In the eastern shadow of Mt. Namsan (남산), just a few minutes up the road from Tongiljeon Shrine (통일전), is one of the more unique tourist attractions in the area: the Gyeongsangbuk-do Botanical Gardens (경상북도산림환경연구소). Even though it has nothing to do with ancient tombs, stone Buddhas or the Shilla Dynasty, the Botanical Gardens are [...]
Browsing the archives for the Spring tag
9 Aug 10
18 May 10
I mentioned a few weeks ago Dongguk University held it’s lantern-lighting ceremony in honor of Buddha’s Birthday on April 29th. As it turned out, the 29th was also declared a National Day or Mourning in honor of the 46 sailors who died in the sinking of the “Cheonan” on March 26th. Unfortunately this meant all [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Festivals, Gyeongju, holidays
Tagged Buddhism, Dongguk University, fesitvals, Gyeongju, holidays, Nabichun, Pansori, Samulnor, Spring, traditional dance, traditional music
Tagged Buddhism, Dongguk University, fesitvals, Gyeongju, holidays, Nabichun, Pansori, Samulnor, Spring, traditional dance, traditional music
15 May 10
The other Sunday the sun was finally shining after a solid week of rain. My wife and I hopped in the car and took off to explore the countryside determined to enjoy some of the hard-earned Spring weather. As luck would have it, we drifted back some country roads going west out of town, and [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Sites to see, Temples & shrines
Tagged architecture, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Cave shrine, Countryside, Flowers, Gyeongju, Mt. Eorimsan, Nae Tae Villiage, Pear Flowers, Spring, temples, Villiages
Tagged architecture, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Cave shrine, Countryside, Flowers, Gyeongju, Mt. Eorimsan, Nae Tae Villiage, Pear Flowers, Spring, temples, Villiages
12 May 10
Coming up in about a week and a half is my absolute favorite holiday in Korea: Seokga Tanshinil (석가탄신일), or Buddha’s Birthday. Every temple in Korea celebrates Buddha’s Birthday one way or another. Most hang lanterns, have special ceremonies and serve a special group lunch or dinner for parishioners. A few of the larger or [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Bulguk-dong, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, holidays
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
26 Apr 10
We’re almost to the end of April which means we’re just a month away from my favorite Korean Holiday: Buddha’s Birthday, or Seokgatanssinil (석가탄신일). This year Buddha’s Birthday falls on Friday, May 21st and all of the temples around town are getting ready to hang their lanterns. As a Buddhist school, Dongguk University is preparing [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Festivals, Gyeongju, Tips for tourists, holidays
Tagged Buddhism, Dongguk University, fesitvals, fireworks, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Spring
Tagged Buddhism, Dongguk University, fesitvals, fireworks, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Spring
22 Apr 10
It’s Thursday morning which means that we’re down to the final day of the Gyeongju Liquor & Ddeok Festival (경주술과떡잔치) in Hwangseong Park. Unfortunately I missed the Festival’s kickoff Saturday, though I hear it was packed with people and the weather was gorgeous. By the time I got down there on Monday, this week-long bout [...]
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Posted in Festivals, Food & drink, Gyeongju, Hwangseong-dong, Korean culture, Tips for tourists, photography
Tagged Festivals, Gyeongju, Hwangseongdong, Korean food, liquor, rice cake, Spring, Vegetarian food
Tagged Festivals, Gyeongju, Hwangseongdong, Korean food, liquor, rice cake, Spring, Vegetarian food
16 Apr 10
Okay, so it looks like my predictions about the cherry blossoms being over this weekend were (thankfully) bogus. The cherries have survived our nasty bout of snow and cold Wednesday night and it looks like they’re still going strong. Barring any freak windstorms or rogue typhoons, the cherry flowers should still be in [...]
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Posted in Festivals, Gyeongju, Tips for tourists, photography
Tagged Cherry Blossoms, Festivals, Gyeongju, photography, Spring
Tagged Cherry Blossoms, Festivals, Gyeongju, photography, Spring
15 Apr 10
Over the last week or so the cherry blossoms (벚꽃) here in Gyeongju have just exploded. Hopefully,you got out to see them last weekend as we’ve been in for a bit of nasty weather lately. The temperature’s really dropped and we even had some snow mixed in with the rain tonight, which is not going to [...]
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Posted in Festivals, Gyeongju, Hwangnam-dong, Tips for tourists, Tombs
Tagged Cherry Blossoms, Daereungwon, fesitvals, Gyeongju, Kim Yu-shin, sights to see, Spring, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Tumuli Park
Tagged Cherry Blossoms, Daereungwon, fesitvals, Gyeongju, Kim Yu-shin, sights to see, Spring, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Tumuli Park
7 Apr 10
As I’ve been trying to get the word out about events before they actually happen, I’m pleased as puddin’ to announce that it’s that time of year again for the Gyeongju Soju (소 주) & Ddeok (떡) , or Liquor and Rice Cake Festival. As always, the festival’s in Hwanseong Park. The official word [...]
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Posted in Festivals, Food & drink, Gyeongju, Hwangseong-dong, Tips for tourists
Tagged ddeok, fesitvals, Gyeongju, Hwangseongdong, Korean food, liquor, nightlife, rice cake, soju, Spring, Tips for tourists
Tagged ddeok, fesitvals, Gyeongju, Hwangseongdong, Korean food, liquor, nightlife, rice cake, soju, Spring, Tips for tourists
3 Apr 10
I know it’s all the trend these days, but I figured it was about time I sat down and wrote out my personal top ten “to do” list for Gyeongju. Some of these I’ve posted on already, and if I haven’t yet, I hope to soon. So here they are in brief; counting down from 10 [...]
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Posted in Buddhist culture, Festivals, Food & drink, Gyeongju, Restaurants, Ruins & remains, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, Top 10, hiking
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Bulguksa, cycling, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Korean food, Restaurants, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Bulguksa, cycling, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Korean food, Restaurants, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, Top 10
