[Geoje, Gyeongnam] Cruising in Geoje

[Geoje, Gyeongnam] Cruising in Geoje  Make the best out of your tour to Geoje by cruising through the eccentric islands and relishing what each has to offer. Today's destinations are Jisim Island, Oe Island and Haegeumgang Island.  <Five cruise rides to Jisim Island are provided each day at Jangseungpo Port.> Located 5 kilometers southeast from Jangseungpo Port in Geoje, Jisim Island is up to 70 percent covered by camellias in peak seasons, which is why it's dubbed camellia island, or dongbaekseom in Korean. Camellias on Jisim Island come in various shapes and sizes, and usually blossom from December to April. A recommended tour course would be starting from the dock and moving on to the citron field, and lastly to the closed school.  <Jisim Island, from the dock to the closed school.> There are five cruise rides each day from Jangseungpo Port to Jisim Island, and additional rides over the weekends and holidays. Tickets for adults are 1,2000 won. Accommodations are provided on the island, too.  Other choices of destinations provided from the boat terminal near Jangseungpo Port are Haegeumgang and Oe islands, two very popular venues for relishing natural scenery.  Haegeumgang Island, in specific, is dubbed the island of herbs because it's so rich of the greens that even legend indicates Qin Shi Huang (260-210 BC), king of the Chinese state of Qin, used to send his subordinates to the island for collection.  <The Oe Island-bound cruise passes Haegeumgang Island.> On Haegeumgang Island, you'll find the Lion Rock and the Candlestick Rock, as well as the most fascinating formation of all: the Shipjagul Cave, which in Korea, refers to a cross. It's named that way because when viewed from the sky, the cave is shaped as a cross. Passing the cave, you'll find extraordinary heights of rocks of peculiar shapes. And when the sun showers rays of sunlight at the nick of time, you'll be in awe by the beauty that the island presents.  (Tourists don't actually make a stop on Haegeumgang Island, but instead, pass by on a cruise ship.) Oe Island, also called Botania, is dubbed a paradise of plants because the left part is filled with actual flower gardens. <Oe Island, or Oedo Botania.> A marine botanical garden in Hallyeo Maritime National Park, Oe Island is a paradise of exotic flowers from all over the world, including cacti and palm trees. Numerous sculptures and a western-style garden are displayed at the Venus Garden, and walking down the so-called Stairway to Heaven, you'll find another garden paired with the sparkly ocean.  Note that tourists can only stay for 1.5 hours. <The ocean and sprawling gardens, a beauty you'll find no place else.> A tour package provided at the Haegeumgang Boat Terminal includes a pass through Haegeumgang Island and a stop on Oe Island, including the entrance fee to Oe Island; three rides are provided each day during weekdays, four over weekends and even more on holidays. Ticket costs around 27,000 won for an adult.  ※Relevant information ▶ Jisimdo Boat Terminal Address: 거제시 장승포동 702-3 Contact: 1688-3883 Homepage: www.jisimdoticket.com ▶ Oe Island, Haegeumgang Boat Terminal  Address: 685-1 Jangseungpo-dong, Geoje Contact: 1688-8788 Homepage: www.oedoticket.com