Gyeongju - Part 2

The second day of our trip, we got to go on a tour with Sam, and the other "foreigners" who had travelled the globe to attend the conference.  A few highlights of our day...

Our tour guide went by the name Truman.  Why?  Because any time you would question anything he said, he would answer, "Everything I say is true, that's why my name is "True-man", ha ha.  He was a great guide with lots of information and colorful commentary.

Our first stop - Bulguksa Temple, which has been around since year 528.  It is number 1 on the South Korean registry for scenic and historic sites, and is also on the UNESCO World Heritage list.  I knew you wanted to know that.  It was a beautiful temple and we were there on a perfect autumn day. We also visited Seokuram Grotto, Anapji Pond, and the Tomb of Crazy Horse.  The Buddhist architecture is very beautiful and colorful, it was so neat to see it up close and personal, it was hard to believe that these places have been around for so long, some for several hundred, and some for closer to a thousand. 

Adding a rock to a stack is akin to throwing a penny into a wishing well.  You see these stacked rocks all over the country...

*sigh*  it was so beautiful there

 
We had hiked up to the temple (don't remember which one), and on our way out, saw this Rolls Royce!  I didn't realize that the path to the temple was driveable!  We had hiked a good twenty minutes to get there.  Where there's money, there's a way...

Bill Gates?  No, his name is Francesco and he's from Italy.

Kids were getting tired...

We didn't know where the tour would take us for lunch, we figured it would be some meat place, but to our delight, they took us to a vegetarian restaurant!  Score!  Not only that, people were seated in tables of four, but since we had the two kiddos, we got to eat more than our fair portion!  Double score!  We were pretty excited

Can you see the look of elation on Sam's face?  The rice paddy next to the restaurant made for a nice view, too.

 

 

Sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf

On our last day in Gyeongju, we decided to play at Bomun Lake.  We drove around until we found paddle boats!

 Aren't the paddle boats cute?A picture of the hotel that Sam's Uncle built, with the swan boat that he bought all those years ago, it was still there!

Lindsay loved driving the boat!

 We exchanged cameras with a couple to get this shot



 I like the way the ducks are all at attention!  Bye Gyeongju!

Gyeongju

We got to tag along with Sam on a business trip to Gyeongju, a famous historical area in Korea, having been the capital of the Silla Empire.  There were indeed many historical sights; namely royal tombs and Buddhist temples.  The first day Sam had a presentation to make, and so it was just me and the kids.  After getting up, the first thing we did was to take a walk around Bomun Lake, which was right behind our hotel.  Bomun Lake is a manmade lake made by the Japanese around a hundred years ago.  It has personal relevance for Sam because his General Uncle developed this area for tourism many years ago; he built a hotel, constructed a walkway and planted hundreds of cherry trees all around the lake, and set up touristy attractions like paddle boats and a swan boat.  It reminded me alot of the tidal basin in D.C., except a lot larger.  Pics!

Our first view of Bomun Lake

It's a big lake

Doesn't it look like I photoshopped her in?  The effect of fill-flash

Time for lunch!

We ordered the Kalguksu, it was in anchovy broth and pretty yummy.  The kids have been loving acorn jelly and enjoyed that the most.



Lindsay wasn't too impressed with the royal tombs.  To her they looked like great sledding hills.



Lindsay in front of Cheomsongdae Observatory.  Still trying to figure out how it's considered an observatory...

The circles on the ground is all that is left from a building of yore.  They were the foundations for pillars.



Lindsay thought that this tree looked like it was saying "Anyounghasayo"



Taken in Gyerim forest, an ancient forest where supposedly Kim Algi, the first of the Gyeongju Kim clan was found.  Not born - found, since he supposedly was found in a golden box next to a rooster, a sign of deity.

More royal tombs, apparently Nathan wasn't impressed either.



After walking through the forest, we chanced upon what looked like an old traditional Korean home/palace.  It was empty, except for a woman who was washing some dishes outside.  I asked if it would be okay for us to walk around, she nodded.  The grounds were beautiful - I felt like I was on the set of a Korean drama.



 Next, we went to a children's culture center, where kids can make traditional crafts.  Lindsay loves making things, so I knew she would enjoy some time there.

It was empty when we went, so L got one on one attention. 

A

A traditional Hanji mirror, covered with mulberry paper





Can't see it too well, but she wrote her name in Korean, something she had learned just days before.  In Korea she goes by 이린지, instead of using her Korean name.  Koreans like using the English version of words/names, but more on that in another post

Nathan did us a favor and promptly fell asleep.

"Gyeongju Bread" is a regional specialty and is sold everywhere, with each store being run by a family with their own family recipe.  The bread itself is just a thin shell with red bean filling, a lot like Chinese mooncakes.

My favorite shot of Lindsay from our trip, my princess!  If it's not obvious, she's making a crown with her hands.

We made our way to the market to fetch dinner, it was full of traditional smells. :O)

These octopus legs must have been three feet long!

Our dinner of pigs feet with ssam and special sauces, dduk and some nice sugar laden drinks chilling in the fridge.

Glad to be back in our room

Hello?  Yes, can you dial the cartoon network for me?  No?  Then goodbye!