Vamos a Jeju!

Ep 15: Cherry Blossoms and More! | Hidden Jeju

Ed and Sora cover cherry blossom season in Jeju, a great alternative to fighting crowds in Japan. Jeju has its own endemic species — the King Cherry Blossom (왕벚꽃) — discovered in the early 1900s and native only to Jeju. They share five spots: * Jeonnongro Street (tunnel effect, murals as consolation prize) * Noksan-ro (canola flowers + windmills + cherry blossoms triple threat) * Jeju National University campus (local picnic vibe, cheap restaurants nearby) * Samseong-hyeol (traditional architecture, paid entry ~4,000 won) * Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (open until 10pm for night viewing). Cherry blossoms bloom late March to mid-April but can end abruptly with rain. TAKEAWAYS * Jeju's King Cherry Blossom (왕벚꽃) is endemic to Jeju — different species from Japan and mainland Korea * Season: Late March to early-April; can end abruptly with rain/wind * Canola flowers (yellow): February to April/May — longer season, good consolation prize * Jeonnongro Street: Near Jeju City, cherry blossom tunnel effect, 100+ murals, cafes — 3-4 hour visit * Gasiri Noksan-ro: Southeast, 1 hour from city, triple combo of cherry blossoms + canola flowers + windmills; need rental car; nearby: Folk Village, Snoopy Garden * Jeju National University: Local picnic spot, cheap restaurants nearby; consolation: Gwaneumsa Temple (Attorney Woo filming location), Crash Landing on You forest scene * Samseong-hyeol: Downtown Jeju near City Hall, traditional architecture, ~4,000 won entry; nearby: Noodle Street (국수거리) for gogi guksu * Cheonjiyeon Waterfall: Seogwipo, open until 10pm for night cherry blossom viewing, ~2,000 won entry HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 벚꽃 (beotkkot) = cherry blossom Describing beauty: * 예쁘다 (yeppeuda) — pretty (for flowers, women, things) * 잘생겼다 (jalsaenggyeotta) — handsome (for men only) * 멋있다 (meositta) — cool/impressive (for mountains, scenery, men) NEXT STEPS 1. Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook 3. Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources

Ep 14: Green Tea on the Green Island | Hidden Jeju

Ed and Sora kick off the "Hidden Jeju" series with green tea. Despite being coffee people (Sora quotes the Korean phrase 얼죽아 — "I'd freeze to death before giving up iced Americano"), they've grown to appreciate Jeju's tea culture. Jeju's volcanic soil, clean filtered water, and humid climate make it ideal for tea cultivation, now rivaling Japan's famous Uji region. They discuss the difference between green tea (brewed leaves) and matcha (ground whole leaf), and recommend several tea plantations: * Osulloc (biggest, but crowded — go early) * Seogwi Dawon (small, 80-year-old grandma serves tea, no tour groups) * Orteas (reservation-only tea ceremony) * Onulun (lava cave underneath, green tea foot bath). TAKEAWAYS * Jeju tea rivals Japan's Uji region; volcanic soil, filtered water, and humid climate are ideal for cultivation * 말차 (malcha) = matcha in Korean; 녹차 (nokcha) = green tea * Matcha = ground whole leaf (more caffeine, more nutrients); green tea = brewed extract * Harvest season: April-June; early harvest (April) is smoother and more expensive; June harvest is stronger * Osulloc Tea Museum: Biggest, free entry, beautiful fields — but crowded (tour buses, food court vibe); go early morning * Seogwi Dawon: Small, tranquil, 80-year-old grandma owner, 5,000 won entry includes 2 teas, views of Hallasan peak, no large tour groups * Orteas: Reservation-only, Airbnb experience, 4-tea ceremony (green, black, hojicha, matcha) — no random tourists * Onulun Green Tea House: Lava cave underneath tea fields, green tea foot bath (~$10) * Aewol area: Matcha bingsu, matcha ice cream, croiffle   HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 마실래요 (mashillaeyo) = Would you like to drink? / I would like to drink * 뭐 마실래요? (mwo mashillaeyo?) — What would you like to drink? * 말차 마실래요 (malcha mashillaeyo) — I'd like to drink matcha * 녹차 마실래요 (nokcha mashillaeyo) — I'd like to drink green tea Tea vocabulary: * 녹차 (nokcha) — green tea * 말차 (malcha) — matcha * 홍차 (hongcha) — black tea * 생강차 (saenggang-cha) — ginger tea * 유자차 (yuja-cha) — citron tea * 한라봉차 (hallabong-cha) — Hallabong tangerine tea NEXT STEPS 1. Green tea blog post: vamosajeju.com/tea [http://vamosajeju.com/tea] 2. 14-part DIY Jeju email series: vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 3. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

Ep 13: Should You Rent a Car on Jeju? | DIY Jeju

Ed opens with his "criminal history" — killing a rental car in Japan by putting diesel in a gasoline engine. Lesson learned: green pump = diesel, yellow pump = gasoline (same in Korea). This leads into a nuanced discussion of whether DIY travelers should rent a car. The verdict: rent if you have 3-5 days and want flexibility or off-the-beaten-path destinations (west coast, tangerine farms, green tea fields); skip if you're a novice driver, staying only in Jeju City, or have just 2 days. They cover the rental process, GPS language settings, self-service gas stations, parking, and the dreaded 30 km/h school zone speed traps that can rack up 120,000 won ($90) fines. TAKEAWAYS * Green pump = diesel, yellow pump = gasoline (same across Korea and Japan) * Rent a car if: 3-5 days, want flexibility, visiting off-the-beaten-path places (west coast, tangerine farms, green tea fields, Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road) * Skip the car if: novice driver, staying only in Jeju City, just 2 days, uncomfortable with night driving (no lights on mid-mountain roads, hairpin turns) * Need international driver's license; not all companies rent to foreigners — check for English website * Lotte Rent-a-Car and SK Rent-a-Car work with foreigners; price includes collision damage waiver and roadside assistance * At airport: follow signs to rental car shuttle bus → office → complete paperwork → get car * Ask staff to change GPS language to English before leaving the lot * Self-service gas stations (셀프) are slightly cheaper; kiosks often have English * Parking free outside Jeju City and Seogwipo; paid parking auto-calculated via transponder and billed to rental company * Speed traps everywhere near schools: 30 km/h zones for children, 50 km/h for elderly areas * Speeding ticket = 120,000 won (~$90) per violation — can rack up multiple fines in one drive * Tickets billed to your credit card through rental company even after you leave Korea * No freeways on Jeju; Hallasan blocks direct routes — trips take longer than expected HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) Gas station phrases — attendant is called 사장님 (sajangnim) * 가득요 (gadeugyo) — Fill it up (or just say "full") * 5만원요 (oman-won-yo) — 50,000 won worth * 카드 (kadeu) — Card * 현금 (hyeongeum) — Cash Note: 카드 (card) and 가득 (full) sound similar — pronunciation matters! NEXT STEPS 1. Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook 3. Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources

Ep 12: Getting Around Jeju on Buses and Taxis| DIY Jeju

Ed and Sora tackle public transportation for DIY travelers. Sora admits she doesn't take buses because she's "very Korean" and impatient — buses to small villages come only once per hour. Ed shares a story about Chinese tourists stranded in Seongsan after 10pm when buses stopped running. They cover bus colors (red = express, blue = regular, green = village), the T-Money card system, transfer rules, and the new option for tourists to use contactless payments on Jeju buses. For taxis, Uber now works in Korea but summons real taxis due to the strong taxi union. TAKEAWAYS * Buses stop early (9-9:30pm) in tourist areas; check Jeju bus website for schedules, not just map apps * Bus colors: Red = express (~$3), Blue = regular (~$1), Green = village (infrequent) * T-Money card works everywhere; tap out for free transfers (40 min window, up to 2 more buses) * Buy T-Money at convenience stores (3,000-4,000 won); most buses don't accept cash * Tourists can now use contactless Visa/MasterCard and Apple Pay on Jeju buses (not mainland Korea) * Large luggage: use airport limousine bus or taxi; some blue buses have luggage bays * Uber calls real taxis in Korea (same app, same payment method from home) * Red taxi light = empty, green = occupied (counterintuitive!) * Have your destination address in Korean on your phone for taxi drivers * Kakao Map recommended over Naver Map for restaurant reviews (fewer fakes) HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 가요 (gayo) = Go / Going — raise intonation to make it a question * 공항 가요? (gonghang gayo?) — Does this go to the airport? * 성산일출봉 가요? (Seongsan Ilchulbong gayo?) — Does this go to Seongsan? * 안 가요 (an gayo) — No, it doesn't go 돼요 (dwaeyo) = Is it possible? * 카드 돼요? (kadeu dwaeyo?) — Can I pay by card? NEXT STEPS 1.    Read the blogpost on taking buses on Jeju at vamosajeju.com/bus [http://vamosajeju.com/bus]. Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2.    Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources

Ep 11: Where to Stay in Jeju | DIY Jeju

From $25 cockroach motels to five-star Hyatts, this episode covers the full spectrum of Jeju accommodations. Ed and Soraya break down where to stay (Jeju City for convenience, Seogwipo for tranquility, beach towns or mid-mountain for authenticity) and the types of lodging available: hostels, motels/hotels, pensions, minbak (민박, traditional room rentals), hotels, temple stays, yoga/wellness retreats, and camping cars. Ed gives a primer on Korean "wet bathrooms"—where the entire bathroom is designed to get wet when you shower. The episode includes practical advice on choosing locations based on trip length and whether you're willing to pack/unpack daily. TAKEAWAYS Where to Stay — By Region •      Jeju City (North): Busiest area, airport, cruise port, everything you need. Best for short trips (3-4 days). •      Seogwipo City (South): Second-largest city, more tranquil, beautiful beaches nearby. •      Beach towns / Mid-mountain: For authentic Jeju experience. East and west coasts, or forest areas near Hallasan. •      With a rental car: Circle the island—one night each in north, east, south, west. •      Jeju City has two areas: Old Town (older buildings, less crowded, nice atmosphere) and New Jeju (high-rises, more restaurants/cafes/shops, like Seoul).   Types of Accommodation •      Hostel: ~$20/night for a bed •      Motel (모텔): ~$25-40/night, budget option, often no parking. Also called "love hotels" (러브호텔)—used for privacy/one-night stays. •      Pension (펜션): Like Airbnb with nice views (beach/forest), includes kitchen for cooking. •      Minbak (민박): Room in a local's home. Look for signs on houses. •      Hotels: Range from ~$40-50 to luxury. •      Temple stay: Sleep in a Buddhist temple. •      Yoga/wellness retreats: ~$150/night, includes yoga classes, meditation, tea time. •      Camping car (RV): $100-200/day (plus gas). Limited regulation—can park near ocean in most places.   Korean "Wet Bathroom" Survival Guide •      Entire bathroom gets wet when you shower—no glass partition or curtain •      Outlets have flip covers; toilet paper has partial cover •      Bathroom slippers required •      Single faucet switches between sink and shower—remember to switch back or get surprise-soaked •      Only small hand towels provided—bring your own large towel if needed   HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) 어디에요? (eodieyo?) — "Where is ___?" •      Structure: [noun] + 어디에요?   Examples: •      스타벅스 어디에요? (Starbucks eodieyo?) = "Where is Starbucks?" •      화장실 어디에요? (hwajangsil eodieyo?) = "Where is the bathroom?"   NEXT STEPS 1.    Sign up for the 14-part email series at vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 2.    Visit vamosajeju.com [http://vamosajeju.com] for articles, videos, and resources