Category: coastal

#Jeju #JejuOlle

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (routes 1→ 6 = 106km)

I did part of this route with the Walking Festival. And came back later by myself, to finish.

Walking in Korea and most of Asia is traditionally for the purpose of religious pilgrimage. To walk for fun and fitness is a relatively new and foreign concept.

Festival motto – be happy on the trail

Perhaps the most amazing sight on the sections I hiked was this vast area covered with Mandarin orange peels. We were told that, once dried, it would be used in tea.

The aroma was wonderful.

It was here, too, that our hiking group sampled the famous Jeju pork. Delicious.

Of the stretches along the water, I think this was my favourite.

Near the coast there are always surf cast fishermen in sight.

Most of the “beaches” are black and stony …

This one, Pyoseon, near our official Conference hotel was a rare sandy treat

We took a shortcut to the finish

Christian funeral monument.

Korea is about 40% Christian though none of the huge churches you’ve seen on TV are located on Jeju.

One of the bloggers saw some of the famous diving women of the island close to here.

It’s an interesting story, those divers.

Another saying of this island is that “rocks, wind and women are plentiful“. It’s a bit of a matriarchal society.

Haenyo are skilled divers who are known to be able to hold their breath for more than two minutes and dive to depths of 20 meters. Diving was the first profession for women in Korea and the Haenyo are some of the best free divers in the world.

I set up a tent in a spot hidden by tall grasses. This, my only companion, didn’t reveal I was there.

Read more about route 3 on the official website.

See the rest of my route 3 photos on flickr.

Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | (routes 1→ 6 = 106km)

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Though Buzz of the Adventure Running blog disparaged the Cinque Terre as a … “girlfriend hike”, I loved it. As does almost everyone.

… Alas, I had no lass.

I walked the Cinque Terre, solo.

Since it was my first time there, I did the classic Sentiero Azzurro (Trail #2) route. (Or Blue Path or Azure Path or Light Blue Path)

12km (7.5mi)
Riomaggiore to Monterosso al Mare
easy with difficult sections, some exposure

Lonely Planet Hiking in Italy:

There’s a reason why the Sentiero Azzurro is one of Italy’s most crowded trails, and the only one you’ll have to pay cash to enter. …

… the route follows an ancient network of walking paths that has linked the five Cinque Terre villages together for over a millennium.

Studded with panoramic vistas, it traverses windswept olive groves and seemingly impregnable vineyards, before dipping serendipitously into each of the flavourful maritime villages …

It starts with a jolt. Check out the first village, Riomaggiore.

I picked up some wonderful fresh bread in a bakery here.

Next up, Via dell’ Amore … Does that translate to Way of Love?

Lonely Planet should have encouraged me to bring a love lock and some spray paint for tagging. 🙂

I did meet one goddess on the trail.

Wow. The scenery was stunning, even on an overcast day.

Vernazza was my favourite of the five towns. Gorgeous.

Check how narrow the footpath is at this point. (And it’s a long drop if you misstep.)

It was much later in the afternoon than I expected when finally arriving in the last village, Monterosso al Mare.

But I’d highly recommend you continue through town to check out a truly interesting building / statue – The Giant.

You can’t miss it.

Though the Cinque Terre is crowded, everyone loves this walk. (But you’ll love it more if you bring someone special along.)

There are other great trails, too. Next time I’ll go for either the Sentierro Rosso (38km) or, even better, the Promotario de Portofino Circuit (18km). I’ll stay in one of the two hostels on the coast, booking weeks in advance to be sure of space.
_____

… Wait a minute. I did have a girlfriend in nearby La Spezia. Her name is Hotel Diana.

Expensive at 60EU / night, the most I paid for it in Italy.

See the rest of my photos from this hike.