JEJU - "SOUTH KOREA'S HAWAII"

We had visited Jeju last year and we loved it so much that we've decided to go and live there for a year from the end of August 2009 ! We wouldn't have returned before our move if Manou, our friend from France, hadn't come and visited and given us an excuse to return there to refresh our memories of how exceptional it is ! This is no overtatement believe me ! Check it out for yourselves :

Manou and Barbara - Seogwipo Port

Seogwipo port up close

View of Seogwipo port and surroundings from the terrace of our
favourite restaurant 'The Milano' which'll probably be our regular
watering-hole when we move there.

Jeongbang Pokpo (waterfall) from afar !

Jeongbang Pokpo up close

Jeju's jet-black volcanic rocks. In the background is Munseom
island where I did a day's diving - the soft corals there are
spectacularly colourful - a must-do for all divers in Jeju !

Jeju's subtropical fauna and flora !

Jeju's flowers !

Jeju's butterflies

Jeju's coconuts

Jeju's grapefruit

Source of the three-tier Cheonjeyeon cascades

First of the three Cheonjeyeon cascades

The legend of the Cheonjeyeon pool and cascades

Stone carving of the Cheonjeyeon Legend

Cheonjeyeong bridge depicting the legend

Cheonjeyeong Fountain of Five Blessings

Cheonjiyeon river and cascades Seogwipo

Jusangjeolli Lava Rocks

Jeju's botanical gardens

The ubiquitous Harubang

Yongdaum Jeju-si

Samseonghyeol
According to local legend three demi-god brothers , Ko Ulla, Yang Ulla, and Boo Ulla came out of three holes that can still be seen on this site and founded the Tamna kingdom with the help of three princesses from the kingdom of Pyongnang who arrived by boat together with five different grains and six domestic animals. The brothers divided the island kingdom into three sections (Cheju, taejong and Chongui and each part was distributed to them in an archery contest.

The kingdom was governed by a king until the Tamna kingdom was incorporated into the Koryo dynasty in 1105.

This site has been worshipped as the birthplace of Jeju people since the prehistoric age . In the Chosun dynasty with Confucianism as a national policy, the royal court and successive governors became interested in Samseonghyeol so it has become more sanctified. At the Samsong shrine built beside Samseonghyeol in 1698 (king Sukchong's 24th yr) the memorial tablets of the three demi-gods have been laid. The descendants of Ko, Yang and Boo conduct spring and autumn ancestral sacrifices of April 10 and October 10 every year. On December 10, a public rite is conducted at Samseonghyeol altar by a public corporation called "Konshidaeje".

In the Chosun dynasty, the public rite was conducted by the nation. These days it is conducted by the nation. These days it is conducted by Jeju-do. In the public rite the first dedicator of libation is the governor of Jeju-do, bu the second and third dedicators are chosen from among those who work for the good of the community.