Banner photo: Looking out to Udo Island (left) and Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
30 January 2025
This was day 2 of a three day trip that did not see a drop of rain until heading back home in the taxi. Actually this was the finest and warmest of the three days. I did not race to the start, but instead headed down to the bay below Seongsan Ilchulbong, where there is a restaurant that sells seafood freshly caught by the haenyeo. The food was so fresh that it was still moving on he plates that were left outside on display.
I quickly stopped by the Buddhist temple to take another photograph of the bell, as I thought the the light might be better than the previous afternoon. This time, I set up my tripod and used an aperture of f/9 for a greater depth of field. There were other photo opportunities on the 2 kilometre walk to the true start of Olle Trail 2.
I quickly stopped by the Buddhist temple to take another photograph of the bell, as I thought the the light might be better than the previous afternoon. This time, I set up my tripod and used an aperture of f/9 for a greater depth of field. There were other photo opportunities on the 2 kilometre walk to the true start of Olle Trail 2.
The first selection is a bit like Slimbridge in England. There are pools of sea water, with water entering and leaving through sluice gates. There are two oreums. At the top of the first one, I was looking for the half-way stamp. I was anxious not to miss it like the previous day. In fact it was not on the first oreum (Siksan-bong), but the second one (Daesusan-bong), which makes perfect sense as it is actually close to the half-way point.
The route continues through Honinji. Honinji Pond is connected to a myth of how agriculture and farming started on Jeju Island. Despite its small size, the pond is said to have been the location of the wedding between the Samsinin (three founding demi-gods) and three princesses of the East Kingdom. I gather it is best visited in the summer when the pond is covered in red lotus flowers. I plan to do all the Olle trails again, so I will plan this one for the summer.