Today we were tourists. The group was thrilled that we didn't have to wear "dress-up" clothes. We got on the bus and took a 1.5 hour drive out of Busan to Gyeongju. This is a historical agricultural area where people are actually living and working. The countryside was beautiful. Tree-covered mountains in every direction. It is encouraging to see that this country with such a large population maintains green space. People live "on top of each other" in urban areas, but then have open green space close at hand where they can retreat to for peace and relaxation. The buildings in Gyeongju are maintained in the orginal style, with curved tile roofs. The government requires that any new construction or remodeling maintain the traditional style.
Our first stop was to the Bulguksa Buddhist Temple. This temple was built about 1500 years ago. It is located in a beautifully serene setting with large pines all around. There were several finely painted temples on the grounds, each containing an image or images of the Buddha. Our guide explained that the Buddha is not considered a deity. He is rather a model of someone who lived his life in an exemplary way and whom we should strive to be like - much like our saints. Each of the individual temple buildings had a "helper", a woman who stayed on the premesis to pray and make sure that the space was respected.
We next went to the Seoakri Gobungun Tombs Park. From the outside this looked like a huge, green pasture with large 75 foot mounds protruding out of the ground. The mounds resembled the burial mound in Cahokia. Each mound contains one body and the relics buried with the body. The mounds date back to about the 3rd - 7th centuries. Most of them predate Buddhism. They know this, because the bodies were not cremated. One tomb was opened and we were able to walk inside. The interior was very simple - rock and wood, nothing as elaborate as the Egyptian pyramids.
We went out for lunch at a Korean restaurant. A vegetable and beef "stir fry" was prepared for us on propane stoves sitting on our tables. Tasty!
We finally went to the Gyeongju National Museum. This is an anthropological museum that displays many of the relics found when the burial mounds were excavated. This includes gold crowns and belts and well as a variety of utensils and clay vessels. I especially enjoyed a new exhibit hall they had display an array of images of the Buddha.
We drove back to Busan. We were given an hour rest before we left for dinner. I made the mistake of lying down and closing my eyes. I went out cold and didn't wake up until someone from my group called to see why I wasn't at the bus yet.
For dinner we went to a traditional Korean barbecue. A pit of hot coals was on each of our tables. Fresh meats were brought to us and we grilled it at our tables. The usual assortment of Korean condiments was given to us to accompany the grilled meat. Delicious!
After dinner a group of us went out again for kareoke. Went back to the hotel by midnight.
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