Jeju was my favourite part of the trip, and it started with Dongmun traditional market – refreshingly close to the international airport and our area of residence 🙂 After having gone through two other markets which bore more semblance of a tourist gimmick with little traditional flavour left, it was refreshing to see Dongmun where most traditional flavours were maintained (or at least, where traditional Jeju based products were sold).
The experiences at these markets and other areas of tourist attractions left me disappointed in general though. To see pieces of cultural assets evolve to tailor to tourists while the original traditions disappear + locals gradually shifting to other places or other activities is a shame – equally for those visiting and those who live here.
Back to this market though – I had a blast and loved it so. If i ever do come again on a solo trip, i will definitely make the time to explore every nook and cranny of this wondrous place (idk, somehow the atmosphere drew me in. maybe the lights dazzled me a little? haha).
Some shop owners seemed disdainful of us initially, thinking that we were Chinese tourists, which prompted me to research a little. Apparently there is a rising phenomena of Chinese overtaking Jeju island for its charms as they settle down or permanent residency here. idk but that just seemed really sad to me – globalisation and cultural homogenisation came hand in hand for jeju-do, but it didn’t have to be.
Tangerine picking, too, was an extremely wholesome experience. (how many things have I said was a wholesome experience alr??) saw many tangerines that were half eaten by birds and it just made me so glad to know that these birds in Jeju are having a great life enjoying nature’s products there and how the animals and humans lived in harmony on this little island.
tbh I dont have much commentary about Jeju in general because a. i’ve already said most of what I wanted to say and b. how bout let’s just have a moment of silence to take in the view :”)
Hallasan was majestic and almost too much to take in. we didn’t manage to get to the top but that was okay too – I loved how our view at 1100m allowed us to see the mountain and its peak in full glory.
Above is a collection of some of my favourite flowers at Camellia hill. Despite my shitty photography and the warpy portrait mode, nothing could stop the flowers from being anything less than beautiful and i’m glad to have these pictures to take back with me.
“y/n-ah, lets only walk the flower path” 꽃길만 걷자. lets hope that things really do look up from now on. even if there’s no flower path, i’ll pave the road myself and plant it with flowers.
Wasn’t in a good state of mind the entire trip and haven’t been in a while but Camellia hill soothed me.
Haven’t heard much from GD since he came back from the army. I used to worry for and fear the worst when celebrities go off the grid after their period of fame. “How do they deal with seeing less and less fans around them? With seeing up and coming groups gain more popularity than them?” But now I’ve come to realise that they may (and I really hope they are) be living their best life yet, finally free from the public eye and having the space and wealth to do whatever they love most. I hope that’s true for GD too, and so many more ex-KPOP idols I knew and loved. Life’s changing for all of us; let’s hope its getting better.
I wish to one day live by the sea too.
I wonder why it is that I am more generous with my empathy, magnanimity and forgiveness with people whom I don’t know than people whom I do. Is this phenomenon true for others as well?
I open up to strangers more too – I feel so much more comfortable sharing here knowing that complete strangers may be reading it than sharing through my private account. I’ve come to realise that this is a core aspect of my personality and I can’t quite figure myself out.
sonder (uncountable) (neologism)
(n.)The profound feeling of realising that everyone, including strangers passed in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own, which they are constantly living despite one’s personal lack of awareness of it.
Apparently they are called Canola flowers and damn they’re gorgeous – especially in spring where fields and fields of them bloom. I want to visit here again in springtime.
Countries with four seasons are so blessed by nature; to be able to see the earth grow and change with them is a marvellous thing.
Things I would like to witness in this lifetime
- first snow
- first rainfall of spring
- walking in a pavement lined both sides with trees in the autumn; playing with and walking on fallen leaves
- having an icecream/popsicle at the beach in a maxidress
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live in another era, as another person. Will I survive if I was thrown back in time in this instance? Probably not.
The tradition may be dying but their spirits will be remembered for generations to come.
A reminder to stop getting caught up with the view but to slow down and enjoy the process. It sounds easy but is a tremendously difficult task for a type A like myself + who cannot multitask.
Apparently it was really calming but i didn’t find it that amazing (maybe because I was so caught up in not falling over again?)
this is becoming a recurring theme
i’m glad to have written about this because I am able to clearly note my mistakes and issues
post trip reflection
Honestly, while this trip has been nothing short of amazing, I can’t help but grow an increasing desire to go on a solo trip the next time. I loved the company, but it also came at the expense of personal freedom, privacy, lifestyle differences, and the inability to design a trip of my own. More than ever, I’m cognisant of my needs to have alone time (without anyone talking, either to me, to themselves or to someone else), to be able to wake up the time I want, participate in the things I want to, visit the places I want to go etc. Compromising is necessary to maintain peace and harmony in scenarios where view differ, and I am also aware that there has been accommodation made on everyone’s end to meet my needs as well (which I am grateful and thankful for). Nonetheless, projecting ahead to my adult life and future adventures, I can’t help but wish for more autonomy in my choices. Maybe it shows that I’m someone who should not settle with another? or maybe it just shows that I need to find someone more compatible if I do settle down (i mean, friends wise shouldn’t be a major issue because our lifestyle rarely mix for extended periods of time).
everything is probably going to get buried and I doubt anyone would have the patience to read till here (if anyone did at all), but if you did and you have thoughts, write me! the internet can be a dangerous place and this might not even work, but i’ll take my chances 🙂
most importantly, this was a tribute to jeju and the memories made there, lest i ever forget. thank you for providing me respite from the scars of 2019 and early 2020, and for giving me the strength to try and try and try again.
the mess inside my head 