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By Johanna M. Sampan
JEJU ISLAND is the pride of
Korea, the country described as
the Land of the Morning Calm. Not only is Jeju the biggest island in
the land of Jumong and Hwang Jini, it is also a major tourist
destination.
A group of Filipino lifestyle
journalists recently experienced the chilling Korean winter.
Although the temperature was freezing, our group was captivated by
the wonders of this beautiful island paradise—from the azure seas
to the vibrantly colored winter flowers and the natural landscapes
that are simply picture perfect. The tourist guide takes constant
pride in telling our group that there are three things that Jeju
Island is proud of: wind, stone and women.
The island breeze is truly
calming and one can smell the freshness despite the cold weather.
Jeju is also known for its unique stones that come in various shapes
and sizes. We were awed by the image of the Dolharubang (Stone
Grandfather), a common fixture in many Jeju Island households.
Rarely found anywhere else in the world, its presence is believed to
safe guard the homes and to keep evil out. Carved from stones of
Jeju, the statue’s bulging eyes, huge nose and ultra-thin lips are
the distinctive features of this guardian.
To take a closer look at these
cultured stones, the Jeju Stone Culture Park offers the traveler a
more in-depth explanation of how these magnificent stones are turned
into works of art. The park showcases Jeju’s geological formation
process and the important role that stones play in the daily life of
Jeju citizens. It shows gigantic rock formations called “Passage
of Legend” that tells the story of the 500 Generals of the
Grandmother Seolmundae, known as the mystical founder of Jeju.
Women are highly regarded on this
island. They are considered Jeju’s treasure since most women
divers take to the sea to gather food like abalone, oysters, snails
and many more. The oldest female diver is 88 years old and the
youngest is 48 years old and they can stay under 20-meter deep water
for more than 2 minutes. At present, only a few women divers
continue this island tradition.
Jeju’s cuisine is also one of
the main attractions why there is an influx of tourists lately. From
the simple snacks to the traditional Korean dishes, an authentic
Korean meal is a feast for the senses. Our guide recommends fresh
hallabong (a huge Korean citrus fruit) and tangerines, and of
course, kimchi. Street food such as crabsticks, waffles and sausages
are also aplenty and can be a substitute for a meal, especially for
some members of our group that are constantly on a diet. The choices
are plenty but try to get a taste of the intensely earthy Abalone
Porridge, Kkweong Toryeom (local pheasant shabu shabu), Dombae Pork
and the Mackerelhwoe (sliced raw mackerel).
If the Philippines has Palawan,
then Korea has the Jeju Jungmun Daepo Haean Jusangjeollidae. It sits
in the Jungmun coastline and its exceptional formations of
jungle-clad cliffs are indeed captivating. The silence of the place
is just broken by the waves of the sea. The huge sheer-black basalt
rock structure adds to the wonder of the imagery. The surroundings
are rich with pine trees and wild flowers that complement the beauty
of the place.
We also visited the Teddy Bear
Museum where 1,300 cuddly teddy bears are on display. Here you can
find “Vincent Bear Gogh,” Michelangelo’s Mona Lisa in teddy
bear creation, Teddy Bear Collection (Fashion Show), Tiny Teddy
which measures 4.55mm, Daniel Swarovski’s Bear (which cost
10,960,000 Korean won), and the world’s most expensive teddy bear:
the Louis Vuitton Bear. This one fetched 229,783,793 Korean won
($193,000.00) when auctioned for charity to help abused children
around the world.
The stunning Jeju Folk Village
Museum showcases flawless replicas of the 19th traditional villages
of Jeju Island. Traditional thatched roof houses, a spectacular
collection of cooking and fishing tools, and many different relics
such as ceremonial places for rituals like coming-of-age, honoring
the faithful housewife, weddings, funerals and ancestor worship. A
sculptor that carves onto woods pieces of mobile folk art can also
be seen here creating his masterpiece and selling these to tourists.
Island flowers such as Pinus thunbergii Parlatore and wild berries
also contribute to the general landscape of the island.
Interestingly, our group found out that the museum was also the
location for the hit drama series Daejangkeum, better known as Jewel
in a Palace for the Filipino television followers.
Another must-visit is the The
Park Southernland, the same location used for the television drama
Taewang Sashim Gi or The Legend, a scenic little community during a
certain time in Korean history about 1,500 years ago. Inside, one
can find the Saloon for Nobility—gambling house for nobles during
the day and drinking station at night; Tae-Hack (Royal
Academy)—first government operated school in the history of Korea
where only royal family and the aristocracy members of the family
are allowed to study in this school; Market Street, Town of Geo-Meul,
Mansion of Yeon-Ga-Ryeo, Gye-Gu Jang- a place where people played
something like the modern-day polo and the Dae-Jon (Royal
Palace)—built as a symbol of power.
For more Filipinos to experience
the wonders of Jeju Island, the government of Korea will not require
tourists to secure visas before coming to the island. “We are not
requiring visa for 180 countries including the Philippines, so more
people come here easily. We hope that Filipinos would come and visit
us. We’d like others to learn and experience how unique our
cultural heritage and regional characteristics are,” Ko Kyeong Sil,
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province’s director general of Culture
Tourism and Sports Bureau said.
Experience the calm and wonders
of Jeju Island in Korea. At this time, not even the cold can stop
you from being charmed by the surprises you’ll find on the island.
Philippine Airlines is now
offering chartered-round trip flight from Manila to Jeju every
Wednesday and Saturday from December 15 to January 9. For more
information visit www.philippineairlines.com
You can also visit Rakso
Air Travel & Tours Inc. at www.raksotravel.com or call 812-9667
for affordable travel tour packages.
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