Summer Tour of Juji Island

        I once wanted to write a series of travel notes about "traveling with cats", but unexpectedly, my furry child passed away six months after undergoing sterilization surgery due to breast cancer. Nowadays, we no longer keep pets and only place a few bowls at our doorstep to feed our stray cats. Without the concern of the furry child, during the summer vacation, we decided to bid farewell to the days we had not traveled far since the outbreak of the pandemic and head to Juji Island in South Korea.

                Juji Island, similar to Taiwan's Guishan Island or Keelung Island, is an island adjacent to Busan, South Korea. Along the way, strange peaks and rocks stand tall in the South China Sea, with natural landscapes such as the Sea King Kong and the Cross Cave. There are also magnificent Greek style sea gardens on the island, as well as flocks of seagulls that sometimes stop by the water's edge to peck at fish groups, and sometimes hover in the air, waiting for tourists to feed them. As soon as they noticed tourists throwing shrimp into the air, well-trained seagulls immediately picked it up with their sharp mouths and indulged in it. After being full of food, he showed no attachment and flapped his wings, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

        After enjoying the free seagull feeding show on the deck, we turned to Wind Hill and Immortal Terrace. Among them, Wind Hill is located near the seaside, and due to the unfavorable environment and climate for plant growth, the bare hills have become an excellent scenic spot for viewing the sea. Many Korean programs are filmed here, and on the way to Wind Hill, there is a huge windmill for scenery, which provides a romantic imagination for its naming. And the legend of Shenxiantai is named after the beautiful scenery, which was once visited by immortals in the past. Walk along the wooden boardwalk and strange rocks along the way to reach the observation deck, where you can enjoy the vast and beautiful sea view.

        As for the Jinhai Luodongjiang Railway bike lane, it was rebuilt from an abandoned iron bridge, with a total length of about 3 kilometers, allowing visitors to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Luodongjiang River. After arriving at the designated location, advanced automatic turntables assist in changing direction, which is quite rare. We are still at the nearby Mountain Strawberry Winery, tasting red wine and cookies made from strawberries. The illuminated trees in the red wine tunnel, the map of world red wine producing countries, and the corridor paved with colorful umbrellas are all very eye-catching photo spots.

        The graffiti show at Gaya Theme Park is a performance that I have never seen elsewhere. Four young South Koreans, dressed in black clothing and accompanied by background music, combined dance and painting to showcase power, beauty, and art, paired with a humorous hosting style. In just one hour, they brought visual enjoyment and full laughter to the audience. In addition to artificial landscaping, there are also high-altitude bicycles, high-altitude ropes and other challenging amusement facilities in the park. Unfortunately, following the group always takes a cursory look and does not allow family members to experience them.

                Leave Gaya Theme Park and head to Matsushima Tourist Area. This is a beach built by Japanese residents living in Busan during the Japanese colonial rule. It has undergone multiple renovations, including the addition of cable cars, a skywalk, and a whale lighthouse. It is one of the world-renowned marine tourism attractions.

        On the the fourth day of the trip, it began to rain, sometimes drizzle, sometimes downpour. Although it inevitably disrupted the fun, it was rainy season at this time. We were lucky to encounter rain until the last day of the trip. The itinerary for this day is the White Shoal Cultural Village in South Korea, which was originally a refugee settlement during the Korean War. After the war, it was rebuilt as the most representative cultural and artistic village in Busan. Walking around the art village while enjoying the meandering stream from Penglai Mountain, it is a unique pleasure.

        Later, we arrived at Longtoushan Park, one of the three famous mountains in Busan. Due to its mountainous terrain resembling the dragon head of a sea dragon, it was called Longtoushan. From the Diamond Tower on the mountain, one can overlook the entire city of Busan, and nearby attractions such as the Movie Plaza, International Market, and Nampo dong Clothing District are also must visit attractions. After indulging in shopping, savoring local delicacies, we carried a load of memories and bags, and flew back to our warm home with satisfaction.

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