Jeju island English speaking tour guide

Hello, people.

How are you? Thanks again for reading my blog post.

I have had some story I want to write about.

But I have been busy or lazy and put it aside on a corner of my diary.

I told you many times I had many diverse experiences thanks to

my job of a tour guide.

In this time, I had a chance to be a coordinator for promotion of Jeju island.

I couldn't find appropriate word for a 'coordinator'.

May be you can say 'location hunter' instead of 'a coordinator'

Anyway the project is sponsored by Jeju Tourism Organization and it will broadcast to 49 countries in 5 languages through Euronews channel.

-----------------------------------------------------------

In early August I got a mail from EU-media.

It said they suggested me to help making Jeju promoting film.

Well... I don't need to hesitate to decide for that.

Immediately I think this project is really cut for me.

So I more than welcome to take the offer.

Few years ago I had helped Mikael Karakis make his art work inspired by Jeju Haenye(woman diver) and it was avreally  good experience for me.

So, it was rather my pleasure to be a coordinator for his project.

And the art work became big successful.

Now it has an exhibition running over the world.

Even though it is not my own work, I am really proud of that.

So, This time, I had been looking forward to this project.

I received a phone call right after accept the proposal.

It was an Italian guy named 'Adrea' who has very strong Italian accent.

After short talking with him I recognized that he is little talkative but very humorous

And his assistant Daniel is a quiet guy but he has an excellent sense of humor.

Some times his sense of humor made people can't help bursting into laughter.

He teaches how to make a movie film in Nepal and a freelance photographer as well.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Few days passed...

I met a girl named Park Ines who I had a talk through a phone few days ago.

She is much younger than I imagined and a beautiful woman.

It was so nice to have an assistant and I suddenly felt easy with her.

You know what?

Some times working with Korean people is more difficult than working with foreigners.

Because the ways of taking a tour between Koreans and foreigners are quite different.

Besides of that, If there are Koreans who came to take foreign clients only for treat, they probably already get stressed.

And They tend to throw a tantrum to a tour guide.

It drives a tour guide crazy.

But Park Ines is not a kind of person at all.

Rather, we became very good friends after few hours talking.

I hunched that the working to make a project would be going to be excellent.

Exchanging talking, laughing and waiting for Andrea and Daniel, We saw there were two people coming through a gate with a load of camera equipment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The time was almost 4pm.

It is a common sense if we want to take a good photo, we need not only good spots but also appropriate time and light.

So we had quick greeting and hit the road.

We were heading for 'Yongduam' where is closest touristic spot from the airport.

Not much special thing happened over there.

And then we went to 'SamSeongHyul' which is a shrine for mythical Jeju 3 founders.

Well, there are so many welcomers waiting for us.

They are mosquitos.

They suddenly rushed upon us like saying "We are very welcome"

This filming includes not only pictures but also sound.

When you hear the slapping sound, it is a sound slapping mosquitos.

Later, we boastfully showed spots bitten by mosquitos each other.

Where do you think is the best place for sunset?

Answering to the question two places come up to my mind.

One is Hyup Jae beach and the other one is Chagwido.

Right after filming of 'Samseonghyul' we ran down to 'Hyup Jae' beach expecting to catch a beautiful sunset.

Upon arrival at 'HyupJae' beach it already became dark.

Too shame for out of luck.

But we had a good night filming instead of sunset one.

We enjoyed lights from squid and oar fishing boats which make a Jeju unique scenary.

Next day, we went to 'Manjanggul lava tube'

Showing of my personal opinion  I think 'Mangjanggul lava tube' is the only natural heritage in Jeju which differentiate Jeju island from other volcanic islands.

Even Hawaii doesn't have this much long and magnificent lava tube like 'Manjanggul lava tube'

This UNESCO natural heritage shows even vivid signs of lava flowing occurred hundred thousands years ago.

We had to finish filming before other tourists flocking to the cave.

Above all, water was kept dripping from ceiling.

Anyway we were strolling down with filming to the end of the tube and finally met a lava column known as the biggest one in the world.

They said they got a good shot.

Actually 'Sepjikoji' was not on the list.

But I thought if there is no 'Sepjikoji' on the Jeju promotion film, it wouldn't be a good work because the place is considered one of the best scenic places in Jeju island.

They willingly agreed with my opinion and we headed to 'Sepjikoji'.

However, 'Sepjikoji' is one of most controversial places in Jeju island at the moment.

Because a lot of touristic resort buildings are building on the beautiful place.

The more touristic resort buildings they build, the more 'Sepjikoji' got sick.

News papers say lots of financial investment are going on this area.

Many people complain there is a dull and stupid looking building blocking the view of 'Seongsan ilchulbong' but the company insists that the building was built by very famous architect.

Well, who cares? I don't care who built the stupid building.

The point is that people are irritated by the building.

I am sure if it keeps going on, 'Sepjikoji' will be a resort complex in 5 years.

We must take measures before not too late.

She looks very elated.

As you see the picture, she is a really happy girl and always cheerful

But I felt sorry to hear that it was the last day of her staying.

I think it is a very dynamic scene. ‘having nature into a camera'

When I finished explaining about Jeju horse, they started interested in Jeju horses.

And we were looking for horses eagerly.

Suddenly a horse grazing on a field came to Daniel and it seems to be taken picture of.

Well, he seems to make friends with a horse.

I hope he gets a good shot of it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The duration was almost a week.

We had more episodes besides of this one. But I should cut the story now.

The other episodes continued in a next one.

Have you ever heard of 'Lee Joong-Sep'?

He is known as Picasso of Korean and one of most famous post modernism artists in Korean.

He moved to Jeju island from Wonsan in North Korea and he left many master pieces of his life in Jeju island during Korean War which is the most sad period in Korean modern history

after Korea got independence from Japanese' colonization.

His actual staying in Jeju island was only 11 months but the beauty of Jeju and simply life of locals inspired to his artistic instinct a lot.

When you see his works you can see his motivation of his works come from a family.

Even though he was suffering from family separation.

The painting above describes the happiness of family while they are refuging from the war.

The most sad situation but it shows his happiness being with all family members.

'The bull' shows sad eyes but muscular body.

Actually it shows himself.

The eyes are for the situation he was at and the body shows that his eruptive inspiration.

He got married to Japanese woman and it made him difficult to love her

 because the situation of antagonism between Korea and Japan didn't allow him to do it.

His letter to his wife shows his sincere and sad love to her.

Lee Joog-sup was born in 1916 in Pyungyang in North Korea.

And he died in 1956 in a Red corss hospital by malnutirition.

Even though he died by malnutrition he was suffering a lot from emotional damage. 

His works is particular western style with strong color and lines.

However, his works contain lots Korean emotions and grandure and infinitive world.

They are medical doctors and students.

I like students clients because I can see through them that they want to learn something about Korea and Jeju island.

So that suddenly I want to show them a real Jeju island.

Out of sudden, one of them asked me about K pop.

Then I just got an idea " A-ha there is common topic between us, that is a K-pop and drama".

"Ok. Let's start talking with this"

"Do you know Yu Jae-suk?" "Do you know his nick name?" "Do you know Moohan doJeon?" Well, they already knew about lots of thins on Korean TV program.

Well, there is no special things to break the barrier of the religions or cultures.

Just show them our things slowly then they will show us theirs.

I think it is a way of breaking cultural barriers.

Like this when we travel together we are the one.

We are going to share thinkings, We find our common things as well.

We went to the restaurant which serve Jeju traditional food.

The food name is 뚝빼기 they never seen abalone shells before and they were amazed by the beautiful inside of the shell.

They brought the empty shells to the wash room and wash them to keep them as a Jeju survirnior.

I think it is a good idea to have them from their food.

We hiked 'Youngsil' on the first day after abalone lunch.

They said they didn't have much experience to hike on the mountain.

We counldn't go to the top of the mountain. 

However, we enjoyed enough the beauty of Valley of mountain.

On the third day. It was rainning and windy.

I asked them if still going on the trip? At first they hesitated then I insisted to keep going. Well, they told me this is like a military training, fun training. they seemed happy. I should be a leader of the traveller. that is my job. some times push them, some times pull them up.
One thing I have more than they have is that experience and what they want is that my experience.

I am quite happy when I have young students clients because first, I taught English to students before and second, they make me feel coming back to my school days.

The clients are foreign students in Yonsei University but half of them are second generation of U.S immigrants.

I ask them why you came to korea to study and they answer they like Korea and they want to learn about Korea. Well, wise answer for stupid question.

They seem they felt awkward one another and I got to know that the acual summer school haven't started yet. That's why they are awkward.

The purpose of this tour is not only for sight seeing of Jeju island but also for learning about 4.3 massacre happened in 1947 to 1953.

I had to look up lots of reference books so that It also offered lots of information about 4.3 to me.

I was little surprised with students showing reverential attitude to the sacrificed.

They seem really embarrassed by this horrible massacre happened in peaceful island. I saw some students even sobbing with sorrow and some was having a heated controversy.

Actually, it's not easy for me to bring clients here because there is still ideology struggling existed in Korea and It's difficult to explain exact happening in those times indirectly in order not to hurt the people support conservative party.

There are diverse responses. Some people show sympathy to the sacrificed and some show to defend the police and soldiers who indiscriminately killed the innocent people.

Still 4.3 is not solved question yet to Jeju people.

There are two places to enjoy the nature in the itinerary given to us.

One is Songak Mt. and the other is Saroeny forest walking path.

The first day of climbing Songak Mt made students excited to have a feeling conquer the top crater and enjoyed the view of Jeju island.

But next day for walking path in the forest couldn't make them feel like the day before.

There is must-eat food in Jeju island when you come to with group tour.

It is 'Black pork with vegetables in Seonup folk village.

I think the food is quite good quality for the price.

But....

The people have to cook the food by themselves so that if it is a first time for them, they are embarrassed with the fire from portable stove.

Sometimes it comes out suddenly and make people startled.

And the restaurant looks cheap and filthy. If the people expected more, they might be disappointed. So the food in this village divided into pro and cons.

However, they seemed they had lunch deliciously and even they wrap the grilled pork with lettices.

they said that they saw how to eat Korean food in Korean drama.

Some one thumb up for the food.

I felt sorry not to take them better restaurant and I appreciate them eating food delicioulsy.

I always feel mixed emotion when I part with my clients.

Good thing is that I finally finished my work and Bad thing is that I have to send them.

Some students said that they are very sorry not to stay longer.

They wish they could stay couple of days more.

But If there is time to meet then there must be time to farewell.

If you believe in Karma, we are going to meet again.

I bid farewell to them with gratitude of reminding of my school days.

And go back home my family waiting.

Tropical fruits could be a source of accumulating of moneny since ancient times

because they were difficult to obtain them.

Not only in Europe but also in Asia the tropical fruit tangerines were for only high class people due to high price.

Jeju island is remote and the weather and climate are different from those of the main land.

Because of that Jeju island has proper climate to grow tangerines Jeju island could be the only place to grow tangerines in Korea pensula.

But the growing tangerines was used  as a exploitation way to native Jeju people.

It was like a slavery plantation field in South America or Africa.

It had lasted for hundreds and abolished in 1894.

So, growing tangerines has a tradgic history of jeju island and if you study about the history of Jeju tangerines, you will learn the correlation with main land Korea.

Biologists assume that the origine of tangerine is India.

And it has spread to East and finally came to Jeju island.

Jeju island is the only place where the fruits can be grown.

In the old history book of Japan, it says tangerines were come from Korea to Japan.

When Jeju island was mari time kingdom named 'Tamla', Jeju had presented tangerines to BaeJe and Shilla dynasty.

However, tangerines were so valuable and costly, local people had never tasted the fruits.

And growing tangerines was controled by goverment. 

The government officer often came to inspect tangerine groves.

Then they check the tangerine flowers and count, wrote down number of flowers and

came back in harvest time to count the number of fruits.

If there are some missing ones, the local famers compensated them.

The tangerine tree was a tree of pain for Jeju people in those time.

When the pain of tangerines arrived at a capital city, there was a big festival in HanYang(Seoul).

They gave a ritulal to King's ancesters in the royal cemetary and distribute tangerines to close subjects. In SeongKyun-Gwan which is a scholar school, there was a special recruiting test held.

This custom which gave Jeju people pain was abolished after 1894

The current type of tangerines came out in 1911 and they became so popular to grow.

They said that 15 tangerines came to plant in Seogwipo and it is the starting point of growing current tangerines.

However, the only different this is that changing consummers from royal flamily to Japanese. 

The pain of local people for growing tangerines was still stand.

Since 1960, there was a military coup occured and the prime minister ot that time tried to encourage Jeju people to grow tangerines. and it became so popular.

Since that, there were lots of development for growing tangerine method, then normal people could grow the fruits freely.

In 1960~70s a tangerine tree is called 'a university tree' which means if they have a tangerine tree, they could afford to send their children to a university.

Now a days tangerine is most common fruits in Korea next to apple.

However, you can hear a sad history from tangerines.

* Notice- This article is written by non native English speaker

After seeing my clients off at the airport, I went to 'Jeju Mok-Gwana' which was a government official building in old times. This castle was used to be a centre of Jeju city. But during Japanese colonisation, they demolish most of them. In 2005, Jeju local government has remodeled this castle. Just half of them were completed so far.
 Actually the Jeju Mok-Gwana, Jeju provincial office in the Joseon Dynasty, was located around Gwandeokjeong. People presume that there had already been some main office facilities in this region since the Tamna Kingdom Era.

Gwandeokjeong is the oddest governmental building in Jeju, was built in 1448 as a place for training soldiers. It is said that competition of shooting arrow was use to be held here annually. Originally this building was a centre of the castle. But now it has a big street next to this pavilion.

Mangfyengru is the place where the people honoured the king whit gratitude looking toward Seoul where he stayed. It is located in northern part of this castle because King lives on the north from Jeju island.

This is 'Dolharubang' which means stone grandfather in Jeju dialect. 'Dolharubang' were placed in sets face to face at the site of castle gate entrance as a guardian to keep from evil spirits and misfortunes. Some times they defined castle boundaries and worked as an exit and entry control signpost as well.

*Notice - This article is written by non native English speaker.

*Notice – This article is written by non-native English speaker.

As I am a English speaking travel guide sometimes I do a translator job.

My job was not a tour guide in this time. I was their translator.

However, I still vividly remember that I had a very good time with Palauan baseball team last year. Frankly speak, I didn’t know where Palau is. Even I’d never heard of the name of the country “Palau” until I met them. I was so curious about them....

Anyway…..The Palauan baseball team visited to Jeju island again this year.

Most of them were familiar to me and some of them were not.

I was very happy to see them though. The leader and chair-man of Palauan congress Millip gave me a big smile with padding on my shoulder.

Well…. Everybody welcome to Jeju island. Actually it’s not that easy to meet same clients again in my profession.

One inconvenient thing is that location of their hotel is remote from down town because they would be bored at night.

Palau is very small newly independent country in south-west pacific ocean with 25thousands population. I knew that they must want to enjoy a night culture in Jeju island. In the long run, as I assumed they made a big trouble at night. Front desk of the hotel phoned me that Some members of Palauans knocked the Chinese girls room to wake them up without any reasons at mid night. I knew it would happen in any time.

They are from a small island country and still live with primitive culture. One day one of them said that they don’t have strict morality to moderate in sex with girls which means they have sex with any girl at the first sight if they like each other. In that time they were drunken and no where to go in the evening. Luck to them, Chinese girls forgave their misbehavior and they gave a word do not knock the door again.

Same as last year, The baseball union subsidized on 800,000KRW(800usd) for 25 people for 6days. It was not enough for the amount of people for the long stay. I had to divided the money day by day and I was looking for cheap restaurants as possible as I can.

Finally I found a good restaurant in which bus drivers usually go next to the stadium.( The name of the restaurant is ‘Gisa Beffet Restaurant’. ‘Gisa’ means driver. Price is 6000KRW per person)Even though it’s so cheap they really enjoyed the place, especially an ice-cream. What happy people they are!

Once they were under the control by Japanese, so that there are many players who have Japanese name. And quite interesting thing is that they enjoy the play card game named ‘Sotda’ which Korean people enjoy with. Even they divide into two groups in ‘Red Team and Blue Team’ at a sports festival same as Koreans and Japanese do.

I was interested in that even though we are different races and have different culture and language we have something in common. Well, I had mixed emotion.

Baseball is the national sports in Palau….. Well, it’s rather to say it is the only sports they play. They don’t have a proper couch to teach or any famous player playing in other country.

However, they are very passionate in playing baseball. They went to semi-final last year in Jeju international baseball tournament but in this year they lost to Japanese team who plays with technique. I can say that it is a bit pity that they couldn’t go to the final but it’s happy lost because they had a chance to go on Jeju tour.

After finish the baseball tournament we had a barbecue party at the front yard of the hotel. As has been well said, they are party animals. They stayed up all night with drinking, eating and dancing. I felt sorry that I should have enjoyed with them more to make a good memory. I came back home and fell in sleep right away hoping nothing would be happened.

Just in my luck! My phone rang constantly in the middle of the night. The phone was from the front desk of the hotel and he said some of Paluans were banging the store’s door to open to buy alcohol. Well,It seemed they tested my patience. It really irritated me to come on the line being disturbed my sleep. However, nothing happened that much except that.

Next morning everybody had hung over at the airport. At last it was farewell time. Actually I always feel mixed emotion with the airport. It is an airport I have first meeting with my clients and it is also an airport to have farewell with them.

This time we had an awkward farewell because lot of Palauans left their stuffs at the hotel. They kept asking me to do something for it. So I called taxi in a hurry and had their stuffs brought to the airport. It was skin of the teeth to approach the departing time. After settle down we had chewed “Pitletnat” which is Palauan version of chewing cigarette and had taken breath for couple of minutes.

Then they went into the check point to board and said with a big smile “You must come to Palau. We invite you” . I answered “Ok, thanks. see you in Palau”. I don’t know If I can have a chance to go to Palau or if they can come to Jeju island again. Any way it was nice meeting.

<Palau is located at the end of west pacific ocean. Since 1543 Palau had been under the influence of Spanish empire because she is close to Philippine. In 1899 German purchased her from Spain but She was sold to Japan after WW1. She had been a colony of Japan until 1945. After world war 2. She became belong to USA. Since 1986 she went through a self governing province then finally became independent in 1994.10. from USA.> from Naver knowledge encyclopedia.