Jeju Island + Random Thoughts

The last 6 summers I have gone back to Canada to do Canadian things. For certain obvious reasons, that streak has ended. However, things are never all good or all bad. There are positives to almost everything. I won’t be spending as much money, I am getting paid for the summer (need to do 2 weeks of summer school though), I have ample amount of time for gaming, and I have some time to explore Korea.

People say that Jeju is like America’s Hawaii. People go there for honeymoons, there is surfing, seafood, famous Korean dramas are shot there, and basically anything you see or eat is famous. See that beach? Famous Jeju beach! Delicious prawns? Famous Jeju prawns! (Hey! Hey! I love prawns!) See all that grass? Famous Jeju grass! Perfect sand beaches? Famous Jeju sand!

Everyone says you have to go to Jeju. Fine. I’ll go. I need to go somewhere and it seems unlikely I will be able to leave Korea until next summer (What happens next summer Bert? Oh, just wait). I somehow made a friend who wanted to go to Jeju after work on Friday and come back late Sunday night. Do you want to know the best way to travel in Korea? Travel with a Korean person. It’s like having a cheat code. I went to restaurants and had food I would have never ordered or even knew existed because I’m a big, English speaking dope of a man. Another pro tip is renting a car. I’ve never driven a car outside of North America which is kinda wild if you think about it. I didn’t have an international driver’s license until last August and it expires soon so I needed to make it count. Since the summer is a high tourist season and getting around the island is a bit tough without a car, the island is filled with rental cars. At the hotel we stayed at, it was like looking at an Enterprise car lot. (Big shout out to Enterprise. It was 11 years ago that I woke up each day to work from 7:30-6, wash cars in a suit, forced to talk to strangers as I drove them around Ottawa and really made me seriously consider leaving Canada if this is what being an adult entailed) 

I don’t want to tell you each thing I did because I don’t want to be some big show off but here are some pictures of Jeju that I have stolen from the internet for your viewing pleasure.

Overall, Jeju is a great stop. Outstanding food, solid hiking, waterfalls, surfing, the best mandarins you will ever have in your life, plenty of horses for your riding pleasure, lots of Korean people, somewhat affordable, lots of dragonflies, and general laid-back vibe. The negatives would be far too many speed bumps (traffic accidents must be almost zero on Jeju), a lot of traffic camera enforcement zones which really made other drivers want to speed when the speeding zone ended, far too many white rental cars, and a general lack of good breakfast but breakfast is lacking in Korea in general. Should you go to Jeju? I’m not the boss of you so you should do whatever you want. Do I regret going? No. Will I go again? No because I won’t get to be a Spartan ranking 100 in Halo if I’m exploring Korea all the time.

Random Thoughts

It’s been raining like the Great Galveston Storm lately in Korea.

I’ve been gaming super hard. If you have an Xbox, add me johnlanger

I’m not going to brag about how many books I’ve read so far this year because nobody cares. (33)

I don’t partake in many experiments about food or my general health. That has changed. I am currently on month 3 of a very ambitious experiment. Will write about it in 9 months (that’s how long it takes to create a baby!)

Pogos are big in Korea. In America they are called corn dogs. Non stop learning going on over here.

You can’t just buy a baguette or garlic bread in Korea. Everything is filled with something else. Buy a pastry? Filled with olives. Buy a pretzel? Filled with cream. 

Everything is filled with some random food that makes it taste way worse. I would like to formally state my displeasure about this particular culinary Korean experience.

Everyone thinks they are better looking, smarter, and benevolent than they actually are.

I only have three weeks off this summer and while I realize most people don’t get 3 weeks, I’m unsatisfied.

Netflix is overrated.

I’ve been drinking a lot of water and lemon recently.

Movie theaters in Korea are releasing old movies so I went to see the first John Wick on Saturday. Great flick. Also, you can bring in your own food to cinemas here but you can’t bring in soup. Not even famous Jeju soup.

You know what’s boring? Baseball.

I went to Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul last week. Because of what’s happening and because it was raining, I went on a tour with just me, my friend from work and the guide. The guide said that normally there are about 100 people taking the tour. I can only imagine my way was more enjoyable.

The guide noted that a famous king had eradicated corruption. The next sentence she mentioned that the king later died from someone poisoning his food. So I asked, “So he didn’t really get rid of corruption did he?” She stopped enjoying the small group size at that point.

I’m not sure if I will write a post about this because it’s a huge downer but suicide is a big part of the culture here. It’s in their shows, movies and politics. I’m not sure what the solution is but I certainly need to sit my students down and tell them not to kill themselves. What a strange topic to have to cover. Oh, just so you know kids, don’t kill yourself. Not good.

On a lighter note, baby goats are the goat. 

Thanks for checking in on your favourite Bert. Try and enjoy your summer and will write again soon.

If you are looking for some banger songs, check these out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CdcqGjQvb4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2bCryLl4pA

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”    John Steinbeck