To avoid lying in bed on the last day of 2024 scrolling through my phone until I fell asleep, I took a few days off to go to a nearby visa-free place—Jeju Island.
Walking along the seaside, the wind was strong, and planes flew by from time to time.
After walking for a while, it seemed like I wouldn't reach the end according to the map. It started to rain, so I took the bus back.
I found a restaurant with decent ratings on Google Maps. Through the large glass window, I could only see two little kids playing with something like building blocks and a busy woman. Since I didn't understand Korean and the decor didn't resemble traditional restaurants, I was unsure if I had found the right place and lingered at the entrance for a while. However, not long after, two customers walked in, which confirmed it for me.
The menu was handwritten by the owner. Although there were some English translations, I wasn't very familiar with the food terms, so I pointed to a set meal based on the pictures. The owner suggested ordering a half portion, which was just right for me, and it tasted great. While waiting for the food, I observed that the restaurant was run by a couple. It was likely Saturday, so the kids didn't have to go to school. Both the dining environment and the food itself were worth recommending.
Then I strolled around a few nearby vintage shops. The prices weren't cheap, so I just browsed.
At a nearby coffee shop, I ordered a cup of hand-brewed coffee. Although my knowledge of coffee is very limited, it was quite good.
In the evening, I returned to the hostel and booked a small group day tour for the next day on Taobao, which had about 14 people. It was decent for a day, even though it just took us to the attractions at scheduled times and then to the next spot, but it was easier than taking public transport myself.
On the third day, I switched to another hostel early in the morning, but I couldn't check in until 4 PM, so I dropped off my bag and wandered around the city. I learned from Xiaohongshu that there was a shop near the airport renting outdoor equipment, so I decided to hike Hallasan on the 31st. However, I didn't make a reservation in advance, so I couldn't reach the summit. I hiked up from the Yongsil Trail and came down from the Seongpanak Trail. It was my first time climbing a snowy mountain, and the scenery on the mountain was worth the trip.
The night before, a few Korean uncles and a part-time student were chatting in the common area of the hostel. They passed me a bottle of beer and asked if I wanted some, which I, of course, accepted. We started chatting, and although everyone's English wasn't great, we talked a lot. One of the uncles spoke relatively better English and patiently explained the hiking routes on Hallasan, the bus schedules, etc. In the end, he even gave me a bag of snacks as provisions for the next day. He was a very interesting uncle.
After descending the mountain, I returned to the hostel and sat on the first floor reading. The part-time student came to work in the afternoon, and we continued chatting. She was studying music and played the piano very well. During our conversation, she even took out a piano and played for a while. In the evening, we ordered takeout together. I thought about going out to see the New Year's Eve celebrations, but due to the recent Jeju Air accident, all New Year's events were canceled. In the end, I lay in bed scrolling through my phone until I fell asleep.
Initially, I chose to stay in a hostel for the sake of saving money, but now I look forward to meeting people from different places and chatting with them, which is a very interesting experience during my travels.