Cruising Korea

Jeju Island, we were told, is a resort type island off the mainland of Korea.  We took an afternoon tour of some of the highlights of the area including Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Hill), a UNESCO world heritage site with a spectacular view of the island & a birds eye view of its volcanic crater...

Before we hiked up the hill pictured above, we were scheduled to see the Haenyeo Women Divers Show; however...the rough seas caused them to cancel said show that takes place in this beautiful little cove right below this crater...

Later, we did get a chance to learn more about these women divers at their museum.  The women learned to dive to survive & feed their families while their men were out to sea long periods at a time.  They are basically free divers, diving as far as 20 meters, holding their breath anywhere from 2 to 4 minutes!  Some of these women divers are very old - the oldest in the show is 80!  Crazy!

Google Image

After the show, they prepare fresh seafood for visitors to purchase at the attached restaurant...& by fresh I mean, uncooked!  Very expensive sushi!  Here are some of the divers with their catch from earlier in the day...letting people make their selections...

It was very windy & chilly as we headed up the trail to that crater you see behind us...

The volcanic rocks create interesting sculptures along the trail & the inside of the crater is completely covered with vegetation.  The crater is about 600m in diameter, 90m high, & 180m at its peak.  It has 99 sharp rocks surrounding the crater & is said to resemble a gigantic crown.

It offers a breathtaking view of the island...

That evening we set sail as a storm was blowing through...the seas were super choppy & we were in for another rough night!

The next day we docked at Busan, Korea near their Maritime Museum...

We toured Tumuli Park where we saw some Shilla tombs (ancient mound burial sites)...

We toured their National Museum (photos were not allowed inside)...

...& we finished our day at the Temple of Bulkuksa (also a UNESCO site)...

This "prayer garden" was pretty cool.  People could write prayers & place them under these painted rocks below the temple...

...but the Zen Rock Garden on the back side of the temple was my favorite!  Tons of stacked rocks everywhere - peoples wishes, hopes, dreams, & prayers...

Such a peaceful place!  "Annyeonghi gaseyo" Korea, you are beautiful!