Street of 쌈밥 Ssambap Restaurant > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (7) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Before back to Bus Station, we eat dinner first. There's a famous Ssambap Restaurant nearby. It called Street of Ssambap Restaurant.

Source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?gotoPage=1&cid=996701&out_service=

Gyeongju Ssambap, is a unique part of Korean cuisine. Ssambap (쌈밥) is a rice dish served with a variety of vegetable leaves, meat, and side dishes. Rice is wrapped inside a vegetable leaf with meat and topped with condiments. Though ssambap is readily available in many regions, Gyeongju ssambap is characterized by the number and variety of side dishes. Using seasonal ingredients, the servings are always fresh and plentiful. Dozens of ssambap restaurants are located along the road near Daereungwon.
Price: 9,000~10,000 won per person.

I actually really want to try this Korean Cuisine. But maybe, it's not suitable with my taste, so I'm not like it that much. We choose Korean Original Beef. I ended up only eating Rice and egg (one of the side dish).

After eat dinner, we go back to Bus station using taxi and ride express bus back to Busan. We passed by Gyeongju Bread Store so we bought some for tasting.

첨성대 Cheomseongdae Observatory > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (6) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

The next place is Cheomseongdae Observatory which located right next of the Royal Tomb of King Naemul.

Source:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheomseongdae
- http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264256

Address:
839-1, Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeonsangbuk-do
경북 경주시 인왕동 839-1

Directions:

• Start at the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal. From the terminal bus stop take Bus 70. Get off at Daereung-won Tumuli Park. The observatory is 3 minutes away on foot. Bus arrives at 7-min intervals.
• Start at the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal bus stop. Take Bus 10 or 11 and get off at Wolseong-dong office (Daereung-won Tumuli Park). TThe observatory is 5 minutes away on foot.

Admissions Fee: Free

Cheomseongdae is the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok (632-647), it was used for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather. This stone structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and was designated as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962.

Cheomseongdae was built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm in diameter. 362 stones were piled up to make 27 levels. Roughly 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1㎡ square entrance and a space to hang a ladder under it. The inside is filled with soil up to the 12th level, and the 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th levels all have long rocks hanging on two areas, shaped as the Chinese letter '井' (jeong).

It stands 9.17m high and the base stone on each side measures 5.35m. The Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and the 24 solar terms (also known as the astronomical solar year) were determined by the observation of stars. The pavilion stone is believed to have been used as a standard of deciding directions, north, south, east and west. The 362 stones used to build Cheomseongdae represented the 362 days in a lunar year.

It's a heritage monument. If you didn't know the history, then probably you won't understand what is this. Just look like a monument in the middle of the park. I think it's unique.

So many people come here and enjoy the festival. We buy some streetfood like Tteokbuki and BBQ. It's yummy. And there's dance competition too in there.

Some place nearby are Anapji Pond, Tumuli Park, but the sun has already set. So we decided to end the trip for today.

내물왕릉 Royal Tomb of King Naemul > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (5) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

We stop by downtown Gyeongju then went to a park which there's so many attraction place in there. There's a festival in there so there's so many people.

The first attraction place that we visit is, 내물왕릉 The Royal Tomb of King Naemul. It's unique. Unfortunately, we only can see from far away.

Address:
14, Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
경북 경주시 교동 14번지

Direction:
Across from the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, take Bus 70. Get off at Cheomseongdae (첨성대) Bus Stop. It is a 10min-walk from the bus stop.

King Naemul was the 17th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (in power from 356 to 402) and became the second king of the Kim family name. King Naemul was known as the first king to initiate the king title of ‘Maripgan’ and was known for spreading cultural advancements from China to the Korean people. When the allied forces of Baekje and Japan attacked, he asked Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo for help and led the people to victory, contributing to the increased strength of the Silla Kingdom. After his rule, the throne was exclusively ceded to members of the Kim family clan.

The royal tomb of King Naemul is a large mound (2.2m in diameter and 5.3m in height) that sits on the northern hill of the Confucian school of Gyeongju. The edge of a natural stone is exposed around the bottom of the mound, pointing to the fact that the inner chamber tomb was made of stone. In the historical document Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), no records are found about the tomb, but the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) describes the king’s tomb as being located in the southwest of Cheomseongdae, which is consistent with the tomb’s location.

(Source: Visit Korea)

The sun almost set when I'm in there. There were so many people playing kite. It's beautiful.

Somewhere > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (4) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

We rode bus no 11 back to downtown. On the way back, we found a beautiful scene so we decided to drop by.

It's in the middle of somewhere, in the big main road, with field and mountain at autumn scene.

After take some photos, we continue the journey. It tooks time to wait for the bus, but finally the bus is coming.

불국사 Bulguksa Temple > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (3) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

After lunch, we go to Bulguksa Temple. There's 2 car parking, the 1st one is where you saw once you get out from the bus.

There's two way to Bulguksa Temple. The first one is the main road, which there's so many stall that sell souvenir, and the 2nd one is beside the toilet.

the 2nd way to temple, beside the toilet

We decided to try the main road first.

There's so many stall that sell souvenir and street food. You can try some street food in there and buy some souvenirs.

Bulguksa Temple is the representative relic of Gyeongju and was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in 1995.. It is located at 385, Bulguk-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 경상북도 경주시 불국로 385 (진현동). The beauty of the temple itself and the artistic touch of the stone relics are known throughout the world.

Website:
- www.bulguksa.or.kr
- www.jikimi.cha.go.kr/english

the entrance of the temple

The 2nd car park is near the entrance. The ticket cost 4000 won. On the way to temple, you can see a beautiful autumn scene.

It's peaceful and very suitable to refreshing from every problem. As you can see at the picture, there's another way. We will pass there when going back.
Then you will pass a gate.

The King Gate

The Map of Bulguksa Temple

 Once you enter the gate, you will arrive in a large field. There's a free guide service near there. You can follow the time and apply for free guide. There's English, Chinese and Japan guide. We ask for English guide, but unfortunately, there's only one English guide and he can't go anywhere. So he just give us information about this Buddhist Temple.

Bulguksa Temple

After that, we walk around the temple. We can see many of Budha statue with different pose. There's a meaning between the pose, but I'm not remember.

It took approximately 30 minutes to 1 hours in here. There's a stone build too.

The scene is beautiful. Especially because it's Autumn.
After the stone building, you will found this scene.

The famous leaf in Korean, Maple leaf. When it's autumn, it will turn colour to red and yellow.

Green Maple Leaf

This time, we pass the other way.

the pond

the pond

The bridge which we passed when we get in.

The situation is so peaceful. If you looking for relaxing and peaceful place, this is the one. While enjoy the scenery, you can feel the peaceful of the temple.

Actually, there's another place near Bulguksa, it's Seokgoram Grotto. But our time didn't make it. The last bus is 17:40. It's 15:40 now, and we are afraid we didn't make it to take bus at 17:40 to back to the city. So we decided to go back to the city now.

Lunch Bulgogi Jungol / Korean Marinated Beef > Gyeongju, South Korea > Day 04 (2) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

When we arrived at Bulguksa Temple, it's already noon. So we decided to eat lunch first. There's so many local restaurant nearby, and some of ahjumma give you a pamphlet with their restaurant menu. So becareful, once you take the pamphlet, ahjumma will calling you times to times as long as you are still in there. But for polite, just take the pamphlet and smile. Just pretend that you don't know what they talking about if you didn't want to eat in their restaurant.

This street located in front of Bulguksa Car Parking, there's a lot of restaurant along this street.

We found Bulgogi restaurant and decided to eat Bulgogi. We have to order 2 portion minimum for 1 menu. I'm not understand why maybe because 1 portion of food is very little and the bowl or plate is designed for 2 portion. So they will serve the 2 portion become one bowl/plate. There's also the side dish.

2 portion of Bulgogi Jungol in 1 plate

It's yummy. It's really different from what I ate outside Korea. And I really love the soup. It's refreshing. Especially in cold autumn or winter.

Actually, eating in South Korea is quiet expensive (for me).

One portion of bulgogi Jungol cost 15.000 won (1 portion of bulgogi, 1 rice and 1 set of side dish). And we have to buy minimum 2 portion, so it cost 30.000 won (2 portion bulgogi, 2 rice, and set of side dish). Then we add another bowl of rice for 1.000 won, so for this lunch, we spent 31.000 won.
The exchange rate in Indonesia, approximately 12,3 won at that time. So we spent IDR 381.300 for 3 people.

Wow... That's why I spent more money in eating. And 2 portion, is really much.

1 Day Trip to 경주 Gyeongju City > South Korea > Day 04 (1) - 2014 October 11 (Busan, Gyeongju, Seoul, Daegwallyeong, Nami Island, Mt Seorak, Kuala Lumpur)

Woke up early, and go to 노포 Nopo Station to take bus to Gyeongju. Once out from the train, just look for the direction to bus station, and then from subway station, just make a U-Turn.
The bus station is easy to read. You just choose your destination, and it will show the time of the next departure. Then you go to the locket, and tell the officer and pay. It cost 4800 won to Gyeongju.

The Express Bus Ticket to Gyeongju from Busan

The ticket after you check with the driver

It's only took approximately 50 minutes to Gyeongju. That's why I plan only to do 1 trip journey. The city is beautiful. Because it's still traditional city.

Once arrived in Gyeongju Bus Station, there's an information centre located just right next the bus station. You can ask the direction in there.

Our first destination is 불국사 Bulguksa Temple. Just cross the road, and wait for the bus no 10 or 11. Bulguksa station is the last station, and it took approximately 45 minutes to 1 hours (12 stop).

Don't worry, you won't miss it because the driver will tell you that it's the last station, and everyone will get out from the bus.

The scene is beautiful, the autumn feel is really strong in here.

PS: If you have enough time, I suggest stay for 1 night / 2 night in here. It's worthed.