Diary 004: To Yeosu, with Love

Yeosu is a beautiful coastal city in the South Jeolla Province of South Korea. At night, it is probably the most beautiful and romantic city in Korea. I went with a group of friends.

While there, we took a roundtrip cable car from Do Island to the mainland. We chose the "crystal cabins" because they have a clear bottom so you can see everything below. It’s 22,000 won per person.

Walking across the bridge

I enjoyed our stay at Hotel Haven, which offered comfortable rooms and excellent service. We walked across the bridge near our hotel to the night market.

We walked down the bridge stairs and crossed the street to the night market.

Across the street from the steps under the bridge is Nangman Pocha Street Market. There are many food stalls, and it’s all right on the water. You can even take a stroll by the sea after your meal.

A little concert on the boardwalk.

Lots of soju is consumed here, and the meals are delicious, featuring a variety of local seafood dishes. If you're a vegetarian, it could be difficult. This is a port city after all, and the specialty is seafood. However, the photo below is spicy stir-fried pork with a side of cheese, called Dwaejigogi-bokkeum (돼지고기볶음). Yummy!

To the right of the stairs previously mentioned, next to the convenience store, is an ice cream shop. It’s a walk-up shop that stays open late. They specialize in Hong Kong waffle cones. The breaded puffs are crisp and don’t crumble. Instead, you can easily break them off one at a time to eat them with the ice cream.

We toured the aquarium in Yeosu. What I noticed about Korea is all the photo-ready spots, which are so cool and unique!

Not the greatest beach, but Ungcheon Beach Park is very family-friendly. You should know that wearing a bikini here will make you feel uncomfortable.

I tried bingsoo (빙수) in Yeosu for the first time. It's a shaved ice dessert with condensed milk and sweet toppings like chopped fruit or fruit syrup. If you want to try the traditional form, I recommend it with red beans.

We also visited Geomosan Hyangilam, a serene temple located on a steep hill. As you climb up the steep hill to the temple, there’s a large, flat concrete area to the left. Typically, it’s quiet, and not many people take the detour.

The statue of Admiral Yi Sun Shin stands in the middle of the roundabout at the entrance of Yi Sun-Shin Square. There are lots of shops and restaurants in walking distance. The promenade across from Admiral Yi is also a popular hangout for locals. Watch out for skaters!

You can get to the entrance of Odongdo Island by Yeosu Maritime Cable Car. We had some street food snacks (i.e., corn dogs, meat sticks) and water at the outdoor terminal. When leaving, you could take the bridge to the elevator immediately to get to the ground level. However, we passed it to explore this cafe with the wooden hearts.

You can buy a heart to write down your loved ones' names and tie it there. It’s a beautiful spin on Paris’s lock hearts. It’s also a trend you will find in other major cities like Seoul and Busan.

Instead of taking the easy path using the elevators, some of us decided to take the stairs to the side of the cafe. It’s a tricky path because it is not paved. They are makeshift stairs of dirt and wood- be careful.

Do you see the top of a temple partially covered by tree tops on the right side of the photo? That’s where the cafe is for a great view and tranquility.

The bridge to Odongdo Island is free and easily walkable. People also ride bikes here. The blue bridge is what you first cross to take the elevator. When at the bottom, you will take a right to get to the island's entrance.

On the island, even on a hot summer day, you will feel relaxed and at peace in nature. There are lots of trees with huge canopies blocking the sun rays. There are signs and maps to give you some direction. Make sure you are wearing your walking shoes because many of the features have steps you must climb down and up to see. Otherwise, you could walk the whole island without going to see caves or ocean views.

Personally, the legend of the dragon cave was a miss for me. It was a long walk down and back up that I could do without because the angle isn’t great, and you can’t walk into the cave anyway. A hit for me was a viewing point where you could relax and wave to people enjoying their water sports activities.

All around Yeosu, you will see these turtle ships. Yeosu was the ship-building yard for Yi’s turtle ships that were used by the Korean Navy, mostly for wars with Japan. They represent the success of the naval army against Japanese colonialism.

Yeosu, and specifically, this island, had a turbulent relationship with Japan. Japanese pirates kept trying to invade, which sparked wars between the nations.

Another nature excursion—can you tell I like the outdoors?

The Yeosu World Expo offers a much easier and shorter walking experience compared to the more challenging terrain of Odongdo Island.

Next to Yeosu Expo Station is the stunning Sky Tower & Cafe Sky. It's a sleek cafe that features outdoor space high in the sky and ceiling-high windows for a 360-degree view.

Yeosu is a romantic city, but as singletons, my friends and I romanticized our lives here. It's a refreshing getaway.