Seeing Seopjkoji

One of the top priorities on my to-do list {which I largely "stole" from the wonderful list on CNN Travel}): 
http://travel.cnn.com/seoul/visit/50-beautiful-places-visit-korea-873093
... was to visit Seopjkoji. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjcBM75pRVY&feature=youtu.be

This winding coastal area is known for its romance and serenity. The sound of the crashing waves was a rhythm that was both familiar and serene. 

The best photos of the entirety of Seongsan Sunrise Peak can also be taken from this vantage point at Seopjkoji: 

A few other pictures I captured while in town: 

{*Outside a gift shop. Rachel and I bought beautiful amethyst necklaces for 30,000 KRW. Amethyst stone seems to be everywhere on Jeju. The shopkeeper was fair and friendly. She spoke excellent English}.

 

{*The necklace}.

 {*A shot of the native haenyo, or Korean women divers. Here, they are gathering seaweed to sell at the market}.

{*At Hanwha Aqua Planet. Even the wet suits have kitten ears. Everything is extremely "cute" and accessorized in Korea. In love}.

{*Pictures from the Hanwha Aqua Planet: a beautiful aquarium in Seopjkoji. We needed more time to return and investigate this! 38,000 KRW for admission. It was very busy for Chuseok}.

{*My very favorite photo from Seopjkoji. This woman agreed to pose with me for a picture. She charged us 2,000 KRW as a "fee." She was a firecracker. This woman was also a haenyo, or traditional woman diver}. 

{Divers can dive depths to 20 meters. Women, whose bodies are adapted more for the cold, collect the in-demand sea products (thought to be the lowest job), and are also the primary breadwinners in this matriarchal culture on Jeju}. 

Looking ahead, I will return in the spring. According to CNN Travel, the rape blossoms  fill the entire green fields in my pictures.  A pretty contrast to red dirt roads, and the azure blue skies. See you again, Seopjkoji. 

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