JEDU ISLAND, Korea’s Maderia
Known in Korea for its abundant of fruit that commands high prices even by Korean standards, its the playground of the people of Korea looking to take a well earned break, relax, chill out Korean style.
Teddys on display at the Shilla Hotel
But is ain’t all relaxing. Great walks, and some very energetic, quad-biking, climbing, sea and water sports are available across the island for any who wishes to indulge. For the children, there is the Teddy Bear factory/Museum, toy and paper doll museums, various funfair type attractions, ships, submarines and a whole lot more. Culturally, musical museums allow the visitor to experience many of the instruments as they dare…its a very hands on place, Africa centre, the erotic park, World Eros Museum, also known as the museum for love, displays provocative, maybe naughty yet fascinating statues and figures, a smaller version of the sex museum of Amsterdam perhaps…Folk villages, a football stadium to take the breath away, botanical gardens and so much more to offer the visitor that once is just not enough time to see all that paradise has in store.
A large polished brass sculpture at the Shilla Hotel Jedu
Jedu is predominately an ancient volcanic outcrop with a massive extinct crater in its centre that remains shrouded in mist most of the year. Craggy, mountainous terrain, winding picturesque roads, surrounded with fields of crops, plantations, greenhouses and orchards, furnished and fed by rich dark soil high in nitrates that assist the development of three seasons and continuous fruiting of fresh food produce within this temperate climate.
The most wonderful juicy and somewhat confusing fruit and vegetables are grown here. What you discover is new slants of flavours for fruit that you thought you knew .
Black grapes as big as tomatoes that taste like melons, oranges with flavours that you would think too good to be real, tomatoes that are eaten as the fruit they are, not as if vegetables we are used to. Seasonable wonders the people of the mainland wait eagerly year round to purchase.
Even small children are encouraged to participate in all activities including submarines dives off the coast of Jedu
The submarine holds around 40 people and makes dives of around 30 minutes
The submarine ride is an interesting excursion we took as a family and proved to be children friendly despite the awkward entry and exits points which normally European operators would shy away from. In Korea tourists are welcomed, often given privileged status, children are certainly accommodated everywhere with just height restriction on some rides and amusement facilities in place.
Koi carp enjoy a treat at the Shilla
Up close and personal, Koi style.
We stayed at the Shilla hotel, the five star sister hotel of the famous Shilla in Seoul. Regulars and membership holders of this hotel chain enjoy generous discounts on rack rates and additional discounts on spending. Korea is a location where customer service, loyalty cards and regular custom is appreciated, recognised and rewarded by businesses.
Restaurants are abundance as too western style hotels of excellent quality. But don’t be put off the smaller cafe style eateries that provide excellent fare at very reasonable prices. Hire a taxi for the day, rent a car but whatever you do take some time to visit the four corners of this island and get acquainted with this special place. After all, you know you will be coming back as soon as you arrive and certainly as you finish the first visit… the only question is when?.
