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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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 Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:48 am Post subject: Ulleung-do: a refreshing change |
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I'm on the island now and I highly recommend it. Have you visited yet?
The islanders are really friendly in a pleasant way..the hellos are genuine, no mockery about it. People come up and ask if they can help you. Some pretty women- just had a very nice long conversation with a stunner,- a normal, easy going, somewhat flirty conversation. She declined the offer of drinks because her husband waiting back home, but wow..sanity. the islanders seem used to tourists and welcoming all and sundry.The only uptight people around are the hordes of visiting seoulites.
Pretty striking scenery too- the island is basically a volcanic intrusion in the middle of deep ocean. Good restaurants (just finished a nice meal in a japanese shiktang:).There are banks, PC bangs, nice motels and its not really expensive at all. 2hrs 40 mins boat ride from Donghae.
Only drawback is getting here: you need to reserve a place on the ferry 2 days ahead (and up to a month ahead -apparently- in July/aug).
Reason is that so many koreans are visiting Dokdo now and they come via Ulleungdo. The port was a crush of people this morning, hundreds of seoullites- some bearing "Dokdo is ours" flags- determined to set foot on the rock. But I don't think U really need to go further than here. |
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Poemer
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Mullae
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:13 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the info. I'm looking for places to visit in Korea. Eullungdo was on my list, so it's nice to get some input from someone who is there now and enjoying themself.
Have you fished at all while there? |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| Poemer wrote: |
Thanks for the info. I'm looking for places to visit in Korea. Eullungdo was on my list, so it's nice to get some input from someone who is there now and enjoying themself.
Have you fished at all while there? |
No fishing, just hiking around and enjoying the scenery...
If you're into fishing it seems like a good destination. The whole place is quite tourist oriented, which is surprisingly unusual for Korea. Oh and if you really want to,Dokdo is only a short ride from Ulleung. |
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IrishJen
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Location: Gumi, Gyeongbuk
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Could you do it in a weekend? As in, leave Friday sometime, come back Sunday evening? Or is that pushing it? I only have a few months left, it's all filled up with work, and I only have weekends. But I'd really like to make it out there. |
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kat2
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Location: Busan, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| I was thinking of doing this during August. Can yo ugive some info about where you take hte boat from and how to get tehre. Can you book accomodation ahead of time? How long do you need to stay? You know, the usual. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: |
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| IrishJen wrote: |
| Could you do it in a weekend? As in, leave Friday sometime, come back Sunday evening? Or is that pushing it? I only have a few months left, it's all filled up with work, and I only have weekends. But I'd really like to make it out there. |
| Kat2 wrote: |
| I was thinking of doing this during August. Can yo ugive some info about where you take hte boat from and how to get tehre. Can you book accomodation ahead of time? How long do you need to stay? You know, the usual. |
First, catch a bus for Donghae(동해) city in Gangwondo province from Express bus terminal ( Subway line number 3). to check bus times, go here:
http://www.kobus.co.kr/eng/bus/bus.jsp
the first bus is at 6.30 am, the last at 11.30pm. From seoul to Donghae takes 3hrs 50 mins. fares are up to 20.000W, depending on which bus you take.
If you plan to stay the night in Donghae, there are several motels etc. and places to eat.
From mukho city, go to the port ("Mukho") is the name. I told the taxi driver "mukho yogeksun terminal" and was there within 10 mins. the ferry goes once a day, leaving at 10am. you will need to be there at around 8.30 to be early enough for a ticket, if you haven't already reserved a place beforehand.
Confirm the schedule- sometimes the boat doesn't run due to bad weather. In June and July, I gather they lay on 2 boats a day and you may need to book as much as a month ahead. August would be a quieter time though I think.
http://www.ulleung.go.kr/Ullung_English/sub2_01.html
Mukho-Ulleung, ferry departs once a day. 10AM
Takes 2 hour 40 min.
Mukho Passenger Terminal number is 033-531-5891: they only speak korean.
Basically i got lucky. i went without reservation, on the off-chance. arriving at the ferry terminal at 8.30 the next morning I found hundreds of Koreans trying to get on the boat, most wanting to go to Dokdo.
I was told there were no seats left but put my name on the waiting list. At 10, they turned away about 50 koreans who happened to be in groups: however they let me on as they had 1 seat left and I was the first single passenger name they came to on the list. If that had failed though I would have had no problem getting a seat on the boat the next day apparently.
Accomodation: there seemed to be a surplus of motels and guesthouses. I found a nice room for 40.000W within 10 minutes. This might be different in peak season-June/July though.
Good luck: |
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faster
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, great island. One of my top ten. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hongo-do and Haksan-do are great too. Lots of great Islands that are just a ferry ride from Mokpo.
Took the ferry ride around Hong-do. They were catching fish straight from the sea and eating them fresh with soju. |
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keseki
Joined: 22 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| any good swimming spots or is the water too rough?? |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| keseki wrote: |
| any good swimming spots or is the water too rough?? |
Far too rugged. There is no sand on Ullengdo |
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Cougar
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:30 am Post subject: |
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| Anyone planning on heading to Ulleung-do at the end of the month? I'm planning on catching the ferry on Saturday July 28th and staying for two or three nights. I'm going to stay at a min-bak, do some hiking, take some boat tours and hopefully just take in the sights and relax. If you're going around this time or are interested definitely PM me. Later. |
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buster brown
Joined: 26 Aug 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:06 am Post subject: |
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I thought I'd bump this post back to the top. I spent Chuseok on Ulleungdo and found that Julius is pretty accurate with his observations. This has jumped to the top of my Favorite Places in Korea list. The only uptight Koreans I've seen are the ones from the mainland, the locals are more than willing to make eye contact and say "Hello." Even though I've gotten the "Where country do you from?" question several times, it's usually several questions down the list.
Besides all of the friendly locals, there must be an ex-pat convention on Ulleungdo this week...everywhere I've gone, I've met foreigners!
All in all, I've really enjoyed the few days here and plan to come back with the girlfriend in the future. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:54 am Post subject: Re: Ulleung-do: a refreshing change |
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I agree totally with the 'refreshing' label about Ulleungdo! It really was great to visit. Totally different feel from the mainland.
| Julius wrote: |
| you need to reserve a place on the ferry 2 days ahead (and up to a month ahead -apparently- in July/aug). |
I had absolutely no problem getting a ticket by simply walking up to the ferry office on the morning of departure, and I know several who have done likewise.
There are three communities that have ferries heading out there. The Pohang ferry seems not to be that busy. I went in July last summer no prob. |
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