Jeju Island & I'm Alive!

I think I have taken my biggest, best, and last vacation in Korea. I had a 5 day weekend and after much trouble trying to get a hold of some plane tickets, Derek, Tyler, and I were off to Korea's Hawaii. Well, it's not Hawaii, but it is an island created by volcanoes, it's hotter than the Korean mainland, and it's by far the most touristy place in Korea. There are so many attractions. Museums from tea to sex, waterfalls, white sand beaches, black sand beaches (more like brown actually), a giant mountain to climb, orange orchards, volcanic craters, back country roads, lava tunnels, lava rock everywhere, and a gorgeous coastline. 5 days is honestly not enough to cover it all. But I still saw a fair amount.

I arrived a day before Derek and Tyler so I got to hang out with some of my academy's students for a day. I got to see my first tea plantation. I've already studied the tea production process, but it was better to study it with my hands and eyes. I walked rows of tea bushes and even ate some raw leaves - not that I recommend it; it wasn't tasty. I saw a teddy bear museum. It was weird seeing teddy Ghandi. It was fun being hugged by a 10 foot teddy. I also road a horse and went in a kinda-hot-air-balloon which was really attached to the ground with a steal cable.

When Derek and Tyler came we got into adventure mode, catalyzed with the idea of exploring an island on scooters! Scooters. Wind in your hair. Sun on your face. Pals reving their engines beside you. Cruising beside turquoise waters and black lava rock. Passing thousands of palm trees. A good risk of getting lost but not caring. It was everything I thought it'd be. It also really allows you to hit many of the attractions in good time.

The first day on scooters was incredible! The second was cursed. The rain sent us back to cower in our resort for most of the day, but we were emboldened by mid-afternoon to try again. I was so excited to be whipping around on scooters again that I took the lead at a quick pace. But some stupid cars were going to slow for my excitement so I had to pass them on the narrow country road. I was doing at least 60 km/hr and was too focused on oncoming traffic to notice the sharp turn coming up. Uh-oh! No time for brakes. Crank the bars right and...well you see, those damned scooters have no ability to turn and the thing slid out from under me. I remember very little except thinking "ashphalt and skin is a bad combination." While still in shock I stood up, walked to the side of the road and sat down. Tyler had a good vantage point from behind. He said I turned halfway, looked right at him, and then continued to roll rag-dolled for 15 feet down the street.

I was not wearing a full leather getup. I had shorts, t-shirt, and sandals. Yes, I am pretty scrapped up and banged up. There is not one knee, foot, elbow, or hand that isn't scraped or sprained. Yet, miraculously, there were no major injuries. The car in front of me stopped quickly and called for an ambulance and the police. They brought out a stretcher and really wanted me to go to the hospital but I denied them like an idiot and scootered back to my resort. I should have got stitches in my knee and had them clean my destroyed toe. Anyways, I found a doctor that night and he kindly tended to me.

Of course I couldn't let injuries entirely ruin my trip. And I needed to get the scooter back to the rental shop. Although there was a lot of body damage, there was no noticable mechanical damage. Off we headed to the world's largest lava tubes formed 100,000 to 300,000 years ago (7km long). It's too bad I didn't get to climb Korea's tallest mountain at the center of Jeju. That plan had to be jettisoned. We also managed to visit a few beaches before getting back to the rental shop, where my billing awaited me. Insurance only covers being hit by another vehicle, so I had to fit the bill entirely on my own. Let's just say it cost more than my whole trip. :)

These injuries are really annoying right now and I have to go to work tomorrow. I'm worried I'll get body fluids all over my dress clothes.

Stay tuned to Facebook for pictures that I will post by the weekend.