The One With Gyeongju (경주, 慶州)

So business trip aside, Jun drove us from Gumi (구미, 龜尾) to Gyeongju (경주, 慶州) on Friday night. It didn’t really seem far but at 160km/h, the 90min journey made Gyeongju look near.

The capital city of Korea’s Silla Kingdom for over 1,000 years, this cultural capital has been described as the Korean equivalent of the Incan capital Cuzco in Peru and is supposedly full of archeological surprises.

View from Hilton Gyeongju.

Around the hotel.

The 19.38 square km Bomun Lake.

Shilla (Silla?) Millennium Park.

I’m no misogynist but doesn’t the female symbol on the toilet sign resemble that of a cow?

Bulguksa (불국사, 佛國寺).

A 1995 UNESCO World Heritage List addition, Bulguksa was probably built in 750 during the reign of King Gyeongdeok. The large arch underneath the staircase testifies to the use of arches in Silla-style bridges and the remains of a pond and once flowed underneath the bridge.

The lower portion, Cheongungyo (청운교, Blue Cloud Bridge) is 6.3 meters long and has 17 steps. The upper portion, Baegungyo (백운교, White Cloud Bridge) is 5.4 meters and has 16 steps. The stairway leads to Jahamun (자하문, Purple Mist Gate), which leads to the main hall.

The Birojeon (비로전, Vairocana Buddha Hall), which sits below the Gwaneumjeon, houses a gilded statue of Vairocana, which is national treasure 26.

The Vairocana, national treasure 26.

Intrinsic roof architecture.

Now, what do we have here? Japanese kids I gather?

Off to Guyongpo Port in Pohang for crabs! That was another 90 min drive.

Jun. And lots of Kimchi.

Jun and crabs.

We finished the day with the movie Star Trek in Daegu.

~ by tutousan on May 9, 2009.