
March 18, 2023 (Saturday) - Kagoshima, Japan

This is another new port for us, and we all looked forward to be in this city. The problem once again is the transportation. With the expensive shuttles that were provided and limited taxis available outside the cruise terminal, we joined the long line for a couple of taxis to go downtown where we were told to get the all-day passes for our bus ride around the city. The information staff at port told us we can buy the pass at the Tourist Information Office in downtown Tenmonkan area and the taxi ride took a while to get us there. By the time we arrived at the Tourist Information Office, we found out that it was closed because it was Saturday. Fortunately, we figured out (using Google map) that there is a City View Bus station right near the tourist office and we could possibly get the one-day pass on the bus. The City View Bus was exactly what we needed for the day!

After getting on the bus and purchased our passes, we were good to go. It was quite crowded though since it was a Saturday with many locals also going on their weekend trips. Our first destination was the Shiroyama Observation Deck where we could see the whole city and the Sakurajima Volcano across the harbor. 

Shiroyama Observation Deck

First glimpse of the Sakurajima Volcano from the Observation Deck.

A vendor on the deck, ice cream is supposedly very good here but we did not try.

One of the memorials at the site.

Care for a photo?

View of the city below and our cruise ship.

Sengan-en
After the photo op and walking around the observation deck, we took the bus back down to our next point of interest--Sengan-en, a huge garden and historical site. 

I did not realize that this garden is so big and with so much to see! Now we have to hurry a little so we could see as much as possible. This is definitely a beautiful garden. The old buildings are kept nicely and the garden very neatly. Plus, we had excellent weather. What else can se ask for?

Some of the old buildings.

Just beautiful!









Full view of the volcano, one of the most erupted volcano in the world. It erupted 432 times in 2020.

Not cherry blossom season yet but still very pretty.







If we had time, I would love to have a nice lunch here.


Ferry to Sakurajima 
After Sengan-en, we managed to catch the City View Bus again to the ferry station. The line for the bus was long but we all got on with a few people being left behind. On the other hand, the ferry was easy because they operate round the clock for this 15-minute ride every 20 minutes. From the mainland, we just get on the ferry boat and pay the 200Y when we get off on the other side. 

The ferry also take cars along.


A very pleasant ferry ride.

Because of the limited time, we just walked around the port area a little bit and visited the park near the ferry station. We were told that to fully enjoy the island one would have to plan a day there. 

Looking at the ferries from the park.


Sakurajima Volcano


We were able to catch the ferry before it leaves after getting some Ash Ice Cream (actually just a vanilla ice cream with some black ash looking stuff sprinkled over it) at the station and ended this quick but fun trip to the island.

Kids play room on the ferry.


Snack Bar

We were fortunate to have a couple of taxis waiting at the ferry station when we got off and off we went, back to the cruise port. There was heavy traffic near the port which made us nervous but we got back in time before the all-aboard time. It was good to be back on the ship in one piece after this busy day.

School kids and locals seeing us off at the cruise port.





Very touching!

Goodbye, Kagoshima! See you next time!






For video of this day, please click here.


"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
   -- Mark 14:38