Nature has bestowed much on popular Jeju Island, writes Neil Porten.
In late October, the tangerines are heavy on the trees on Jeju Island. This self-governing province off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula is hopeful of a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a reciprocal trip to possibly scale South Korea's highest mountain, Hallasan, after Kim and the South Korean President climbed North Korea's highest peak in September 2018. To literally sweeten the deal, Jeju has sent 200 tonnes of its famous tangerines to North Korea.
The lengths some places will go to attract tourists.
Jeju really doesn't have to try that hard with the ordinary visitor. Its moderate climate, natural beauty and beaches makes it one of the most popular destinations for South Koreans. And 1.2 million cruise tourists visit the island annually, which is how I ended up there during a round-trip sailing from Tokyo.
Agriculture is a traditional strength of the Jeju economy and as well as citrus, green tea cultivation has grown increasingly important. The Osulloc Tea Museum in the eastern part of the island is right next to Seogwang Tea Garden, where you can walk along the rows of thigh-high tea bushes and get a close look at the dense foliage. Inside the museum building, an architectural attraction in itself, is a mostly deserted gallery of historical images, teapots and cups, and a packed cafe and tea-tasting room where free samples are continuously poured and all manner of green tea-laced foodstuffs are consumed.
