Well I am back from little old Gyeongju after 3 nights there and I am really glad I went. The locals were friendly, life was slower than Seoul and there were some beautiful places to see. I stuffed myself with the local bread, Chalboribbang, Gyeongjubang and Hwangnambbang, all nice. While the Ssambap was good too and very cheap! Naturally this was washed down with some Makgeolli...
My only complaint is that it was a little cold of course! But it sunny each day and the air fresh, unlike Seoul. I stayed in a nice traditional guesthouse, but each morning had to walk to the shower which was in a separate building...I should have booked ensuite!
Two full days were enough to see everything for me, I've seen many temples and climbed many mountains in South Korea already after living here. However several sites like Tumuli Park, Anapaji Pond (at night), Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto, Cheomseongdae (again at night), Bunhwangsa and the local markets stood out as hightlights and were impressive.
If it was my first time in South Korea then I could have happily spent longer in Gyeongju visiting all the smaller sites further away, while I am sure to Koreans even the smaller sites are more interesting than they might be to me.
I met some good people too, a tourguide who has been working in Gyeongju for 20 years who had dinner with me a couple times. Meanwhile also while sightseeing I met Paul, a guy from Oz who works in Vietnam and a guy from France, Patrick I think his name was, who works in the wine business in Shanghai.
Anyway, below are some pictures...
I thought about what to do with this blog, to continue or not, but I'll give it a try I guess. I don't think I'll be posting daily though! May every 3 or 4 days, we'll see.
Tomorrow, after one last evening in Seoul, I fly to Beijing where I'll stay for 4 nights and 5 days, lots of cool things planned.
It was an early start...just like work! But I made the 6.40am bus, seat 17, oddly I was also on seat 17 coming back, random.
My only complaint is that it was a little cold of course! But it sunny each day and the air fresh, unlike Seoul. I stayed in a nice traditional guesthouse, but each morning had to walk to the shower which was in a separate building...I should have booked ensuite!
Two full days were enough to see everything for me, I've seen many temples and climbed many mountains in South Korea already after living here. However several sites like Tumuli Park, Anapaji Pond (at night), Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto, Cheomseongdae (again at night), Bunhwangsa and the local markets stood out as hightlights and were impressive.
If it was my first time in South Korea then I could have happily spent longer in Gyeongju visiting all the smaller sites further away, while I am sure to Koreans even the smaller sites are more interesting than they might be to me.
I met some good people too, a tourguide who has been working in Gyeongju for 20 years who had dinner with me a couple times. Meanwhile also while sightseeing I met Paul, a guy from Oz who works in Vietnam and a guy from France, Patrick I think his name was, who works in the wine business in Shanghai.
Anyway, below are some pictures...
I thought about what to do with this blog, to continue or not, but I'll give it a try I guess. I don't think I'll be posting daily though! May every 3 or 4 days, we'll see.
Tomorrow, after one last evening in Seoul, I fly to Beijing where I'll stay for 4 nights and 5 days, lots of cool things planned.
It was an early start...just like work! But I made the 6.40am bus, seat 17, oddly I was also on seat 17 coming back, random.
Down at a bakery, there is one bakery for every person in Gyeongju, at least that is how it seemed!
Above Cheomsongdae Observatory at night.
Above: Tumuli Park ancient tombs.
Bunhwangsa Temple, where I met the tourguide.
A view of the light shining across the rice fields
Anapaji Pond at night. Really very beautiful. The reflections in the water were pristine and my photographs don't do them justice.
Below, Paul and the tourguide, Yong Cheol who could speak for England! (or Korea!) To any Koreans reading that means he spoke lots and lots and lots.
At Seokguram Grottom, no cameras allowed in. Great view from the hill top. Me and Paul climbed up from Bulguksa along a hiking path, a bad idea as there was loads of snow and ice. Only silly tourists and death-wish Koreans ventured up this way instead of taking the bus.
Neatly stacked oranges...
Below Bulguksa from the front. Above a local land mark, General Kim Yu-Shin who unified the Korean peninsula in the 7th Century.
Above the resturant where I ate, looks nice and expensive! Meal only cost 10 quid with free Seafood Pajeon as 'service'. Yum Yum.
Below, one the last day me and my shadow went cycling around Bomun Lake resort, a good 30km cycle and saw Gyeongju Tower and went to the National Museum.
Another lake photo, and blow some of the bread and the food I ate at the restuarant pictured above...
Basically you take a leaf, add some rice and one of the side dishes, fold it all up and stuff it in your mouth mmmmm!
....I'm exhausted after posting all these photos, might have to upload less in future!
Now it's time to arrange my lift to the airport tomorrow and some last minute Mandarin revision!