Udo means Buffalo Head when translated. Personally I think it means crap place to live. The island is so miniscule. I could never survive there. I wondered about the poor lone English teacher who might be there stuck teaching at the one lone school I saw. Does he or she speak Korean? Has he adapted and mixed in with the locals or is he shunned like an outcast?
Desolate. That’s the one word summation of Udo Island in the winter. Well, I can think of a few other words like boring, gray, stark, depressing, and a few more on the colorful side of the dictionary but I’m sure you get the picture. Now the ferry over to Udo was actually nice. Sure the trip is only about 15 minutes, but just driving onboard and getting out to mingle with the other passengers and feed the sea gulls was pleasant.
Little did I know that that rosy feeling would be the highlight of the trip. Okay, I may be going a little melodramatic on you, but really I have no desire to ever return to Udo no matter how many times people tell me its a wonderland on earth. That must be during the summer. In the winter, it’s the pits. Now, don’t get me wrong, we did have a list of things to do and see but they just didn’t live up to expectations.
First, thing after departing the ferry, we went to Hongjodangoe Haebin Beach which, indeed, was quite beautiful with the blue sea behind, but, I don’t know, I just wanted more.
Second, we went up to the top of Udobong Peak which gives you a grand view of the island and Jeju. Admittedly, I enjoyed the view if not the climb. Okay, okay, it was worth the hike to the top. Bonus points for the tourist submarine we saw submerging beneath the waters.
The Haenyo, female divers, are known to work the waters here, but unfortunately we didn’t see any. That would’ve been a treat. I guess on reflection it wasn’t that bad, but I doubt I’ll be going back in my life time. Though the chocolate shop was a bright spot. It doubles as a residency for aspiring female writers offering them lodging while they work. Bonus points for that, Udo, but still, I’m going back.
