# Spring vacation for a newbie Jeju resident

Spring, summer, fall, winter. Since childhood, I have always thought that the four seasons started in the spring and ended in the winter.
That’s why I often feel that the year really begins when spring comes round rather than on New Year’s Day or even on Korean New Year’s Day.
Jeju is said to be the first place in Korea to meet the new season.

Today, in Jeju, vivid yellow mustard flowers bloom along the roadside, and people’s clothes seem much lighter than before.
As I also wanted to properly greet the beginning of this year, I went on a short spring vacation to a neighboring town.

# “Dreaming Nomad,” a pension for digital nomads

Address: 54, Seonban-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
Room rates: KRW 50,000–230,000 (KRW 60,000 for a weekday 56 m² room, as of March 2022)
Check-in: 15:00, Checkout: 11:00

When it comes to vacations, homework inevitably comes to mind!
I left home with a light bag and a laptop because I had some work to finish.
As a digital nomad, being able to work anytime and anywhere is both an advantage and disadvantage.

To hit two birds of relaxation and work with one stone while on vacation, I always choose my accommodation very carefully.
The accommodation must have a good environment for working and easy access to tourist attractions and convenience facilities.
After a lot of thought, I decided on the Dreaming Nomad, a pension located in seogwipo (it’s even named “Nomad”!).

Upon arrival, the exotic exterior of the pension immediately caught my eye.
Although it was about an hour’s drive from my home,
I felt as if I had traveled a long way to get to an exotic travel destination.
Its neatly arranged garden was full of yellow mustard flowers.
The owner explained that one sees roses bloom after the mustard flowers,
white tangerine flowers in May, and cutesy tangerine fruits in fall and winter.

Dreaming Nomad offers three types of rooms, a 112 m² room, 56 m² room, and 46 m² room. I chose a 56 m² room.
I took a table and a chair out to the terrace to work while enjoying the warm weather and peaceful view of the orchard surrounding the pension.
It’s the perfect accommodation for a guest like me who came for a workation (work + vacation) and for those who want to enjoy a serene,
healing experience in a quiet place. I liked listening to the occasional birdsongs and feeling the soft spring breeze on my cheeks,
and perhaps because of them, it allowed me to finish my work much faster than usual. Now, it’s time to fully enjoy my spring vacation!

# A place to visit around the pension: Jeju Olle #7

Recommended section: In the vicinity of 152, Maksukpo-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

The Jeju Olle #7, said to be the most beautiful trail among the olle trails, wasn’t far from the pension,
so I decided to walk a short section of this 17.6 km-long trail to refresh my sluggish body.
I personally like this trail a lot, so I usually recommend seeing the entirety of the trail to the visitors.
But if I must choose one section as my favorite, it would be the coastal road because of its open view of Beomseom Island.
There, one can have a peaceful walk while appreciating the refreshing scenery of the Jeju sea.

# A place to visit around the pension: Café Harakeke

Address: #16, 29-10, Sokgol-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Located along the road to Jeju Olle #7, Café Harakeke is a Southeast Asian–style café only a five-minute drive from the pension.
Although it’s still springtime, I dropped by the café to catch a glimpse of the summer to come.
This large establishment has plenty of seats, and its rooftop offers a fantastic view.

If you visit in time for the sunset, I highly recommend taking a seat by the outdoor swimming pool,
the best place to enjoy the splendid sunset reflecting on the water.

# If you want to enjoy the spring of Jeju: Sanbangsan Mustard Flower Field

Address: (Mustard Flower Field nearby GS25) 53-7, Sagye-ro 114beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Admission Fee: KRW 1,000 per person (Cash only)

Jeju is full of places where one can enjoy the view of mustard flowers in spring,
but the Sanbangsan Mustard Flower Field is probably where the blossoms appear most quickly and last for the longest time.
It is about a 30-minute drive from the pension.

Unlike other attraction sites, tourists can take a photo of beautiful mustard flowers with the background of the impressive Sanbangsan Mountain,
making the Sanbangsan Mustard Flower Field a trendy tourist destination.

# A cozy accessory shop near Sanbangsan Mountain: Nyamiwa Store

Address: 382, Sanbang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Tip for visitors: Before visiting, you are advised to check the store schedule on its Instagram.

While I was looking for an exciting place to visit in the area of Sanbangsan Mountain,
I found this general store selling cute accessories and stylish Jeju souvenir products.
With the owner’s conviction of “selling only products I would want to buy,” the store offers a selection that calls out to your inner shopaholic.
In fact, I was so charmed I ended up leaving the store with three cat dishes.

# A comfortable pension that feels like home

After my short trip, I returned to the pension. I couldn’t help but laugh because I felt so at home here, even though I had only spent half a day.
It was still chilly in the evening, so I turned on the heater. The pension is equipped with an individual heating system,
and I was able to set the temperature to one suitable for me.




After taking a hot shower to wash away Jeju’s humid spring breeze and throwing myself onto the ondol (Korean heating system) floor,
my body relaxed instantly. I made my way over to the fridge and gulped down a cold beer. Sometimes, happiness can be as simple as that!

Another perk of the Dreaming Nomad is that guests can cook simple meals in the kitchen.
I didn’t have to use this amenity because I only stayed for a night.
But the next time I come here, I will surely enjoy cooking a meal because any dish you cook in a travel spot always tastes great!
Today, I prepared a tasty late-night snack with convenience food, heated it up with a microwave,
and went out to the terrace to see the sky and the full moon. I read a book under the moonlight until I fell asleep.

# The reason why we sometimes need a “vacation”

I like spring because it makes me feel confident that I can start anything.
When I see that flowers are budding on tree branches laid bare in the winter and brown fields turning green,
and when these changes can be felt on my skin, a spark comes from deep in my heart, saying, “I need to wake up too!”

However, such seasonal changes are so small and delicate that they can only be seen when you pause
and take your time to look at them with affection. I feel that this year started with a good spark thanks to this spring vacation I gifted to myself.