Jeju: Big Herb Hamburger

볽은못허브팜 (빅햄버거)
Big Herb Hamburger restaurant
It has a new branch near to where we stayed this summer (Ae-wol 읍) so we decided to pay a visit and enjoyed the big hamburger.



The restaurant has a herb farm around, and it is in a wooden building. They also make their own bread.





I like their mail box too.
 since 1993.

Let's go inside the restaurant and order the burger!



Indeed, we were attracted by its well-decorated environment. They also sell herbs and Jeju chocolates.

Burger arrived!!!
We ordered one big burger (enough for 4 persons) 17,000 won. If you want to try couple herb burger, please tell me what's the difference. It will cost 15,000 won.



nbsp;The herb bread smells very good!



Fresh and yummy burger!

 Served with herb tea too!

We enjoyed it very much!

Don't forget to take photos inside the restaurant! The chair is unique and the kids like it very much!
If you are bored with the kimchi stuff and raw fish at Jeju Island, this restaurant should be in your list!

Mount Hallasan National Park, Jeju Island

Mount Hallasan National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage.

Height: 1,950 meter.

This mountain stands tall in the middle of Jeju Island. It is also called Mt. Yeongjusan, meaning a mountain high enough to pull the galaxy. It is designated as a National Park in 1970, surrounded 368 parasitic mountains (called Ohruem "peaks").

Over 1,800 kinds of plants and 4,000 species of animals (3,300 species of insects) are known to exist here. The climbing courses are well-developed and you can carefully observe the surroundings.
The climbing course is short and less than 10km in length, up and down in one day. But the weather conditions often change and there is a lot of wind, so you must be well prepared before going up the mountain.



From the photo above, you can see the hiking courses available:
- Seongpanak trail: 9.6km to Baengnokdam (4 hours 30 mins for 1-way)
- Gwaneumsa trail: 8.7km to Baengnokdam (5 hours for 1-way)
- Eorimok trail: 4.7km to Wiseoreum (2 hours for 1-way)
- Yeongsil trail: 3.7km to Wiseoreum  (1 hour 30 min for 1-way)

The ascending and descending time is different for different seasons. Please refer to here for more information (other facilities and local transportation).
In summer, for the course we took - Eorimok trail: ascent 5am - 2pm, descent 4pm

Admission: Free

Geologic Evolution of Jeju Island
Jeju Island was produced by volcanic activity from about 1.8 million years ago with eruptions continuing until historic times. The early volcanism of Jeju Island began underwater on the bed of the Yellow Sea continental shelf. This hydrovolcanism continued for more than a million years forming the Seoguipo Formation in the subsurface, which is composed of numerous hydropmagmatic volcanoes and marine sedimentary strata. Lava effusion became dominant after about 600,000 years ago, forming the lava plateau and shield, and numerious volcanic cones (oreums). Construction of the 1,950m - high peak of Mt. Halla was completed by the Holocene Epoch less than 10,000 years ago. About five to seven thousand years ago the Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone and the Songaksan tuff ring were produces by hydrovolcanic eruptions along the seashore, also resulting in deposition of the Sinyangri and Hamori formations.

In Aug 2008, we had a chance to climb this mountain through Eorimok trail. So, I will show you some photos and amazing experiences.

 start from the bottom

What you first need to do is climb up the staircases! Every mountains start with staircases - it's tiring! So better be prepared and have breakfast before you climb up the mountain. Do not give up although people pass over you when you climb up the mountain. Let their passion be your motivation: They can do it, I can do it too!



After finished the staircases, the clear blue sky welcomes you! Do not forget about the hot sun too! So please put on sun cream or sunblock before climbing. Anyway, when you see this view, you will feel better as you can see the mountains around and you know how far you're going to reach.


long way to go!


Enjoy the scenery:


 helicopter up and down

 peaks everywhere

 rocks on the floor (beautiful creation)

 butterflies everywhere

 beautiful flowers along the way





 also wild deers! Capture them before they ran away!

When we reached the Wiseoreum, we were so excited! It's tough yet a meaningful trip!
First, enjoy the view of the tall Mt Halla - it's just in front of you but... not yet there!


 rest place - only sells choco chips and instant noodle!

 the instant noodle was so delicious!


There are a lot of black drongos.

After we took enough rest, it's time for us to go down again. Do not forget to take some photos before you walk down. It will be faster to walk down than climb up.


Hope you will enjoy the Mt Hallasan climbing course!

Jeju Trip (4) - travel by ship

Though this year I travelled by air, for the last 3 years we went to Jeju Island by ship/ferry. We drove from Seoul to Mokpo Terminal, and then took the ship/ferry to Jeju Island. Though it was a long journey, but it was a different and meaningful experience. (May be our life just can't get away from ship?)

Let's start the journey!



First we drove all the way to Mokpo Port International Passenger Terminal. It is called as International Ferry Terminal. Address (in Korean): 전라남도 목포시 해안동1가. Generally, it takes about 4 hours 36 minutes to travel from the east of Seoul.

From the picture I took last year, there are also international line from this port to Shanghai. Anyway, there are a lot of people who takes the ship/ferry to jeju too. Despite of the long hours, the price is more affordable for most people. The service gets better too. In 2006 and 2007, we travelled with a smaller vessel that we faced a big storm in 2007 and the vessel shoke so much that almost of us were seasick. In 2008, we took a big ship - Queen Mary vessel which is much more stronger and heavier!

Let's see the difference:

(In 2007) Car Ferry Rainbow Vessel - 652 people only

(In 2008) Queen Mary - 1,650 people (should call it a cruise?)

I believe the Queen is more powerful.

We used ferry because cars are also travelled together to Jeju island. There are 2 kinds of tickets: first for the customer and the second for the car.

For the latest price list (from the Sea Ferry homepage),

• 
  
  VIP room (3-people) 266,400 won standard price.
• 
  
  Sweet room (2-people) 166,600 won s.p.
• 
  
  Royal room (2-people) 142,800 won s.p.
• 
  
  Family room (4-people) 219,600 won s.p.
• 
  
  1-person bed 56,800 won (free for baby, 10% discount for middle, high school students, 20% discount for group, 30% for middle, high school students' group, and 50% discount)
• 
  
  2nd grade chair 38,400 won (same as above, except baby 19,200 won)
• 
  
  3rd grade economy room 25,800 won (same as above, except baby 12,900 won)

For car price list, see here. Carnival needs 164,000 won.

Timetable:

Queen Mary only operates 1 time per day from Mokpo to Jeju:

    9am (reach Jeju 1.20pm).

    operate everyday, rest on 2nd, 4th, 5th Monday.

    passenger allowed: 1,650.

While 2pm and 2.30pm are 2 other vessels (only allowed 642 and 250 passengers).

From Jeju to Mokpo:

     4:50pm (reach Mokpo 9:10pm). Mon - Sat

     4.30pm (reach Mokpo 8.50pm). Sunday only

 While the 2 other vessels ran at 9.30am and 4.50pm.

Reminder: Winter timetable: Jeju to Mokpo - 5.30pm.

Let's see the inside of Queen Mary - since I didn't take much photos of Rainbow vessel (seasick all the time).

For economy room no. 406, 45 people max.

ok... just sleep on the floor with 1 TV sharing!

Thus, you must bring your own mattress and blanket as the air-con is on all the time!

Anyway, walk around the ship - it is just like a mini cruise - everything is here - you're not easy to get boring!

Game room

GS 25 Mart in the ship!

Cafe/restaurant in the middle!

Massage room and souvenir shop too.

Walk out of the main lobby and your room.

Have a fresh air breathe!

See the wide and endless sea

There is even an event hall that have free performance. There are also karaoke (singing room) and public bath room too!

Just want to show you the parking place inside the ferry! Smart parking system, right? The cars are not shaking and do not hit each other too.

Just before ending this part, I also wanted to show you some experiences taking the ship from Jeju to Mokpo.

Depend on which ferry you take, some ferries straightaway parked at the big port. The new port of Jeju is much more better than this. We came to this small terminal by this bus.

Anyway, there is  one good thing of this port - a lot of shops to sell chocolates and souvenirs! Much more cheaper than the big port! They will shout out for sales when the passengers queue up to leave the port at the last  minute! Grab it if you really want the chocolates - 10,000 won for 3 packets or sth like that.

Hi! Queen Mary, nice to see you  again!

This time we had a  chance to apply the drivers' room! 1 bed in a small room, with a tv, small basin,and table. The point is the driver is treated well!

In conclusion, if you have a time and want to experience a different journey other than airplane, try the ship to Jeju Island! You may enjoy it and save some money!