Day 18: Another One Done And Dusted

Daewangsan to Sinyang Port 

Distance: 10km

After saying goodbye to the sun, setting over the ocean yesterday, 11 hours later, the orange glowing ball is popping up again - again over the ocean. Somehow, this always feels a bit special, viewing sunset and the following sunrise over the ocean. From the same spot.

With a super short walking day ahead of me, I take my time. Sipping my coffee, doing some stretching, listening to an audiobook. Despite being so close to the harbor, not a single soul is passing 'my' pagoda. 

As usual, I get restless rather quickly nonetheless and eventually leave. Down to a beach, where I have another quick dip into the ocean. Mainly to wash myself. 

I climb another small hill, then head down to Sinyang Port, desperately trying to find a place to eat. Ghost town like, most places are shut. After a short backtrack, I get lucky, have a meal with plenty of side dishes. 

Oh and by the way, Sinyang is the end of the Chuja Island Trail, and in my case also the whole Jeju Olle Trail. All trails completed! Another one done and dusted. A slightly anticlimactic ending, but I can live with that very well.

With another 2 hours to 'kill', I head out one of the massive walls, protecting the harbor from the waves, where I'am currently writeling this blog.

Despite being part of the Jeju Olle Trail, Chuja was very different to Jeju Island. My first impression was 'quiet'. And that's how it stayed throughout my 3 days here. However, the other first impression I had "oh that looks like Great Barrier Island" is, like my faithful follower Geroge correctly recognized, didn't come true. It turned out to be quite different. People wise and also the scenery.

Ignoring the polluted coastline (I'll go into detail in my next post), the scenery was spectacular, the pebbly beaches, the hiking and camping spots really cool. I haven't met a lot of people. Those I met were mostly hikers. Locals were hardly anywhere to be seen and sticking to themselves. Overall a nice experience and a worthy ending of my Jeju Olle Trail adventure.

So what now? Everything is pretty much already planned and booked. The ferry back to Jeju, one night (maybe two) camping, one (maybe none) in a hostel before flying to Ulsan, meeting up with an old Couchsurfing friend, then a bus ride to Seoul, before I fly back home on the 13th.

In a few days, with some distance between me and the traiI, I will publish another blog entry. Talking about fake wood, the polluted coastline but definitely about plenty of positive impressions as well. So stay tuned!