When Korea decides to plant flowers, they plant flowers. Not just a few here and there, but entire fields, or in this case, entire islands. A small group of us, because we can still only do private groups of 6 because, Covid, were ready to jumpstart flower season. Camelias are the first to bloom, so what better place than 오동도 Odongo Island in Yeosu. DanFam5 visited Odongdo when we were in Yeosu for Chuseok and I wanted to see it in bloom.
In order to get to the island you first must walk along the 768m breakwater. Odongdo was originally an actual island off of Yeosu Port, but it was connected via the breakwater during the Japanese colonial period in 1935.
The island is most known to be covered in camellia blooms in the early spring. However, we were about a week or two early. Odarn-do.
Legend has it that a dragon used to live inside a cave on the island, hence the name 용굴 Dragon's Cave. When it rained the dragon would sneak through an underground path to Yeoundeong Creek to drink fresh rainwater. The blockage of the path by residents in the late 1800s did not stop the dragon; it continued to come out of the cave and make its way to where an underground fountain emptied into the sea. It is said that the villagers could hear the dragon all night as the sound of the high waves and splitting sea water echoed.
This is called 시누댸터널 Cinu-bamboo Tunnel.
Japanese pirates frequently tried to invade Yeosu, and Odongdo was a battleground during the 임진왜란 Imjin War in the 1950s.
The lighthouse up there on the left is 25m tall and was first operational in May 1952.
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| Nadine, Linda, Violet, Lotte, Mb and Trish |
Every year you see arrangements on the ground and in the trees that people randomly place. The neat thing is that everyone leaves them there for others to enjoy.
In addition to the many camellia trees, there are 70 species of wildflowers and 200 trees that grow on the island. Some trees have interesting trunks.
Some are more interesting than others, like this penis tree.
Now don't go thinking that my mind is in the gutter. This tree has its own name plaque. Local rumor has it if you touch this tree you will have beautiful children.
There is a little coffee shop that has a cute little picnic area where we enjoyed our lunch.
All the southern cities claim bragging rights to a connection with the great 이순신 Admiral Yi SunShin and his 거복산 geobukseon, or turtle boat. Yeosu takes pride that Yi Sunshin was appointed as commander of the Eastern Jeolla Privincial fleet in 1591 and predicted the Japanese invasion. His famed turtle ship was the first armored battleship and was very effective during its time. It was covered in spikes so enemies could not board, cannons were placed in the dragon head and turtle tail, and the design enabled naval forces to look out yet enemies couldn't look in.
Although we didn't get to see the island full of color from the camellias, we still shared a great day with friends. You can't beat that.
[March 8]
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