These days, spending a month in Jeju Island is all the rage.
A month is such a tricky time, not quite enough to truly settle down anywhere. Just when you start getting comfortable, it’s time to pack up. But for a trip, it’s just the right amount of time to start feeling restless 🌍. I once spent a week in Rome, and by the third day, the intense sunlight drove me to the airport. Thanks to a stubborn airline staff member, I found myself back at the hotel, unable to change my flight due to a pressing task.
A junior of mine transformed a house in Jeju into a guesthouse. Turns out, a lot of people are into that!
When I heard about living for a month, I brushed it off. But then, just a week later, I was headed to Jeju Island.
I visited Jeju a few times as a kid, but nothing really stood out. It felt kind of clichéd, like the overhyped names of Santorini or Montmartre. So, I didn’t expect much. It was more about taking a break from Seoul than actually going to Jeju. After all, it’s vacation time! 🌴
For a trip lasting just a few days, no need for a suitcase. A few shirts, some underwear, and toiletries stuffed into a backpack, and I hopped on the plane. About an hour later, Jeju Airport welcomed me. Passing through the hustle of people grabbing their luggage, I stood by the automatic doors at the airport’s exit, where a gust of warm air greeted me. Quickly renting a car, I headed for my destination. The area was less known, quieter than the popular spots. My accommodation was a standalone house, designed for living rather than just staying, complete with a large millstone in the front yard.
Hotels focus on providing a restful retreat after a long day of work or travel, ensuring you can unwind efficiently. The layout is planned so guests can comfortably shower, watch TV, and fall asleep quickly. The air conditioner kicks in as you open the door, and you can reach the remote from your bed. But a home is different. It’s about peace of mind. You should be able to cook ramen whenever you want, or spend a day listening to music without feeling cooped up. A place that makes you rush back to play a new LP from a second-hand record shop. Maybe even exercise by turning the front yard’s millstone occasionally (not my thing, though) 🏡. If finding the air conditioner remote requires a search, you’re in a living space, not a hotel.
At this place, more home than hotel, I unpacked and went for a walk to find food. Wandering aimlessly, I discovered charming little shops tucked away in alleys. You’d think they’d be hard to find, but they were surprisingly busy. Seems I’m the only one traveling without a plan. After a meal at one restaurant, fatigue set in, and I returned to rest. Sitting in the yard, I searched for my next meal and took a short nap. In Jeju, most restaurants close by 5 PM, so if you delay, you’ll miss dinner. But hey, with some groceries, you can always whip up a meal—because that’s what homes are for. When at the accommodation, I always turned on the old radio in the living room, and lying in the yard, music drifted through the open door. It’s lovely to hear music not by choice but by chance, like the radio taxi drivers play. Stevie Wonder’s ‘Overjoyed’ played then, and it still feels like Jeju’s theme song to me, bringing its skies right to me whenever I hear it 🎶.
Though 2 nights and 3 days flew by, I returned with a newfound understanding of why people talk about living in Jeju for a month. Next time, I hope to try sea urchin noodles.
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