At Gimhae airport in Busan, I was early for my 19:00 flight so when I tried to check in, the check in clerk offered to put me on an earlier flight, which was mot welcome. I haven't taken a domestic flight since RDU-JFK in 2011 so was pleasantly surprised with the rapid check in a thorough security check I did not have time to explore the airport and boarded a huge Korean air plane which was very empty.
Outside, the ground staff was bidding farewell in unison as a sign of job well done and wishing us a good trip. It was the wave that really nailed it and made me appreciate their work and this symbol of team work.
The sunset was blindingly beautiful and I got to see a view of the end of the peninsula and the area of Busan in the sunset, with all the deltas and small islands nearby.
After a short 1h flight, Jeju island appeared with a neat profile against the pink skies. I had my first look at my challenge: Hallasan, peaking at 1950m as the highest summit in South Korea.
It didn't look too impressive from the plane, but I was getting anxious about the logistics. For the time being, I was glad to be in less populous area (I thought so naively), and excited to explore the island. From the airport north of the island, I got the bus that got to Seogwipo, south of the island. The bus drove around from the west, dropping passengers at various resort, among which the Jungmun resort that had the Shilla hotel, the Hyatt, Lotte hotel, also the World Cup stadium, convention centre and finally Seogwipo by night fall. I looked for the hotel with the GPS as it was already dark and I was completely disoriented.
Eventually I passed by a chicken place and a convenient store and found the hotel in a quiet street. The reception was very efficient and didn't even ask me for ID but gave me my keys at the mention of my name. No welcome or sign of hospitality given. The room 205 was spacious and in serious need of A/C. There was an internet wifi router and a rather large bathroom with a separate shower. However there were only 4 hand towels. I was in no mood to speak to reception and argue, so took my shower and dried myself with the heat. Handwashed trekking pants and necessities dried out fast as well with the A/C. I needed a good rest before the next day and enjoyed a bit of local TV as well while studying a map of the island.
The sunset was blindingly beautiful and I got to see a view of the end of the peninsula and the area of Busan in the sunset, with all the deltas and small islands nearby.
Eventually I passed by a chicken place and a convenient store and found the hotel in a quiet street. The reception was very efficient and didn't even ask me for ID but gave me my keys at the mention of my name. No welcome or sign of hospitality given. The room 205 was spacious and in serious need of A/C. There was an internet wifi router and a rather large bathroom with a separate shower. However there were only 4 hand towels. I was in no mood to speak to reception and argue, so took my shower and dried myself with the heat. Handwashed trekking pants and necessities dried out fast as well with the A/C. I needed a good rest before the next day and enjoyed a bit of local TV as well while studying a map of the island.
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