Ep 17: Jeju for DIY Slow Travelers | Hidden Jeju

Ep 17: Jeju for DIY Slow Travelers | Hidden Jeju

In this episode, Ed and Sora wrap up the Hidden Jeju series by exploring activities perfect for slow travelers who want to experience Jeju on a deeper level. Slow travel doesn't require months of time; even a week or 10 days works if you're intentional about skipping the tourist checklist and pursuing meaningful local experiences. The episode covers four off-the-beaten-path activities: walking rescue dogs at a no-kill shelter, Buddhist temple stays, hands-on haenyeo diving experiences and performances, and plane spotting at secret locations near Jeju Airport. This is also the final episode of Handy Korean with Sora Ssaem, where they finally teach the most important phrase they'd somehow never covered: 감사합니다 (thank you). Key Takeaways * Slow travel is about depth over breadth: stay longer, see fewer places, meet more people * No-kill dog shelter volunteering: contact jeju.now [http://jeju.now] on Instagram or email soraya@vamosajeju.com [soraya@vamosajeju.com] to arrange * Temple stays: four temples in Jeju offer overnight stays; two program types (full itinerary with 4am wake-up vs. relaxed rest); food is vegetarian and bland (no garlic or strong herbs); book at the national temple stay website; vamosajeju.com/temple [http://vamosajeju.com/temple] * Haenyeo experiences: shallow-water diving with a haenyeo guide (wetsuit, basket, catch pre-planted seafood); Woman Divers Kitchen offers a media art dinner or a theatrical play based on an 89-year-old haenyeo's life story, followed by Q&A * Plane spotting: Dodubong Oreum for distant views; Granada Cafe rooftop for runway shots; spots along Rainbow Coastal Road and near the runway approach lights for planes flying directly overhead (bring earplugs); rental car required for the best spots Final Handy Korean with Sora Ssaem (쌤) * 쌤 (ssaem) = shortened from 선생님 (seonsaengnim), meaning teacher * 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) = thank you (formal); trick: "come some eat up" * 고마워요 (gomawoyo) = thank you (casual); 고마워 (gomawo) = even more casual * 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) = hello; trick: "onion on sale" * Pro tip: mumble and bow — Koreans will appreciate the effort Next Steps * Plan your Jeju trip at vamosajeju.com/trip [http://vamosajeju.com/trip] * Follow @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook * Share the show with a friend who needs a reason to visit Jeju

Plan Your Jeju Trip With This Free Planner!

Ed and Sora announce a free trip planner app they built to help DIY travelers organize Jeju itineraries. The app features 50+ activities, from popular Instagram spots to slow traveler experiences, with KakaoMap links for each destination. Ed confesses the real reason he built it: his entire family is going to Jeju for Christmas and he needed a way to get everyone on the same page. Sora tries to get Ed to build one for New York too. He declines. KEY TAKEAWAYS * What the Trip Planner does: * 50+ activities to browse and add to a wishlist * Organize activities across 1-5 day itineraries with time slots * Warns you if activities are in opposite regions (east vs. west) to avoid wasting time driving around Hallasan * Flags seasonal activities (cherry blossoms in April, tangerine picking Nov-Jan) if they don't match your travel month * Sends your completed itinerary to your email with KakaoMap links and additional info for each activity * Helps visualize where activities are clustered so you can decide where to book hotels * What the Trip Planner does NOT do: * Not a booking service * Not based on crowd-sourced reviews; activities are curated based on Ed and Sora's personal experience * Does not include every possible option in a category (e.g., not every green tea farm in Jeju, just the ones they've been to) * Who it's for: * DIY travelers who need to research and plan independently * Tour participants who want to compare what tour companies offer against what they actually want to do * Access: vamosajeju.com/trip [http://vamosajeju.com/trip] NEXT STEPS * Try the Trip Planner at vamosajeju.com/trip [http://vamosajeju.com/trip] * Subscribe to our YouTube channel @vamosajeju

Ep 16: Local 5 Day Markets | Hidden Jeju

Ed champions the five-day markets (오일장) as the antidote to touristy Dongmun and Olle markets — fresh produce, fair prices, no crowds, and an authentic window into local Jeju life. Sora explains how these rotating markets date back to the Goryeo dynasty, with vendors traveling between villages on a 5-day cycle (dates ending in 2 and 7, or 3 and 8, etc.). Their favorites: * Sehwa (near Haenyeo Museum, statue commemorating anti-Japanese resistance) * Seongsan (shooting location for Our Blues) * Hallim (famous gimbap lady with a waiting list) * Seogwipo (lots of food options). Check dates before you go — they're only open one day then gone for four. TAKEAWAYS * Five-day markets (오일장): Rotate on fixed dates (e.g., 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd, 27th of each month) * Much more authentic than touristy Dongmun/Olle markets — fresh produce, local vendors, fair prices * Vendors are mostly grandmas/grandpas; arrive early (6-7am), leave by 3-4pm regardless of official hours * Sehwa Market: Near Haenyeo Museum, statue commemorating anti-Japanese resistance — combine with museum visit * Hallim Market: Sora's favorite; famous gimbap lady (book first, stroll for an hour, then pick up) * Seogwipo Market: Watch grandmas bargaining in Jeju dialect; sit and eat while observing local life * Goseong Market: Near Seongsan, small, K-drama "Our Blues" filming location Must-try foods: * 빈떡 (bintteok, Jeju-only buckwheat crepes) * 꽈배기 (kkwabaegi, twisted donuts) * 호떡 (hotteok) * 떡볶이 (tteokbokki) * 순대 (sundae, blood sausage — not ice cream!) * 뻥튀기 (ppong-twigi, puffed rice discs) * 짜장면 (jajangmyeon)  HANDY KOREAN WITH SORA SSAEM (쌤) Review of previous phrases for market use: * 이거 얼마예요? (igeo eolmayeyo?) — How much is this? * 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) — Please give me this * 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) — Thank you * 맛있어요 (mashisseoyo) — It's delicious * 안녕히 계세요 (annyeonghi gyeseyo) — Goodbye (to someone staying) Sora's tip: Get straight to the point, but always say 감사합니다, 안녕히 계세요 when leaving. NEXT STEPS 1. Five-day market guide: vamosajeju.com/market [http://vamosajeju.com/market] 2. 14-part DIY Jeju email series: vamosajeju.com/start [http://vamosajeju.com/start] 3. Follow: @vamosajeju on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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