Probably my top pick of things to do when visiting Gyeongju is to go for a walk around Anapji Pond (안압지) at night. Sure, Anapji’s worth checking out during the day, but when the sun goes down it really blings. The city’s done a great job with lighting, though some might say its a bit [...]
Browsing the archives for the Sites to see category
6 Feb 10
I’ve been running this blog now for almost 3 months and it’s nearly criminal I’ve not said anything yet about Mt. Namsan (남산) as I think it’s one of the coolest things about Gyeongju. Mt. Namsan’s not nearly as tall as some of the mountains around here (just under 500 meters actually) but what makes [...]
28 Jan 10
Okay, that’s it: today I died and went to cheesy tourist kitsch heaven (or hell depending on your sense of taste). Today we took a rainy afternoon to check out the Jasujeong Amethyst Caves (자수정 동굴), just 30km south of here in Eonyang (언양). I’d read online that they’re one of the schlockiest tourist sites [...]
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Posted in Outside Gyeongju, Sites to see, Tips for tourists
Tagged amethyst, Eonyang, mines, sights to see, Tips for tourists
Tagged amethyst, Eonyang, mines, sights to see, Tips for tourists
26 Jan 10
Though it’s not quite Korea’s answer to the Shaolin Monastery of China, Golgulsa Temple (골굴사) is one of the more unique temples in the Gyeongju area and it’s pretty darn cool. If you’re on your way over to King Munmu’s tomb (문무대왕릉) on the East Coast, it’s well worth taking an hour or so to [...]
28 Dec 09
After four and a half years living in Gyeongju, we finally decided to get a car last week. So for it’s first road trip, my friend and I set off to check out the prehistoric rock carvings of Cheonjeon-ri (천전 리각석). I’d never been there before and they’re only about 20 minutes south of Gyeongju, [...]
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Posted in Other, Outside Gyeongju, Statues & carvings
Tagged ancient carvings, dinosaurs, prehistoric, stone age
Tagged ancient carvings, dinosaurs, prehistoric, stone age
22 Dec 09
I heard some rather sad news when I got home today. It seems that Hyangiram (향일암), literally “Sunrise Hermitage”, in Yeosu burned down last night. I used to live in Gwangyang, near Yeosu and first visited Hyangiram back in ’02. I’ve been there twice since and I think it is (or sadly was) one of [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, News, Outside Gyeongju, Temples & shrines
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, fire, News, temples, Wonhyo
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, fire, News, temples, Wonhyo
19 Dec 09
If you look South-East from the ruins of Banwolseong fortress towards Mt. Namsan, you might see something a bit curious. Just across the Namcheon River in the little neighborhood of Gyo-dong is huge gold Buddha. It’s seated in the front courtyard of Nakch’eonwonsa (낙천원사), or literally “Optimistic Moon Temple.” It’s probably one of the newest [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyo-dong, Restaurants, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, Gyodong, Korean food, Restaurants, sights to see, temples
Tagged architecture, Buddhism, Gyodong, Korean food, Restaurants, sights to see, temples
