Cheonjiyeon Waterfall: Ducks Steal the Show
A friend's family came to visit. They brought their 6-year-old kid, but the travel itinerary was entirely tailored to the dad's tastes rather than places the kid would enjoy. I have the tastes of a kid myself, so I didn't really want to go either, but I had to drive them anyway... ㅠㅠ
Our first stop was Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (in Seogwipo, Jeju). I had high expectations heading out today because the scenery was pretty nice when I visited Jeongbang Waterfall before. There's plenty of spacious parking, and the walking paths are wide and comfortable. The walk to the waterfall was a bit long, but various sculptures and a "hidden card" kept it from getting boring.
That hidden card was ducks!
There's a stream flowing from Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, and it's full of ducks getting fed by tourists. At first, it was just "Oh, look, a duck," but the further in we went, the more ducks there were. Some of them are completely fearless, just like city pigeons. They look like they might just shove you out of the way for blocking their path.
The waterfall itself was actually a bit disappointing. It isn't huge, and it lacks the dynamic feel of Jeongbang Waterfall, which falls directly into the sea. Surrounded by thick trees, it's a gentle waterfall where it would be perfect to sit and enjoy some makgeolli (rice wine) and pajeon (scallion pancake). Unfortunately, let alone eating, we couldn't even take our masks off, which only added to the disappointment.
If Jeongbang Waterfall gives off a masculine and wild vibe, Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is feminine and soft. People who prefer this kind of atmosphere probably wouldn't be able to take their eyes off it.
The walk back was all about duck watching again. There are various sculptures around, but nothing catches your eye quite like these guys. On the way back, they even waddled right between people's legs, making them easy to photograph. One thing to watch out for: their poop is scattered everywhere like landmines, so you can't take your eyes off the path.
