Here's my LIST OF THINGS TO DO WHEN I REVISIT GYEONGJU
Not so easy to seek serenity in Seokguram if there are hundreds beside you with the same intent?
1. Catch the first rays of sunrise from Seokguram or at least from the top of Tohamsan. Soak in the peace and serenity in the grotto before the tourist hordes descend onto this place and finally, continue a meditative walk down to Bulguksa. Hopefully this helpful chart for sunrise times will be updated. The walk up is apparently steep and takes a few hours so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can wake up early enough to get a cab or better still, see if hermitage will allow visitors to stay overnight.
I'd like to ask the guide, for example, why these steps in Bulguksa are called the staircase of 48 desires.
2. Buy a proper guidebook or get an English-speaking guide to point out all the important features of Bulguksa. For earlier postings on Bulguksa, please click here and here.
3. Trek up the Namsan Skyway, low mountain south of Gyeongju which is chockful of Shilla relics ( tombs, statues, pavilions, pagodas, temples). The Lonely Planet promises “an exhilarating experience” exploring the various trails. source: http://www.sherwinvjones.com/gyeongjublog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Namsan-English-New-Map-150ppi.gif
The pond is dry and so is my inspiration?
4. Seek inspiration to compose sijo without benefit of soju at Poseokjeongji, the pond in a banquet garden where Shilla kings enjoyed conjuring up poems in contests while drinking. Poseokjeongji is the only banquet garden left in the world. Pity the water source has been cut off. Would've been fun to see how long the drinking cups take to float from one end to the other of the abalone-shaped stream.
5. Take a day-trip out to Yangdong Folk Village, a village which has existed since the Yi dynasty ( 15th and 16th centuries). Many traditional houses are still occupied by the descendants of the yangban ( aristocracy).
6. Stroll around Bomun Lake especially in spring when cherry trees which line the road around it are in full bloom. Also, have an outdoor picnic while watching traditional dances at the Bomun Outdoor Performance Theater near the TIC there.
Hopefully the museum displays also have explanatory notes in clear English
7. Visit the Shilla History Hall of Science a.k.a. Shilla Museum of Art and Science which has models of Seokguram and Cheomseongdae amongst other exhibits.
Many scenes for MBC's historical drama, Queen Seondeok were shot at the Shilla Millennium Park
8. Try some of the rides and watch the performances at the Shilla Millennium Park, an amusement park with a distinctively Shilla appearance although replicas of Constantinople, Baghdad, Changan (present-day Xian) are also featured. "The floating stage symbolizes the seas through which the four cities conducted trade and exchanges, while the land stage represents the Silk Road, the ancient over-land trading route." Also plan to enjoy the foot spa using hot spring water before cooling off with an ice-cream in the replica of Seokbinggo, the Shilla ice-room. Must also check out the cafeteria in the Emile Tower in the park which is built in the shape of the Emile Bell. For more info, click here.
9. Spend time contemplating in Oksan Seowon, a Confucian academy ( like the Doseon Seowon near Andong). The Lonely Planet describes it as having “sublime setting surrounded by shade trees and overlooking a stream with a waterfall and rock pools”.
10. Buy Hwangnam-bang – the popular local pastry filled with red-bean paste. Absolutely delicious when freshly baked. Great snack to chomp on while clambering over Namsan Skyway.
No comments:
Post a Comment