5 Days in Jeju Island: From Bumpy Flights to Hallasan Summit
(Part of My 30-Day Backpacking Trip in South Korea) Day 1 – From a Bumpy Flight to a Lost Tripod My flight from Busan to Jeju was bumpy enough to trigger a full grip-the-seat, pray-silently moment. Turbulence aside, I landed safely. Already tired, but excited, and t hen came the stress. I hopped into a taxi at Jeju Airport only to realize the driver and I were not understanding each other at all. After several confusing minutes, I panicked, got out, and decided to take the bus instead. That’s when it hit me. My tripod. Left behind. Gone. By the time I realized it, the bus was already moving. I was furious at myself, the situation, everything. That tripod had been with me the entire trip. It wasn’t just a gear; it was memories waiting to happen. The bus had no English announcements. Glad that I had memorized my stop. If I had not, I might’ve ended up somewhere completely random on the island. That night, I checked into the guesthouse and met Anne B, an 18-...
