Hiking Sarabong Oreum

What can I say? I like sunsets. 

So after Rachel suggested we see Sarabong Park, considered one of the best places to see a sunset on Jeju, off we were navigating the buses again, (with a bit less luck I might add). Rising above eastern Jeju City are two oreums, Korean dialect for  "small volcanic mountain". The oreums {Sarabong and Byeoldobong Oreum,} are a nice, easy hike, and offer 360 degree views of Jeju City and the harbor and ferry port. 

{View of the harbor. You can see flights leaving from nearby Jeju Airport}. 

*

{Below: "In more recent Jeju history, Sarabong was used by the occupying Japanese army in World War II as an underground fortress. At the top of the oreum next to the gazebo is a fenced- off entrance to one of the Japanese tunnels. The Japanese built the underground tunnels in case of invasion by the Allied forces.}" -http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=212

*

 {Mokchungsa Temple: lookout place}. 

{As Americans and tourists, we get lots of free treats from Koreans. Here is a seasonal fruit native to Jeju called a gum, or persimmons in English. They look deceivingly similar to a tomato, but are fleshy and sweet}. 

 

*

{After a quick, but steep hike: who doesn't want to get a quick ab workout in, right? I feel ya, girl. The park was full of strange workout gear p.s.-bars, dumbbells, and inclined planks for sit ups}. 

*

{Another beautiful sunset and perfect end to a laid back Sunday}.

 *

Photo credit to my fabulous roommate for some of the pics :)!