Wait For It - Somaemuldo, Tongyeong

 Alyxis, Sarah and I had this trip to 소매물도 Somaemuldo on the calendar for weeks. The reason: it was a multi-step process.

STEP 1:  Drive to the southern tip of Goeje.  

That's almost a 2 hour trip. 

STEP 2: Take a ferry to the island.

Rain was predicted, and when the sprinkles joined the cold wind we were starting to have doubts about our endeavor. By the time we reached the island, however, the sprinkles had cleared. 

Somaemuldo is part of 한려해상국림공완이 Hallyeohaesang National Park. It has an unusual amount of birds on an island of this size because it serves as a gateway for birds traveling between Korea and Japan.

The two large boulders are called 남매바위 Nammaebawi Rocks. The rock above is called Brother Bawi, or rock, and the rock on the beach is called Sister Bawi and there is a legend about them being twin siblings.

STEP 3: Hike to the land bridge.

가익도 Gaikdo Island is a small rock island just off Somaemuldo. If you look closely the rocks appear white, not because if the composition of the rocks, but instead due to the excretion of cormorants. That's right--there is so much bird poo that the island actually appears white! Cormorants are excellent divers, allowing them to catch fish.

망태봉 Mangtaebong Peak is the highest point of the island at 152m.

This surveillance post was used to monitor smuggling  from Japan during the 70s and 80s.

Wow! What a view of 등대삼 Deungdaesam Lighthouse Island.

The trail wound around the opposite side to where we entered the land bridge.

STEP 4: Cross the land bridge at low tide.

This is the tricky part.  The land bridge, called 열목개 Yeolmokgae, is only dry for a few hours a day depending on when low tide is.  It took a couple weeks to line up where the drive to the ferry, the ferry trip and the land bridge aligned for the perfect storm. The moniker 'Miracle of Moses' has been given as the sea parts and people can walk across.

We made it across the 70m long 몽돌길로 Mongdol-gil Pebble Road.  This is viewing it from the far side.

Maemuldo Island is right beside Somaemuldo. The prefix 'so' means small.

The rock poking up on the left is called 촛대바위 Candlestick Rock.

This lighthouse has been operating since 1917. The rotating beacon shines its beam up to about 48m unto the sea.

Definitely worth a couple weeks' wait.

[May 13]