Gyeongju

Rich with historical heritage, Gyeongju is a beautiful city with stunning temples, large gardens and some of Korea's best cuisine.  

Gyeongju is easy to get to, as there is a direct bus service from Busan. The ride time is about an hour long, but I mostly just slept and looked out the window at the rolling hills and little villages we passed along the way. Korean buses are usually clean, and the service is efficient.

Once there, the first stop should definitely be Bulguksa temple, which is located just outside the city. There are buses that go to the temple and leave a couple times an hour from a stop near the city bus station. Located on the slopes of Mount Toham, this beautiful temple was completed in 774 and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Walking around, you can see just how intricate, detailed and colorful the temple's architecture is. This is why Bulguksa is considered an artistic masterpiece in the Silla Kingdom. This sacred destination is home to 7 national treasures including the two cloud bridges, the two famous pagodas and the Amitabha Buddha Statue. 

Down the hill and across the street from the temple stands the actual town of Bulguksa, which is mostly stores and restaurants. I checked out a small little café (which looked more like somebody's living room than a restaurant) and ordered one bowl of soup. When the lady came out with my order, she placed down my soup followed by eight bowls of Kimchi on the side! For only 7,000 won, this was one of the best (and filling) meals I had while in South Korea. 

After the temple, I took a long walk in Tumuli Park. This park is in the center of town and holds the royal Silla burial mounds. Most small parks in Gyeongju require a small entrance fee (around 3,000 won per person). Adjacent to the mounds stands the Gyerim (Chicken Woods), a very beautiful and calm forest that you should be sure to check out. 

Along the sides of the street, you will most likely notice the many traditional Gyeonju bread shops the line the streets. Gyeonju bread, also called Hwangnam is a local specialty of the region made from egg and wheat and filled with a delicious red bean paste. Chalboribbang, two small sweet pancakes filled with red bean, is also a local bread specialty. They are sold in small boxes all around the city, and I highly recommend giving them a try. They are delicious! 

   Photo courtesy of http://budgettravel2korea.blogspot.kr/2011/04/gyeongju-bread-or-hwangnam-bread.html

Busan Tower

Though not as tall as the tower in Seoul, Busan tower is just as great. It offers amazing 360 degree panoramic views that allow visitors to see the whole city, including the harbor area and the busy downtown. 

 
Located in Yongdusan Park, the tower is not especially easy to get to. You must take a series of elevators, staircases, and ramps to get to the tower's base. Also keep in mind that the elevators are just for when you are getting up to the tower. When getting back down, stairs and ramps are the only option, so be prepared to do a lot of walking!




At the tower's base in Yongdusan Park stands a beautiful pagoda, some love locks attached to railings, and a few statues. 

 

This is a beautiful park, but the area's main attraction is the tower. To get to the top, there is an extremely efficient elevator that you must take. Admission is about 5,500 won for the observation deck, but it is definitely worth it once you see the amazing views at the top! This tower is the best place to see all of Busan, and to get some amazing pictures.  

Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn

Haedong Yonggung Temple in Busan

With dramatic scenery and gorgeous architecture, the Haedong Yonggung temple is one of my favorite places in South Korea. It was built by Buddhists in the 1300's and offers great views of the ocean and a fabulous place to take pictures. I recommend going early, as there are a lot of tourists and the temple can get very busy really quickly. 

From the main entrance, you will see a lot of food stalls and souvenir shops. Follow this path and it will lead you to the traffic safety shrine. This is also a great place to try some Korean street snacks! Behind this, there is a path that heads right to the rocky coast where the temple is. At the main temple stands large statues of Buddha, lucky golden pigs, and detailed dragons.

Inside the temple building, there are beautiful paper lanterns tied to the ceiling with golden ribbons. While tourists are not allowed inside this part of the temple, there are large windows that I stuck my camera through to get some good photos.

From the main temple area, there is a small staircase that leads to a higher observation deck. This area offers the best views of the temple complex from behind and the ocean. Following the path heading left of the temple will lead to another observation area that is good for taking pictures of the temple from a different view.

One of the things that caught my eye were the abundance of mini Buddha statues scattered all around the temple grounds. I thought they were adorable and couldn't help snapping some pictures of them!

  

Happy travels!

❤ Gwyn

Jagalchi Fish Market

Located on Nampo Port, this busy market is a great way to spend a few hours in Busan. It's considered to be Korea's largest fish market, but sometimes feels more like a pet store than a place to buy food! It has two parts, one outside and one inside. In both areas, creatures of all types are cleaned, priced, purchased, and cooked by locals and tourists wanting to sample seafood unique to Korea. 

Vendors sell buckets of live octopuses, marinated crabs, sea squirts, stingrays, and a huge variety of fish. There are also tanks of live animals that can be purchased and killed right in front of the buyer to ensure the freshest of seafood. 

 The Jagalchi Market was my favorite place that I visited in Busan.  It was a great place to try new food, learn more about Korean culture, and explore the sights and sounds of Busan. 

    

 

Happy travels!

❤ Gwyn

Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan

While in Busan, you can't miss a visit to the Gamcheon Culture Village. Dubbed as Korea's own version of Rio, this quirky art village is full of vivid colors and amazing views. It's a bit away from the center of Busan, but it's an easy cab or bus ride to the village's famous rolling hills.

                                                                                
Each building is a masterpiece in itself, and it's so fun to walk around and see what's behind the next corner! The whole village is essentially a whimsical outdoor museum filled with panoramic views and unique art. There are also some cute cafés and stores to check out in the area as well. 

If you love the Little Prince, be sure to stop by the Little Prince statue and building! The prince has the best view of the Gamcheon Culture Village, and it is also a great opportunity to snap a selfie or two with the famous art piece. 

I spent about 2 hours walking around the village, but depending on how crunched you are for time, I think this would be a place where a person could easily spend a whole day exploring.  

Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn

An Afternoon in Gangnam-gu

Gangnam is the third largest district in Seoul, and is more popularly known for being the inspiration for Psy's K-pop song, Gangnam Style. It's upscale malls, stores, and tall glass buildings attract both tourists and business people alike.

Co-Ex Mall

With an area of about 154,000 square meters, Gangnam's Co-Ex is the largest underground mall in the world. This giant mall was a little bit complicated to figure out because it is attached to another huge building, the Co-Ex Convention and Exhibition Center. This giant center has everything you will ever need, all in one place. Inside is a plethora of stores and restaurants, a giant aquarium and even a Kimchi museum! 

The whole complex is super-modern, clean, and Koreans are very proud of it. The cafeteria had this genius system where you text your order in to the chef and within minutes, a hot plate of delicious food was delivered to your table. Some of the stores that I saw included a trendy bookstore, many upscale fashion houses, and beauty shops galore!

Bongeunsa Temple 
This quaint, peaceful temple is tucked away in the busy business district of Gangnam-gu. I wasn't expecting much, but once inside the gates I was captivated by the color, beauty, and serenity of Bongeunsa. 

  Photo courtesy of http://www.entzinger.nl/jorg/Japan/Photos/PhotoPost30Korea1.shtml


During the time I was there, a religious ceremony was taking place in the temple's two main prayer areas. I stepped inside for a little while, watched the prayers, and then headed out to the gardens to view the spectacular pink flowers that adorn all of the trees in the area. 



From the main building, there are lots of little paths that lead to the various fountains, gardens, and statues that  form the temple complex.

Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn

Namsan Tower in Seoul

The N Seoul tower is not only a huge communication and observation tower, but it also serves as a symbol for Seoul. Centered on Mt. Namsan, it is the highest point in the city. To get to the top, you must walk up a hill to a small platform. From there, you take a little blue elevator to the visitor's center where you can catch a cable car to the top of Mt. Namsan. This is where the base of the tower is. The cable car center is usually busy, as it is a popular tourist spot in Seoul. My advice is to get there early, to avoid the long wait in line and a cramped ride.

Once at the tower's base, there is so much to do! The first thing is to take the elevator up the tower, to the observation room. This is a must-see while in Seoul, and the city's best place for incredible views. If the sky is clear, you can see the entire region. On your way down, you can make a stop at the Teddy Bear museum or get some ice-cream at the Cold Stone Creamery. Even though brands like this are American, it's fun to see if the Asian version of the products differ any.

At the base, there are also some yummy food places to try. My favorite was a cute little pastry place where I got a read bean cake shaped like the tower. Also, be sure to check out the Namsan park grounds including the love lock gates that surround the stairs and observation platforms adjacent to the tower. Leaving colorful locks on gates and bridges is a symbol of love all across the world, and Korea is no exception! There locks are for sale at most of the souvenir stalls in the area.

Happy travels!
❤ Gwyn