A continuing education series on Korean culture! Today one of the treasures of Korea, Jeju Island, a famous honeymoon spot for couples and often compared to the U.S.'s Hawaii. Being quarantined at home makes me (and many others) miss being outside and enjoying the great outdoors, lamenting that we are all stuck at home not doing anything during one of the best times of the year to be on vacation and enjoying all the Earth has to offer. Around Camarillo, CA there is a path around the dry riverbed that is a popular among the locals, and the flowers blooming allow for a colorful jog bursting with all kinds of shapes and colors and smells (Korean people like the fragrance of flowers called 꽃향기) but that's about it.
I've never been to Jeju Island but have seen I on various Korea travel shows and also the site of the TV Series "Hyori's Bed and Breakfast," something MJ and I used to cuddle up and watch when we were together every day and MJ wasn't in nursing school and lost all interest in anything trivial or relaxing. I associate all the scenes with our honeymoon to Hawaii, right after our wedding two and a half years ago. Hawaii's Maui Island has a famous mountain peak called Haleakala, and apparently it's a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset at the peak on a clear day. MJ and I were not able to get up that early or make reservations that early for our honeymoon, but we did get up to the top during the day and look around........fantastic site, but I actually like the plane ride we took from Maui to the Big Island better in getting the full view of all of the different islands of Hawaii and the ocean that surrounds them. Jeju Island has the famous "Halla-san," where tourists can go take mountain trails, which seems kind of tiring when you consider it's the highest mountain in South Korea at 1950 meters.
Jeju Island also has its own regional accent, not surprising given so much of the world even within its own country has accents. Island areas like Okinawa in Japan often have them. Even Hawaii has kind of a regional accent, in its use of "Aloha" and "King Kamehameha." It's actually an official language of Hawaii, Hawaiian language, inspired by Polynesian languages. MJ and I drove around the whole island of Maui, especially traversing the Road to Hana, which seems like a common way to explore islands since you have enough time to get all the way around (my family and I did the same in Catalina Island on a golf cart). Jeju Island seems to have the same aura of roll-down-the-window, let-the-wind-breeze-through-while-you-drive-along the-coast-energy.
Finally, MJ and I had a great meal at one of our honeymoon resort locations (MJ didn't like some of the places on our honeymoon because they weren't "fancy" enough, but they were all like Disneyland resort quality to me!" Even a map was needed, and some had an art museum) in Hawaii where we ordered one of the more exotic fish dishes that was fresh caught from the sea (or at least advertised as such)! Jeju has its own exotic dishes, including soy-boiled cutlassfish (and some of them seem like they're normally eaten raw, which has an exotic tinge to it) and something called hairtail fish soup. Sounds a little strange, but I do like the flavor of great soup.
Now I've just made myself want to go on vacation more! Meanwhile L.A. at least is on lockdown probably until at least May, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti. Sigh.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
Jeju Island also has its own regional accent, not surprising given so much of the world even within its own country has accents. Island areas like Okinawa in Japan often have them. Even Hawaii has kind of a regional accent, in its use of "Aloha" and "King Kamehameha." It's actually an official language of Hawaii, Hawaiian language, inspired by Polynesian languages. MJ and I drove around the whole island of Maui, especially traversing the Road to Hana, which seems like a common way to explore islands since you have enough time to get all the way around (my family and I did the same in Catalina Island on a golf cart). Jeju Island seems to have the same aura of roll-down-the-window, let-the-wind-breeze-through-while-you-drive-along the-coast-energy.
Finally, MJ and I had a great meal at one of our honeymoon resort locations (MJ didn't like some of the places on our honeymoon because they weren't "fancy" enough, but they were all like Disneyland resort quality to me!" Even a map was needed, and some had an art museum) in Hawaii where we ordered one of the more exotic fish dishes that was fresh caught from the sea (or at least advertised as such)! Jeju has its own exotic dishes, including soy-boiled cutlassfish (and some of them seem like they're normally eaten raw, which has an exotic tinge to it) and something called hairtail fish soup. Sounds a little strange, but I do like the flavor of great soup.
Now I've just made myself want to go on vacation more! Meanwhile L.A. at least is on lockdown probably until at least May, according to Mayor Eric Garcetti. Sigh.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
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