Repatriate Me!

Last week from Thursday through Saturday myelf, and my wife & kids went down to Kyunju (yes I know my spelling is different than wikipedia, but there are about 4 different English spellings for each Korean placename and I use the one I like best), one of the cultural meccas of South Korea.

We drove down early Thursday morning, stopping for a great lunch after we arrived in the city and getting to our hotel about 30 minutes before check in time. After check in we went to the pool for the kids – it was blistering hot and walking around touristy places at this time would have been dreadful with young kids. On Friday we also took an afternoon break from 1:30 to 4:30 at the pool.

In the evening we started our travels around Kyungju. Over the entire trip we went to the Bulkuksa, Soekuram, Royal Tomb Complex, Choemsongdae, Kyungju National Museum, and Anapji among others. I was last in Kyungju 10 years ago when I visited most of these places but wanted to go back for myself as well as to bring my kids to one of the most important historical sites in Korea before we move back to Canada next year.

Hope you enjoy the pictures.

On the way to the Bulkuksa

Inside the entrance gate to the Bulkuksa – 10 years ago these guys weren’t so beat up looking. Think it’s time for a touch up job.

The main building of the Bulkuksa

Another angle of the same building, this pic was taken with my camcorder

More photos in the individual entry – go check them out.

I forget what this is called

Inside the temple itself

Prayer stones in small piles – there were hundreds of these all together

Painted doors

An artificial waterfall/park across from our hotel

The 24 hour convenience store is closed – not very convenient is it. Apparently all of the 6 or 7 stores nearby open at 10am.

A gate at the Royal Tomb Complex

A resting area in the Royal Tomb Complex

Enter the tomb – Indiana Jones never had it so easy

Standing on the graves of royalty

Cheomseongdae

One of only two coffee shops I could find – this one had an excellent americano and espresso. it’s on the road next to the park with the Cheomseongdae

Dabotap

Our last day was very very foggy and we went to the Seokuram where we actually got to ring the gigantic bell. – lots of good fun, but the one kilometer walk uphill in +32c and 100% humidity wasn’t very fun.

The bell in the next picture is inside this structure

Lots of fun for the kids – we got to ring this bell and it is really really loud.

Lanterns outside the Seokuram

The only picture we got, before we were told to put the camera away

Aug 17, 2010 Comments(0) Tweet

photoblog - tourism - korea