JEJU/SEOUL 14 - 22Oct

It's been a month since we have returned from the land of Kimchi, and I thought I should take the free time (read: am down with Covid again) I have now to record the trip here. 

We decided on the trip back in July/Aug, given the relaxation of travel borders, and we felt that we should be able to handle ahbao on our own for a couple days? Ofcause we had many doubts and I did a lot of research online, from how to handle baby during flight to her food to clothes layering among many others. We also had friends and family that warned us of the impeding hardship to travel with a small baby, especially if one to fall sick. Looking back, we really count ourself lucky that ahbao stayed healthy and generally happy throughout the trip, despite the change in climate and environment. 

Our first hurdle was our red eye scoot flight to Jeju at 1250am. Having imagined how to deal with any discomfort in the ear, or her being cranky/meltdown. Surprisingly she was asleep before we board the plane, and remained sleeping until we were about to land the next morning. Also special thanks to the other passenger who offered her seat beside us for the baby while she looked for another seat elsewhere. While it was always in our plan to buy an extra seat ticket for her because infant only comes with lap ticket, but after a few rounds of communication with Scoot helpline, the answers I get back was either they are not sure, need to check and will call back (which they never did), or sorry it's gonna be a full flight. So lucky us cos essentially we got a 'free' seat at end of day. 

Although we landed in Jeju at about 7:40am local time with all our barangs. The first day turn out to be a long and tiring day. We took the shuttle bus to Lotte Car Rental near the airport and collected our cars, and set out to the mega marts in Jeju city to stock up ahbao's snacks/instant food pouch/wet wipes. Only to realise the only 2 big supermarket both closes on the Friday we were there. Things turned out a pretty frustrating due to the combination of left hand drive, confusing one way small roads, unclear navigations and full carpark lots everywhere. Eventually we finally found a lot and set our foot to explore (then my period cramps had to kick in) if there are any supermarkets around, but the minis ones generally don't carry baby products (missed our lunch cos we were walking around to search). After couple hours we decide to give up and head to our hotel (which was 2 hours drive away) after a small episode of getting stuck in the carpark because we don't have korea credit card to pay the parking fee. Now that I'm recounting the misfortune never ends HAHA. We finally reached our hotel at 4 in the afternoon, famished us decide to come out for some food but all the restaurants around were closed for lunch break. The devastated us went back to hotel empty handed and waited till dinner time before coming out again, with a super cranky ahbao by then given the long day of moving around in the car. 

And I lie on the bed at the end of day 1 wondering how the rest of the trip will play out.

Thankfully things start to get a lot better the next day when we truly start our travel. While I had second thoughts of taking a ferry to UDO island off the main island, lnr suggested we go ahead with it. The ferry duration was much faster than what I remembered, about 20min? And the indoor area are just a low platform where passenger would sit/lie around., Perfect for ahbao. Sea sickness unchecked ~

We rented the BIGGEST scooter available for the day trip but it could still barely fit my legs at the back :') Alas, at least the ride is good. Safe and steady with sea breeze while we did a round trip along the coastline. 

We rode along the coastline and stopped by occasionally to take some photos and enjoy the sea breeze. Along the way there are mnay pockets of places for visitors to take photos. Ahbao was in quite a good mood that day and we managed to get a handful of happy photos together~

I guess one thing about travelling with a small baby is that you never get to truly relax and enjoy a meal cos you have to constantly look out for the lil one. Some days ahbao enjoys herself more than the others so every meal is a surprise.

In the afternoon we spent some time at a cafe for peanut ice cream which is a local speciality, and lingered at the beach for a short while, before making our way back to the port. The last ferry of the day departs at 5pm if I remembered correctly, which was more than enough time for us cos most of the time we would be back in hotel in evening with dabao-ed dinner. 

Some of the new discoveries we made was that ahbao really love the bread, spaghetti and seaweed at the hotel breakfast? We were weighing between hotel and airbnb prior to the trip and decided to go for hotels cos of 1)breakfast is provided 2)there are receptionist around in any emergency case.                          

On the third day we made plans to hike up the Songsan llchubong Sunrise peak behind us~ It was a short 30min hike up the dormant crater along the coast, but we were warmed up enough to took off all extra layers of clothes by the time we reach the peak. 

It was quite a pleasant 30min~ hike to the top? and we could spot our hotel from the peak heh.

In the afternoon we headed to Seopikoji - a scenic waterfront with light house on the other end.

Fortunately, the weather is mostly on our side during the trip. 

And we could see the Sunrise peak behind us from where we were. 

We changed 3 accommodation's in total and there's hell lots of things to pack every night prior to our check out.

Ahbao had a bad meltdown in the car while we were en route to the next destination. We started travelling from the eastern end to the south and stopped by Jeong bang waterfall.

Ahbao was slightly better in the later part and we hopped to E-mart (finally) to grab some dinner and baby snacks, which we failed to find on the 1st day we touch down.

K.O-ed bao after a long day of travelling. 

Got to say that there is a wide range of baby snacks/food in Korea and they are pretty good too, in general didn't felt there are as much seasoning (compared to some of the Jap brands) but yet still flavorful.

Dinner from supermarket for the night. As we checked into one of the hotels among the 'resort' areas, there weren't much food options (perhaps none) that are walkable from our hotel.

A small mishap - we spilled the only tin of milk powder brought from Singapore. To which we tried going back to the supermarket to find but they didn't carry the same brand. We eventually settled for a gentle Korea formula and thankfully Ahbao didn't reject the change in taste. 

The next day we visited the Teddy Bear Museum just minutes away from our hotel.

And highlight of the trip - Jeju orange plucking!  Came across a nice lil cafe on XHS which comes with a private small orange farm and some farm animals free for feeding~ 

yummers!

our farmer seah.

We collected a bucket of orange to bring back at the end. though I recall we didn't finish them.

    

The cafe has a rustic and laid back vibes too.

not ahbao trying to get away from the llamas.

Following day we set out to Camellia hill about 30min drive away, which a huge garden featuring different seasonal florals. 

As we were there in autumn, there was a pretty sea of pink muhly grass and lalangs~ 

more flowers~

    Our last stop in Jeju was to the Ossuluc free green tea museum but we only realize it's closed for renovations upon reaching. But the green tea plantations are still open for visiting. 

And the matcha desserts/tea were great!

We also discovered that ahbao loves eating bread during the trip, she's always happy and chirpy during the hotel breakfast time bahahah.

flying off to Seoul for the final part of the trip. 

We did some free & easy strolling in the towns and shopping in Seoul before heading back home. 

Amazed at LNR's ability to lug back so much souvenirs from the trip huehue. And I have come to the end of the post. This is basically just a photo dumping post... and I procrastinated for 2 months to finally get this post up opps. 

It's time to countdown to the next trip to Japan Kyushu, happening in another 1 months time!