Day 3 Jeju, South Korea, Mount Seorak, Teddy Bear Farm, Delpino Golf and Resort

Woke up bright and early to catch the early flight to Jeju. It was so early that we had to travel to a restaurant near the airport for our breakfast before heading directly to the Jeju Airport. We had abalone porridge for breakfast at this isolated little restaurant. Our guide explained that abalone porridge in Jeju is green in colour because the fresh abalone together with its green innards are sliced and used to cook the porridge. This is in comparison with the abalone porridge in Seoul which is white in colour. The abalone in Seoul is less fresh thus the innards have to be removed before cooking. Some buns and dumplings were also served. 

We landed in Seoul's Gimpo Domestic Airport after a short flight from Jeju and started our long journey by bus to Mount Seorak. We stopped at a small restaurant along the highway for a steamboat lunch, and at a rest stop for some snacks before reaching Mount Seorak.

When I reached Mount Seorak, I was completely taken aback by the scenery that unfolded before us. The beauty at Mount Seorak cannot be described in words. Bare trees lining the mountains covered in snow, endless rolling mountains, the wind whistling in your ears. It was just so beautiful.

We took the cable car up Mount Seorak. The cable car was large, fitting 20 or 30 people easily for each ride. The annoying thing is that you get shoved around a lot during the ride. I guess everyone wanted to get a clear unobstructed view so people were just pushing, shoving and squeezing to place themselves at the glass window. I was at the head of the queue so naturally I planted myself beside the glass window. The next thing I know, someone squeezed between my brother and I, and pushed me away. The driver of our tour bus saw it and offered his spot at the window instead.

I found out in a moment that the spot by the window was worth the fight. The snow-capped peaks and valleys were just surreal.

After leaving the cable car, you could take a short walk to higher grounds or choose to stay at the cable car tower where there were numerous snack stalls. We chose to walk up and it was such a daunting climb. The slope was gentle and paved with large rocky steps but the steps were covered with a thick layer of snow. It was so slippery that I slipped repeatedly. Eventually I made it up by hanging on to the railings at the side. The wind was very strong that you could lose your footing if you were not careful. Literally being blown away by the wind.

But the scenery, oh the scenery, was like a painting. It was so magical, standing there in the gusts of strong wind, snow swirling around me, taking in the view before me. The picture below was taken moments before the strong wind toppled me over and I fell against the large rock in front of me. When we took the cable car back to the base of the mountain, I headed for the snack stalls and bought us a bowl of spicy rice cake. Chewing on hot spicy rice cakes after the long hours in the cold was invigorating. 

We visited a Teddy Bear Farm near Mount Seorak. It was a small Teddy Bear Farm with a few rooms decorated with lots of cute teddy bears and an outdoor area with adorable bear figurines. Nothing much noteworthy but the bears were really cute. In addition, I was thankful to be housed in a warm place for an hour pacing around taking photographs. 

Dinner that night was marvelous. It was the best meal included in our tour package with Chan Brothers. Our guide brought us to a traditional Korean restaurant where we had to take our shoes off before entering. The dish of the night was Chicken Soup with Potatoes. The soup was clear and very fragrant. The lady boss wore gloves and used her hands to pull the chicken into smaller pieces. The chicken was so tender and delicious! I truly loved this dish, it was incredibly fulfilling. 

The side dishes were also the best I tasted on the trip. The lady boss told us that the radish in the side dishes were grown in her back yard. The side dishes were very fresh and well marinated. I was especially fond of the marinated fish, marinated kelp, kimchi, and pan-fried luncheon meat with eggs. The lady boss was very hospitable and continuously offered to refill our side dishes. This was also where our tour guide treated each family to a bottle of soju!

The tour bus took us to our accommodation of the night - Delpino Golf and Resort. There was a Starbucks at the first floor and we headed there after putting our luggage in the rooms. I liked the white frames at the door. They gave the place a clean and relaxed vibe. We had caramel macchiato, white chocolate mocha, and dolce latte at Starbucks and spent some time chatting and lazing around. There was a convenience store in the basement and it's so amazing. The convenience store was large and very well-stocked. Imagine walking into 7 Eleven and realising that it was like NTUC. That was how I felt. You could buy fruits, snacks, drinks, and all sorts of food in the convenience store. Fantastic for a late night snack. 

The rooms at Delpino Golf and Resort were roomy and spacious. A corner of the room was dedicated to a small kitchenette. There was a stove, sink, fridge, rice cooker, and even pots in the cabinet. There was a small dining table where you could have your meals too.

It was dark outside when we turned in so we did not realize the stunning scenery outside our windows. When we woke up in the morning, I was so pleasantly surprised. Delpino Golf and Resort provided a fantastic view of Mount Seorak. The pictures below were taken from the dining hall but our rooms offered a similar view. 

Read about Day 1,  Day 2,  Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6 in Korea!