Today is another early morning wakeup at 6:45. We are flying to Busan this morning. Norman had Mike and the Louies load a taxi app on our phones, so after a bit of trial and error Norm, Mike, and Doug were able to order one van and 2 cars for the short ride to the airport.
The ride to the airport took ten minutes. Jeju International Airport processes check in bags differently than most airports. At the check in counter there is always a list of items banned on check in or carryon luggage. The attendant always asks you if you have any of these items in your luggage. The list usually includes items such as weapons (knives, guns), explosives (fireworks), flammable liquids (aerosol cans), and large quantities of liquids in containers At this airport after you drop your bags, you are asked to stay nearby and wait about ten minutes to see that your checked luggage has passed a security check. Your luggage tag number shows up on an overhead electronic sign when it passes inspection. All of our luggage passed, except for DeAnne's. Eemo (Korean for auntie and Teddy's new name for DeAnne while we are in Korea) is in trouble. She was told to go into a back room where she had to open her luggage for the inspectors. After several suspenseful minutes, a very remorseful DeAnne emerged through the doors. 
"What did you pack in your bag?" we all ask. "An aerosol can of hairspray" says DeAnne. And not a small one, it was a full size 11 oz can, big enough to last DeAnne (for a month?). But she was smiling after feigning remorse. The inspector good-naturedly let her keep her hairspray. 
DeAnne's motto should be "Have hairspray, will travel". While we wait to board, I work on the blog. DeAnne has presented me with a little souvenir from Jeju Island, perfect for a handy travel journal. 
Thank you, Eemo. The flight was 40 minutes long. We took a train from the airport to the Haeundae Beach exit. After a short walk we reach the L7 Haeundae hotel (a Lotte hotel). It's too early to check in but fortunately there are free hotel luggage lockers. 
it's a high tech luggage locker with a security camera set up.
We are one block from the beach. 
This is the first time we have seen luggage lockers in a hotel. This made it very convenient as our whole group is booked at this hotel and the luggage we had shipped ahead to this hotel are here already, having arrived the day prior. 
Eager to do some sightseeing we grabbed a quick lunch from McDonald’s. 
All of us used the self order kiosk which required a bit of trial and error when you don't know the Korean word for "English" in order to pull up the English version on the kiosk. 
You get a table order tag number and place it on your table. We probably had six tag numbers. After bringing six different trays to six tag numbers our server told us that NEXT time we should have only requested one tag number for our group. Dining faux pas number three, but who's keeping count?
We want to go to the Gamcheon Culture Village so after walking out of McDonald's we booked taxies on the taxi app. 
Gamcheon Village is located on a very steep hill and there is quite a bit of walking involved. Franc decides to stay in and rest his good leg. His left leg has been unexpectedly swollen, red, and a bit painful, despite having worn a compression sock during the flight to Korea. Our group orders three Uber taxis. Taxi number 1 has DeAnne, Mike and myself. Taxi number 2 has the Gees and the Wongs, and taxi number 3 has the Louies and Eugene. Our taxi number 1 arrives first and lets us out in front of the arched entrance to Gamcheon Culture Village.
As we wait for the other two taxis we observe many taxies and buses continually letting off passengers.
Today the village is extremely popular and busy, Taxi number 2 arrives with more of our group. Norm informs us that the Louies’ driver let them off at a different location. The Louies and Eugene were dropped off at the Gamcheon Cultural Center which is stop number 24 on the village map. We looked at shops on the main entrance corridor while waiting for them to get to us. In order for group three to meet us they zigged and zagged and walk several flights of stairs. All three looked winded after the exerting climb.
This is the third time in my travels that a convoy of taxis carrying the groups I am travelling with have not dropped off the passengers at the same location, causing inconvenience and lost time. This is the second time for me to visit the village. I love the colorful houses and rooftops, artwork and murals. Today it's teeming with visitors and the best photo spots are crowded. As we begin walking on the trail through the village, Mike and Teddy opt to sit it out. Doug and I attempt to find the first shop, the Home Market, that we visited in 2022. I was hoping to see if the golden retriever, Honey Jar, was at that shop. We turned left at the arched entrance but we didn’t see any shops nearby. The next hour was spent walking through the winding streets and taking photos of store decor and displays. 
They are really into cats in the village. 
The most popular photo op was the “Little Prince and the Fox”. 
There was a long queue and there is a guy directing the queue. 
The "Little Prince and the Fox" feature is based on a popular French book. Here the Little Prince and fox are gazing out at the village. There is an empty seat, meant for another admirer to sit and gaze with them. That's why it's such a popular spot. 
The Louie’s, Ngs, Lisa and I buy drinks from a shop next to the Little Prince and are buzzed in to go through the gate to the shop’s rooftop to view the mountain dotted with colorful houses of Gamcheon village.
After regrouping 
Sorry Teddy!
we head to the shop with Honey Jar, the golden retriever. A large tourist group is lined up at another photo spot before the store. This deters half of the group from continuing to go down the hill to the shop and they stay at the top next to a bus stop. The Louies and I are glad to see that the shop is the same one that we visited in 2022 and while Janet browses at the dainty earrings in the shop, Doug asks the shopkeeper if the dog is here. That’s when I notice a sign at the counter that says Honey Jar isn’t here. “It’s his day off” says the shopkeeper. The fact that there is a sign about Honey Jar tells you that he is a beloved presence here. 
We wait for a local bus to go to Jagalchi fish market.
. The Louies and Fongs recommend that our group visit this famous live seafood market which is the largest of its kind in Korea. Even though we do not plan to dine there, it's worthwhile to visit this world famous market where you get the freshest and largest selection of seafood. Several buses arrive but we don't see the bus number we need. After waiting a few minutes Janet recalls that we caught the bus from across the street so we all head across the street. It's not long before our bus arrives. There’s not enough seats on the bus for everyone. I stand next to an empty chair specified for the elderly or infirmed instead of sitting in it. I hold onto a pole as the bus navigates the winding and narrow street. Every jerk and turn makes me bump up against the metal pole so I try to also hold myself away from the pole so as to not get bruised. At another stop a young couple step onto the bus. It isn’t long before the young girl sits in the empty seat, making me regret that I didn't sit in it as well as lowering my opinion of the manners of the youth. When we are let off at the Jagalchi stop we ponder which direction to head for the famous Jagalchi fish market. Doug asks a local who points us in the right direction. 
A fellow bus passenger tells us he’s looking for the same place and strikes up a conversation with the Louies as we all head towards the market. He is from SF, his name is Phillip and he has a house in Natomas that is an investment. It’s a small world. He follows our group as we reach a large grey building that resembles the Jagalchi market. We step inside. The layout of the market looks different from our previous visit. 
We recall all the live seafood on the first floor and the restaurants on the second floor. This market has the dining area with long yellow tables and benches next to each live seafood stall. 
As we strolled past, each vendor tried to entice us with their menu and their live products.
One guy demonstrated how the spoon worm resembled a male appendage not only in appearance but by squeezing it and making it squirt out a stream of water.
Our group decided we would just look at the market but not dine there. 
Like us, Phillip was not dining there. “The prices are high” he told us. We agreed. When we were outside the entrance Phillip bid us goodbye after taking a photo with our group and exchanging phone numbers. 
He is vice president of international investment with Charles Schwab.
We are able to take a train back to Haeundae. We tap out to exit through the turnstiles using our transportation card or cellphone wallet, except for Eugene. 
When this happens you look for an attendant to help you. 
Back near our hotel our group split up for dinner; some going for comfort food like bibimbap and others to Korean BBQ. We stroll along Gunam-ro Haeundae Square just as the water fountain light show begins. 
Mike has no appetite and is resting in the room. The Louies, Gee, Franc and I go to a Korean BBQ that we had visited with our cousins in 2022. 
Franc and I order a pork riblet set. The Louie’s and Gees ordered a beef set. 
The servers grill and cut the meat. The set came with a spicy tofu soup, a steamed egg, two bowls of rice, and banchan. 
And those tiny Korean napkins. 
The beef was cooked first. Even though the Gees ordered the beef set, the server assumed that our table of four would share. We are finding out that this is the norm here and when you try to order an item just for yourself but are seated at a table with others you should order everything together. It confuses them when we order solo and pay individually. We were more than halfway finished with the beef and wondered when they would cook the pork. Franc pressed a button to summon a server. 
The pork riblet was very flavorful. Both the beef and pork had been marinated. At the end of the meal there was some pork and steamed egg leftover so I asked for a to go container to take back to Mike. It isn't common for restaurants in Korea to pack up leftovers (not many Koreans leave food) so it took awhile for the servers to figure out how to package the steamed eggs as they don't use plastic containers. Back at the room, Mike enjoyed the pork but didn't touch the egg
This featured blog entry was written by Helen K. from the blog South Korea and Japan.
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