[Geoje] - Oedo Botania (외도 보타니아)

Let's continue our trip with Geoje City Tour Bus...

After witnessing the magnificent Haegumgang of the Sea, the ferry sailed and brought 

us to another island with breathtaking landscape, Oedo-Botania (외도 보타니아).


It's a marine botanical garden located in Hallyeo Maritime National Park.

  

Mr Kim told us to follow him, or else we'll lost our ways. We need to
move faster because we still have other places to visit after this.

 

Wait... It's beautiful double rainbow~!^^

 

Our guide knows Mr Lee Chang-ho and his wife. Here are the photos of the loving couple!

 The white building is Mr Lee,the owner house with awesome landscaping!

Well, I knew Korean drama "Winter Sonata" and "Hospital Ship" were filming here, but I didn't know that this Island is owned and developed privately. In 1969, Lee Chang-ho first came to this island to escape from the wind and waves as he was fishing. 

At first, they tried to grow tangerines and then breed pigs on the island before decided to grow rare plants there in 1976. They slowly brought in and planted 3,000 different species of plants, some from Korea, and some from more subtropical climates and some of the are very rare species.  

 

In order to maintain this huge beautiful island, they open the door 

for visitors to visit with a small fee.

 

'Green' Stairway to Heaven~!

Replica of Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Venus is lovely Greek style garden with white pillars arch facing the sea.

It's modelled the rear court of Buckingham Palace adorned with artistic structure reminiscent af an open-air Greek theater.

There are 12 statues including copy of Venus de Milo 

standing around the long garden with tulips.

Such a breathtaking picturaque scenery that make your heart wanna sing!

The Hill of Love offers a complete view of all the gardens of Oedo Botania.

Our tour guide showed us the 300-yearold tree that believed to protect the island... I didn't have the photo, but I did hug the tree~!^^

 Can you spot rocky Haegumgang Island?

Panorama Observation Deck offers stunning view of the sea which connects the East Islet. The EastIslet is a natural garden sitting atop awe-inspiring rock formationsm home to a pristine forest of Camelia Trees.

 We literally just took ferry fom Haegeumgang to Oedo.

According to our guide, on a clear day, you can see Japan's Tsushima Island.

 Serene small chapel overlooking the sea which built to 

console the souls which commit suicide from the cliff.

Adam and Eve sculpture at Eve garden.

Every corner is just so pretty and I couldn't stop taking photos...

 

 Cafe Oh! Bautiful...

with weird statues playing outside the cafe!

This cafe appeared on Hospital Ship (병원선).

Here are some others scenes taken around Oedo Botania...

 

 17, Oedo-gil, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do

경상남도 거제시 일운면 외도길 17

[Geoje] - Haegeumgang Island (거제도 해금강)

I was mesmerized by the beauty of Oedo Botania from popular Korean drama "Winter Sonata" where Lee Min-hyung lives in isolation at the Lee House after going blind, and where Jung Yoo-Jin  finds him in final episode 20 and reunites with a kiss. This place appears on several occasions in drama "Hospital Ship."

However, it's not easy to go around if there's no transportation. Was so excited to find Geoje City Tour, which the itinerary was awesome because it's included Haegumgang and others must-visit places in Geoje.

There's a bit problem because they need Korean Credit Card for the payment. We managed to secure 2 seats and will make payment on the day thanks to Geoje Facebook page.

Afraid that we'll miss the tour like what happen on our Tongyeong Tour, we woke up early although our heads still heavy though not spinning as the night before.

 

In Koran drama, people usually drink hangover solution after consumed alcohol.

So, I also bought it at bus terminal to ease my after-effects after drinking about 2 bottles or more of soju because we'd party with guesthouse' owner and other guests.

i vomited after drank the solution, not sure why but at least I felt a bit better after that. Maybe my brain thought it's soju and force me to throw it out as I had too much~!

 

The bus was already parking at waiting point opposite Gohyeon Bus Terminal.

  

It's easy to spot it because the bus was fun decorated with 

bright colorful wordings of Geoje Blue City Tour.

Mr Kim was the guide of the day because he's usually appointed to the tour with foreigner tourists. I think because he can communicate in English so he can explain in details of the places of interests. He's nice and very experience. He welcomed and greeted us and told us he's expecting us. He passed us to the brochure with the itinerary of the tour.

We went to another pick-up point, then we stopped at the ferry terminal.

We bought the ticket for ferry & admission

Haegeumgang is one of the best sights in Geojedo Island.

This rocky island original name was Galgotdo, because it is shaped like 

the spreading roots of arrowroot. Now it's known as Haegeumgang
of the Sea because it looks like Mountain Geumgang.

It's designated as scenic spot no.2 in 1971 and also 

assigned as an official green area in South Korea. 

  

The main highlight is this Crucifix Cave (십자동굴).

Only small ship can enter this narrow cross-shaped cave

which is in the middle of four large rocky islands.

According to our guide, we're quite lucky because the weather is good, 

no strong wind and big waves that might cause the ship to collide with the rocks. 

In average only 5 - 7 days in a month that the ship can sail in.

Kinda sad because we couldn't see the cross-shape because the ship just went in 

half way and we didn't stood at the front of the ship.

You can find many others unique shapes of rocks like this one... Lion Rock.

The best sunrise and sunset can be viewed between

Lion Rock and the other rock beside it.

Candlestick rock.

This rocky island used to be covered  with local herbs, which said that

Seo Bul visited the island in search of herbs of immortality for the Emperor of China.

This 1,300 year old pine tree standing tall on top of the rock...


guarding this Haegeumgang River

Oh yeah... you can see a lot of Barnacles on the rock!!!
(Video 2:35)




You really need to come here and witness the beauty of
Haegumgang with you own eyes...

 

It's really spectacular scenery!

 

Add: San 1, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
경상남도 거제시 남부면 갈곶리 산 1