천제연폭포 Cheonjeyeon Falls

You can get to the Cheonjeyeon falls either from the Jungmun main street entrance, or by walking past the Yeomiji Botanical Gardens on the other side (near the hotels) and crossing the Seonimkyo bridge. The pond above the falls holds a few legends, and is the center location of the annual Seven Fairies Festival held every May.

According to a legend, Cheonjeyon Falls means "the pond of God" where nymphs descend to take a bath. The first cascade of Cheonjeyon Falls is 22 m high and the water forms a pond 21 m in depth. The water flows farther along to form the second cascade of 30 m high. Up from Cheonjeyon Falls is the stunning arch bridge Seonimkyo, which is also called Seven Nymphs Bridge.

There are is a small alcove that you can't normally get to because of a barred path, supposedly from danger to rocks falling overhead, but I think it's just the resignation of the authorities not to do anything about it.



The falls themselves are a pleasant sight and similar to Cheonjiyeon in appearance, but there's more to see in the valley than at the falls in Seogwipo.



Brian and I spotted a buddhist temple along the valley ridge from our Challa Brunch, we went down some random road and eventually found it, as well as a pathway leading down to a boardwalk along the valley's edge.



We spotted some interesting insects and heard the call of the (now) familiar Japanese Bush Warbler; I owe Matt to thank for that tidbit of knowledge.