At the end of May, I made another trip to Jeju Island in South Korea. I’ve always wanted to see this place after a friend told me I should go. I organised our company retreat for a few days of team-building and relaxation. Another bonus was that it’s relatively cheap to fly there from Shanghai. This trip would be a great break to take before my kids return to Shanghai for their summer break.
Let me take you on a trip around Jeju Island through my lens and my sketches.
Day 1
Arrived in warm sunny weather. Immediately, we got a van to take us to the eastern side of the island. One thing to note is that, although Jeju is an island off the South Korean coast, having a car is still a necessity to take full advantage of visiting some of the must-see places. Public transportation, although available, is not as convenient, with most places hardly serviced by bus.
Hamdeok Beach is a fantastic stretch of beach with clear blue waters! If I had brought swimwear, I probably would have jumped into the calm waters. I ended up sitting on the beach, doing a quick sketch, and just taking it all in.
Then on to around Haengwon Beach (Conan Beach), to a cafe called Cafe Mou Moon – one of those places that are so hyped and full of influencers, which by the way makes me cringe, but was so curious about the view and food based on the various posts I have seen on the local social media, RedBook. When we arrived, the place was packed, and we were fortunate to have found a row of seats on the terrace with a view of Haengwon Beach, away from the crowd. It was nice to sit quietly, sketch, and enjoy the matcha croissant and latte while the cool sea breeze flowed in.
Back at the hotel, I ended up exploring the neighbourhood with a colleague, checking out the various shops recommended in the Red Book, such as Moiso.
Day 2
We have a long day ahead of us on our second day, starting with a long drive to the Jongdal Port, where we need to take the ferry to Udo Island, arriving at the Udo Cheonjin port. The island is very coastal, with a seaside resort vibe, offering plenty of bicycles, mopeds, and other rental options. However, a few of us opted to explore the island by bus, which circulates the island.
Our first stop was to explore the Korean Peninsula Rock and 쇠머리오름 (우도봉), which I found breathtaking due to the stunning views from the cliffs, the hike up the hill, and the serene nature surrounding us.
Biyangdo was a bit crowded with tourists (like us), but what I loved was finding that small restaurant where we could relax, eat the freshly grilled squid, and I could sit and sketch.
We then boarded the bus to circumnavigate the island before heading back to the port to catch the ferry back to the main island of Jeju.
From there, a few of us got off at the Dongmun Market, a vast market selling a variety of traditional food, tourist souvenirs, and fresh food. I highly recommend visiting this market for a wealth of gastronomic experience. Head directly to Gate 8, where all the food vendors are. One thing I noticed is how clean it is, where trash is separated correctly. Anyways, we left with a food coma.
While some of my colleagues were exploring the food stalls, I decided to stop by CLASSIC MOONGUSA to check out the various stationery, especially some Traveller’s Notebook accessories. Any true stationery enthusiast shouldn’t miss this shop.
Day 3
Another long day, and this time we checked out the sights on the other side of the island. We ended up changing our direction at the last minute by starting the trip along the coast, stopping at the Dodu Rainbow Coastal Road, Red Horse Lighthouse, and Handam Coastal Walk before stopping for lunch at Donhaesang.
From there, we travelled south to the Camellia Hill Botanical Garden, exploring the beautiful arboretum with camellias and hydrangeas in bloom. And finally, our last stop was the Jusangjeolli cliffs, featuring rugged formations.
Day 4
Our flight wasn’t until late, so this gave everyone a chance to do some last-minute shopping. I was pleasantly surprised to find places not featured in social media influencers’ posts for a change. Went exploring at a couple of Catholic churches and walked around Dongmun Market on the way to the 14th-century Jejumok Gwana Government Office. Hopped on the bus to check out a cafe called Bean to Z, a very local hangout with a grand bay of windows on the second floor, which was perfect for me to sit and sketch. I thoroughly enjoyed the special Tetrapod cheesecake, shaped like one of those found around Jeju’s ports, and the accompanying coffee. I had hoped to check out a bookshop/cafe around Donghandugi, but it was closed.
Met up with a few colleagues to get our haircuts in Jeju because, according to my colleagues, Koreans are great hairstylists. So I jumped in and was quite happy with the cut. Fortunately, we had enough time to return to the hotel and then head to the airport.
I made a quick flip-thru of the sketches in the big journal I have been travelling with since last year.
In hindsight, I miss documenting in my “traditional” travel journal approach. Is this more about travelling without kids or about how I’m evolving the way I document these trips?
One thing that has not changed is sending postcards to friends, family, and myself. I know this sounds odd, but it’s something that’s quite a nice memory, a reminder of the trip, especially after the postcard arrives weeks later.
Do you document your trips?
Do you send postcards while on holiday?
Would love to hear your approach to documenting your travels or what you think about postcards. 🩷
Thank you so much for stopping by.
