Udo Island

Following our hike at Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak,{which ended at 8 am} Rach and I decided on a whim to check out Udo Island to round out the day. I had heard my co-teacher casually talk about exploring here, and with our lucky streak at the peak: why not? So.. we did. 

We showed a taxi driver a convenient picture we snapped of Udo and away we went. {We had a bit of trouble communicating; apparently even simple Korean phrases like "Udo" are unnatural to English speakers, or else made challenging by an American accent}. Below is the card of the cab driver...

Waiting to buy a ticket to the ferry was more tricky. The station was very crowded and people were assertive. The notion of any lines vanished quickly. After an hour of waiting, the lines turned to masses, and I was bumped right out. A kind-faced, older Korean mother told off a sour man that "cut" me, and I was able to get a ticket. {Rachel is also a great travel buddy} ;). The ferry to nearby Udo took a quick 20 minutes; no drama.

 And wha la, we had arrived in Cheonjinhang Harbor. 

Right from the dock, we saw a bike rental. Always with a bit more {annoyingly} nervous energy than Rachel, I pushed for the pedal bikes. Luckily, the decision was made easy by the necessary international driver's license I forgot for the ATV. 

Biking the perimeter of the island is about 13 kilometers (about 9 miles). We biked and snapped pictures in 2 hours{!) Here are a few favorites: 

{*A few of our more adventurous Korean friends}  

{*These stacked lava rocks are the Korean equivalent of tossing a coin in a fountain. The rocks are stacked, and people make wishes}. 

{*My favorite shot}.

{*A cow in the local street art. "Udo" earns its name because it is thought to resemble a lying cow}. 

{*I even met a friend from Boston! Asked this man for a picture}.

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Udo, on the Eastern end of Jeju,  is ranked #2 of 62 places to see in all of South Korea. One of the most unique features {other than the women divers, abundant fish, and stone tombs} is Seobin Baeska {Coral Beach}. The beach has been designated Natural Monument # 438 and has appeared in films like Il Mare. The sand is clean white and made of bits of tough coral fragments. The sea is shades of emerald.

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