Let's GO JEJU!

"Korea made me Dream and Believe more..........."

After being a "WOW Korea Supporter" for two consecutive years 2014 - 2015, I am finally recognized by Korea Tourism Organization Manila as one of the "BEST WOW Korea Supporter" for Year 2015 and awarded a "Full Tour Package 4D 3N Trip for 1 to Jeju" from the last Korea Travel Awards  held at Bahia Room, Intercontinental Hotel, Makati last December 2, 2015.

Everything was first time to me, I can't really believe that its really happening and it really happened. Until now I am looking way back to the photos that reminding me of those great memories. It was my first time to travel abroad and I was so glad that it would be the land of my dream.

I am so grateful to #KTO  that I was able to join this trip arranged by JoinEnjoy Travel Specialist without worrying or needing anything besides myself, things, passport and pocket money. I just need to enjoy and explore Jeju's beauty!

As we all know, travelling to Jeju doesn't NEED A VISA!

Let me share to you what's with our amazing trip that you can also experience with "Let's GO JEJU!"

yay! first time! super excited! :)

March 21 around 3:00 AM. Photo taken inside NAIA Terminal 1 lining up for check-in. Luckily I am travelling with the another BEST WOW Korea Supporter winner "Shiela Eonnie!~" so I am not literally going to Korea by myself. We're so glad to know that we're actually travelling with 14 more people who avail this tour package. It made my trip more fun and memorable! Exploring new places also meeting new friends at the same time!

At Pudong, Shanghai transfer to Jeju, Korea

Depart at Manila via China Eastern Airlines 4:55 AM then Arrived at Pudong International Airport (Shanghai, China) around 8:10 AM almost 3 Hours 15 Minutes of Travel. Well this just makes me even more excited to arrive at Jeju, Korea next in few hours.

Finally before 12:00 noon we arrived at Jeju. Actually earlier on what's written on our flight tickets. I think we supposed to wait for 2 hours at Shanghai before departure but we got on board and the plane leave earlier so when we arrived at Jeju we waited for our tour guide to arrived and we're the one who welcomed and surprised her.

yeeey!~~ finally at Jeju airport ^__^

Ready to ride our "Tour Bus" for our 4 Days Trip, exploring Jeju's Natural Beauty!

Let's GO!!!! Jeju!!!!~~ ^_^

As our tour guide "Miss Suzie" arrives we goes to our first stop! Korean BBQ for lunch!

Lunch time!!! jal meokkesseumnida!~~~ (bon appetit)

Everyone was so full, we take our time and fully enjoy our Korean BBQ experience for lunch. The rice, wraps, side dishes is all unlimited. The ambiance was great. A restaurant near the ocean and actually near by the Hotel were going to stay.

Ramada Hamdeok Jeju Hotel from afar! 

Our second destination was, 1100 Highland Wetland (Ecological Nature Trail) and BONUS: Hallasan National Park Alpine Museum (The President saw us and allow us to enter their museum). The weather forecast says it would be warmer than usual but for me it was very cold! It was still cold though I have my full gears on. haha! I really enjoy though that I can really say "WOW! Its cold! I'm really in Korea!" though we know that end of March is already the end of winter and soon the springs come..

at the entrance of 1100 Highlands (Ecological Nature Trail)

Next stop for our Day 1 tour is "Jeju Loveland"...By the time we received our tickets WOW! Can i say this is just for open-minded people hehe! Jeju Loveland is actually a theme sculpture park based on sensuality and eroticism actually a place where art and eroticism meet in cool, fun, humorous styles. I saw lot of "Ahjummas" (old ladies) visiting this place having fun haha! So many sculptures to see.

sweetest sculpture i've seen at Jeju Loveland surprised by the rest =))

It was nice seeing you by my two eyes "Dol Hareubang" or stone grandfather

Then we've been to "Mysterious Road" something fishy with its title mysterious right? hmmmm...Its very interesting and its better to don't talk further about it and leave the rest to you as your turn to experience it yourselves and figure it our why is it called the Mysterious Road =)

Mysterious Road or Dokkaebi Road ? ? ?

Ooh! I saw Tangerines & Banana Milk =)

Jeju is known for its rich rocks as well as tangerines..Along Mysterious road there are a lot of street foods and drinks to choose from. We tried "Odeng" or spicy fish cake, 1 stick for 1,000 KRW..I can't taste its spiciness because the weather gets colder and colder. Now I understand why most korean food is spicy it really helps your body especially tummy to get warm and fights the weather's coldness. 

Next is Dinner time! After the very tiring flight from Manila straight to Day 1 Tour visiting 3 places Miss Suzie our tour guide bring us to a famous "Samgyetang" or Ginseng Chicken Soup Restaurant. To re-energize!  served with noodles, side dishes kimchi and radish cubes. It is really a whole chicken with ginseng, jujubes, pine nuts, chestnuts, garlic, and sticky rice. really makes us all full and very energizing! one of a-must-korean-food for me to eat when visiting Korea and now this one was been crossed out on my list =) but would love to eat it again next time I visit Korea =)

Then we Checked-in at "Ramada Hamdeok Jeju Hotel" on where we'll be staying for 4 days and 3 nights in Jeju. 5 star luxury newly opened hotel last november 2015 has Buffet breakfast, fitness center, BBQ grill at the roof top and jacuzzi
Free fast wifi, smartlet (smart toilet), shower cold and hot water, TV with lots of channel korean/asian/western, veranda, heater, very nice, comfy and clean..I really enjoyed staying at this hotel. Though its mountain view, it would be daebak having the ocean view! haha!Twin sharing with Shiela eonnie~. very comfy and relaxing! But I wasn't able to sleep early I kept looking at clock thinking its ok its still early in Manila because in Korea its an hour advance! I took a hot shower before going to bed. Enjoy the high speed wifi, uploading photos on instagram, chatting with my family in Manila talking about our Day 1 tour I think its around 1:00 AM that I fell asleep.

Second day! and here I go again, thinking its too early in Manila when the telephone rings and says "Annyeonghaseyo!~ Jeju Alarm imnida!~" (Hello! It's Jeju's Alarm) its a wake up call maybe scheduled from Miss Suzy our tour guide  for us to woke up early have breakfast before our call time 8:00 AM but the alarm was around 6:00AM thinking that its only 5:00AM in Manila my mind keeps saying that it's too early to wake up and have breakfast haha! so I hanged up the phone and get back to sleep but make sure that i'll wake up by 7:00AM by the help of alarm in my smart phone.

It was a buffet breakfast, amazing foodies to start a nice day ahead. Fusion of asian (mostly korean) & western foods.

Our team's favorite spot!

Day 2 started with tour at the "Korean Ginseng Museum", strictly no taking of photos allowed inside. From the history, different kinds, uses and all about Korean Ginseng was there. I proved there that Korean people has strong beliefs by the power of ginseng. It heals, re-energize, very helpful, they really give importance to it. From medicine, drinks to cosmetics ginseng can be used. They gave us a ginseng tea and ginseng candy with honey which is really sweet that you wouldn't taste the ginseng on it. Its tasty and healthy too.

Next, we visited the "World Automobile Museum" perfect for car/auto lovers lots of vintage cars. You can see many different models from late 50's up to the present #rollsroyce #ferrari #bmw #lamborghini and many more loving the #sportscar. You can ride on some cars and take photos, they also have themed cafe inside and a souvenir shop. By the entrance of the museum they have deers that you can feed also.

cool! right?

 Miss Suzie, our tour guide gave us some time to take a look and took photos in a field of canola flowers. Jeju is the first part in Korea to experience Spring so early of March these canola flowers were already in full bloom. This was taken in front of ICC Jeju.

 

very happy to meet these canola flowers ^_^

We experienced a very luxury Lunch Buffet at "ICC Jeju" (Jeju's International Convention Center). We dine with different nationality, mostly business attired, they looks very formal, as they attended meetings, conferences, company events etc. but we are there just to have lunch. haha! extra ordinary experience that when will I ever have lunch there again. Thank you to our tour guide for that. We really made all our tummy full. haha!

inside ICC Jeju (Delizia Restaurant) view from where I seated =)

 Next stop is one of my favorite and really a-must-to-go when visiting Jeju Island. "Oedeolgae" I have seen at "Daejangguem" or Jewel in the palace (korean drama). I also saw photos of it on the web and it was just "Oh okay! that's it! I wanna go there If I would be given an opportunity" but seriously when I got there and see it in front of my two eyes "DAEBAK!!!" awesome!!! It was really a great beauty! The rock formation, the color of the ocean water, waves, the islands on the background, and the surprising History or specifically love story of a couple behind those rock formations was really touching!!! I wanna bring my family, friends there when I have the chance to visit Jeju again. I am so lucky that I was able to visit Oedeolgae!

DAEBAK!!!!

 

seen Jeju chocolates "Tangerine" flavors

Next is one of the famous waterfalls in Jeju, "CheonJiYeon" means "sky connected with land,"...A 10 to 15 minutes walk before reaching the Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls.. A nice path towards it where you can see souvenir shops, pretty flowers and trees, you'll hear a water falling from afar. A very refreshing ambience. From the parking lot, you'll see street food shops, also cosmetics shop and many more.

 Next is time for shopping at not yet officially opened that time Jeju Duty Free Shop inside Lotte Hotel. The time we visited, it has only few stalls and mostly are korean cosmetics, branded ones.

Jeju Duty Free

Lotte Hotel

 Got to watch a non-verbal korean show. A Taekwondo Performance, they're really good! It was a great experience rather, despite of thinking it would be boring but NO! I really enjoyed the show, didn't get sleepy watching but laughing, clapping, cheering most of the time and when it ended I really wanted more! They have amazing taekwondo skills, also in dancing and acting, even the ladies. My reaction was like watching a K-pop idols performing I was really amazed by them. No photo taking and video recording allowed while the show is running, I was so happy when at the near end when they will say goodbyes and bowing they gave us a chance for us to take photos. Glad I have remembrance.
 

Great artists!!! love them really!

and DAEBAK!!! photo op with the casts <3<3<3 I stood beside the one I'm cheering of, their leader-nim ㅋㅋ

Of course, after checking the itinerary of the day, and knowing that would be our last stop, I'm also looking forward and very much excited with it. It's Dinner time!!! Korean food again! It's Fried Mackerel & soup with bossam (meaning wrapped or packaged in korean) <3<3<3 very yummy!!! A pork dish which is pork belly, boiled in spices and thinly sliced. Can't stop eating bossam! wanted to have more! It is served with side dishes including my favorites~ garlic and onion also the ssamjang (wrap sauce), saeujeot (pickled, fermented shrimp) and ofcourse all time favorite! kimchi. Wrapping it in red lettuce or napa cabbage. craving for it right now haha!

Mackerel & Pork Bossam <3<3<3

 After dinner, got back to hotel around 9:00 PM preparing to sleep but really can't sleep early though its tiring touring the whole day. Maybe because I'm already excited for tomorrow's itinerary. haha! To make sleepy, I'm watching television, scanning through the Korean channels our television have then uploading photos, took a hot shower again then go to sleep I think around 1:00 AM late again haha!

though slept late, woke up early due to excitement for our 3rd day tour :)

Again another satisfying Breakfast at Ramada Hamdeok Jeju Hotel then first on out itineray was EcoLand Theme Park! where my inner kid inside awaken as I saw the electric train we're going to ride to explore eco's beauty. There are a lot of activities that can be done. Have a nice walk, riding in a train to see various plants in the forest. Lot of photo stations, the famous windmill, eco bridge, kids town and many more!

excited to ride this train and start our eco journey ;)

 

photo time ^_^

Next stop is also one of my favorite! We visited Jeju Songgeup Folk Village also one of the filiming locations of the korean drama "Daejanggeum" or Jewel in the palace...It is not just a tourist spot but "a real small town" where native people live. You can feel Jeju's culture, traditions that are still present there.  It is located at the foor of Halla mountain. You can see lot of "Dol Hareubang" or stone grand father.

 Then my favorite lunch among all, Bulgogi time!!! The day before this tour our tour guid Miss Suzie told us to dress warmly because the weather forecast said it would be colder, so that's why she bring us to a bulgogi restaurant that its spiciness really helped us keep warmed. We actually doesn't notice its spiciness as we're all cold and needed to eat warm and spicy food. Its really delicious though! I actually ate a lot, so full but wanted more! haha! a-must-try-korean food! crossed out again to my bucket  food list :)

Next is a Jeju Chocolate Shop! time to buy jeju's famous chocolates like mandarin flavors, green tea, omija, cactus, hallabong, barley and many more. I actually bought all flavors to taste each one and for my family & friends in Philippines.
 
We actually stop in a Mart for my Shoes ㅋㅋㅋ Yes! because since day 1 of tour my shoes got broken and as I saw that we'll soon hike up and needed to walk more, I needed a new pair! and so our very nice tour guide and driver bring us to a mart nearby and so I bought a new boots. I love it costing 35000 KRW serves also as a special remembrance from Jeju, Korea to ME =)
 

Feeling more like a Korean, wearing this boots bought in Korea =P

Next stop is Herbal Garden where we experience a Foot Bath. A very relaxing one! Especially the oil that has mint and rose essence. I bought one for my mom, surely makes you relax. After a foot bath massage they offered us tea to drink and there is a "ahjumma" or old lady putting oil on our head then also for our hair. They all treat us well such a nice heart of them.

Herbal garden golden foot bath massage =)

 Lastly, is the most important for me! not only for me but I think for everyone! that I think when saying "JEJU" one must not missed this one of the  New 7 Wonders of Nature "Seongsan Ilchulbong" or Seongsan Sunrise Peak a UNESCO World Heritage. As I am walking up I still can't believe that WOW I am now here, I felt proud and at ease that I am so fortunate to be able to visit this one of the 7 wonders of nature! Many students are there for a field trip, many tourist from different countries. I also met Filipino people. Walking up is really worth it as well as going down to the sea. I didn't feel tired that time at all because of all the excitement I have in me. I wanted to climb higher and higher into the peak or top but I wasn't able to due to we're in a group tour and we our lacking of time so I need to be considerate for the others and that day the weather was really cold so its hard for us to stay longer. This was really a dream come true, one of the greatest moments of my life.

DAEBAK!!! thank you Shiela eonnie!~ for taking good photos of me ^_^

Last stop is a full dinner, Seafood w/ Jeju's expensive Abalone in a restaurant beside the ocean and Seongsan Ilchulbong view. just WOW!!! a perfect dinner, place and view! One thing that Jeju is famous of is none other than seafoodsss =)) We actually ate dinner earlier as 5:30 PM. We needed to eat early for us to leave early and got back to hotel as its gets even colder at night. and the hotel was also far from seongsan.

Abalone <3

I LOVE SEAFOOD!!!!! =))

Perfeeecct!!!!

 Didn't notice that its already Day 4 of the tour and would be my last day in Korea =(
started the day again with a buffet breakfast at Ramada Hamdeok Jeju Hotel then its final, we already Checked-out on our hotel and bring all our luggage with us =( 
 

until we meet again!

First stop is Korean beauty products lesson and shopping at JSM Department Store a global tax free affiliated shop. Where all goods purchased, all taxes will be refunded immediately at the airport. Has a luxury interior, high brands cosmetics we also met two Filipino workers there.

tax refund department store

 Next is Seaweed Museum, we we're able to make our own seaweed then tasted lots of flavors time for shopping too. My favorite was prok rib barbecue flavor which doesn't taste seaweed at all haha! After tasting several flavors they also offered seaweed soup at the end.

At seaweed museum, they also have a FREE Hanbok Wearing, a lots of Hanbok to choose from..You'll decide by your own, dreaming of being the King or Queen even in a moment you can make it possible with this. Check out my travel mates wearing all the Korea's traditional clothing "Hanbok" ^_^

photo credit to Mr. Dax Cabredo

photo credit to Ms. Noreen Sabordo-Cabredo

Then next is lunch, Mackerel & Bossam...eat and enjoy as much as we can as this would be our last. Passed by in a road full of Cherry Blossoms, our tour guide Miss Suzie and our bus driver let us to take some photos! though they're not yet in full bloom I'm happy to see them personally.

thanks Noreen Eonnie~ for capturing this photo ^_^

 Next stop is Jeju Mart, you can buy lots of things there. This is where I actually bought most of my souvenirs and gifts for my family & friends in Philippines. Shopping time again at Lotte Duty Free mostly high brands can be sold. Then our last 3 hours Free time exploring Jeju's Downtown. Also one of my favorite! where we can go where we wanted to go! We walk freely like a local, actually a lot of Korean cosmetics shop, then souvenir shop, clothes, cafes. My most awaited cosmetic brand that I wanted to go see and buy was been granted.

yaaay!~ innisfree finally!!! <3<3<3

 I actually bought a lot of Korean cosmetics especially when I saw the prices that it was really way cheaper than the selling price in the Philippines. Took a lot of photos. Strolling hard in every street, alleys, while ofcourse watching out for the time limit given to us because after this is time to say goodbye at the airport and go back home in Manila. 

strolling Jeju Down town!!!

It was sad to bid goodbyes to my travel mates that we make friends with everyone already though being with them for 4 days only but feels like we've been together for a long time for having so much fun. 

Let's GO JEJU!!! photo courtesy of Unys Cotoner eonnie!~

Team Suzie!!! photo courtesy Joy Lora eonnie!~

Also sad especially at the airport when Miss Suzie our tour guide gets teary while we're parting our ways then also our bus driver when he get my luggage and put it inside the bus acting like he doesn't want me or us to leave haha! bye for now ;(

At Jeju International Airport, waiting for our plane going back to Shanghai then Manila...bye for now!

 It was indeed a great memories, had so much fun, so I would want to come back again to Jeju, Korea and even to other places in Korea especially in Seoul, Busan, Incheon...I'll be forever grateful to #KTO for giving me this opportunity and to #Korea that without me being a fangirl would never dreamed of this and took actions towards my dreams. From now on, it gave me a lot of courage and inspiration to believe and dream more..as what the koreans always saying to keep their high spirits on FIGHTING!!! until my next journey \(n__n)/ Kamsahamnida!~ Thank you!~