Enjoying 200 percent of Your Jeju Travel

A cool morning breeze. Washington palm trees swaying in the wind pleasures your heart. Slippers, shorts, and T-shirts. Your whole body feels light and free. The warm rays of the sun pour on you like a waterfall. In this `Empire of the Sun, sunglasses are an absolute must as your world once again transforms through your tinted lenses.

Jejudo, vacation island. Freedom begins here and now - the freedom to do whatever one wishes. The cell phones are off and the wrist watch rests on the table. The only thing you need now is a hip rental car and a cozy beach house.

*Service Tip* Use a LPG vehicle for your rental car. You will save around 60 percent in gas (LPG rentals - Jejudo East Rental Car 064-711-8288). *Keep to the speed limit! Jejudo ‘Mole Car’ (Automatic Variable Speed Radar) is notorious and will cost you at least two tickets.

# Go east on the highway.

Lively Jeju City. Just follow Highway 12 (fantasy highway around the island) and everything will be okay. Turn left and we are on our way to Sung San-po. The first beach is the Samyang Beach on the black sand shore, known for its popular sand sauna (10, 000 won per person). Let’s turn off the air conditioner and roll down the windows from here. We arrive next at Hamduk. Along with Hyupjae, this is the most famous beach on the island. The golden sand and sapphire waters with the black volcano stretching behind it creates an otherworldly view.

A few kilometers away lies Kim Nyung. This isolated and cozy beach is a gem. The jet skis (30, 000 won for 15 minutes) and banana boats (10, 000 won per person) reminds one of Puckett beach in Thailand. A beach rest area for rental cars comes into view. Next stop is Sae Hwa Ri. A beautiful coastal highway emerges. A fresh breeze from the cobalt ocean rushes through the windows, rejuvenating the passengers and the car.

One can see Mun Joo Ran (nicknamed Rabbit Island), a small island near the coast. White island lilies whose flowing long leaves is blossoming and reaching the height of its splendor. Il Chul Bong is visible in the far distance. Close by it is Woo Do and Chong Dal Li where one can spend an enjoyable time clam picking. The large parasols (20, 000 to 50, 000 won per day) on the beach look inviting. The coastal highway wraps around Sung San-Po and reaches all the way to Shin San Ri.

On entering Sung San-Po, a must-trip to the Pearl Diver`s Inn and tasting of the famous abalone porridge is an absolute necessity. Next up is Supji Koji and Shinyang Ri beaches. The splendid Supji Koji boasts Cinderella Carriages (5000 won per person) while a row of stone towers decorate Shingyang Ri beach.

Past the Pyoson and Sae Hwa 2 ri coastal highway lies Namwon, a region famous for its Jejudo tangerines. A cliffside hiking trail of 2km is a hidden treasure and one can find it in front of the Film Museum. Namwon - Seogwipo - Joongmun - Dragonhead Coast - Songak San are all representative of the most magnificent sights on the island. The Lotte Hotel hosts a volcano fountain show (8:30 pm every night - 064-731-1000) is strongly recommended. It is better than the show at the Las Vegas Mirage Hotel.

# Go west on the highway.

We pass through the Iho Beach in Jeju City. We can put away the maps for Hagwi - Aewal and drive toward the coastal highway. A café stands on top of the hill, a beach with black rocks, small inlets and cozy villages line the coast, making this one of the most scenic highways on the island. Let’s not forget to stop at the Aewal Ocean Front rest stop between Aewal and Gwakji. The ocean view from the cliff is one of the best in Jeju. It is also a favorite spot for snorkeling where the waters range in colors from jade to green to cobalt. A waterfall shower enclosed in by a wall of rocks in the middle of the beach where one can enjoy the large streams of water is a treasure not to be missed in Gwakji. The setback is that it`s for boys only.

Next up, Hyujae Beach. Take in the fantastic view of Biyang Island and the expansive beach. The coastal highway takes us toward Chagwido and Soo Wal Bong near the outer reaches of Jejudo`s western coast which hides secret vistas of the magnificent waters.

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