We’re back in Seoul for 2 last days before we head home. We spent several days in the south of the peninsula in a city named Gyeongju, called a ‘museum without walls’, for the many relics and remnants from the Silla period (57 BC – 935 AD).
A popular travel destination for Koreans, there are giant maps of the area and the many points of interest at bus terminals and at each attraction.
The most conspicuous of the historic treasures are the large mounds scattered throughtout town and the region–they’re tombs of Silla kings, buried at ground level, under a massive dome of boulders covered in clay and grass.
There are also palaces and temples to visit…
We hiked to the top of a mountain full of Buddha statues and rock carvings…
…walked through a humongous lotus pond…
…and sat in a field of flowers
Me No Speak is helping us eat our way through Korea–everything here was ordered with the book, which is great as most restaurants don’t have an English language menu. Some places have photos of the various dishes on offer on the exterior windows, which would do in a pinch but you’d only be guessing at what might arrive on your table.
Bibimbap
Bibimbap is a commonly found rice dish that comes with veggies and egg (sometimes raw), which you mix up with hot sauce. A variation on this dish is served in a sizzling hot stone bowl to give the rice a crispy crust. Not only is bibimbap fun to say, it’s tasty, too!
Ramen noodles
Spicy beef and noodle soup
When the women prepared this meal, the spices emanating from the kitchen made my eyes water, my throat tighten and itch, and my nose run.
Tofu and kimchee (an appetizer or snack)
We were surprised this came with meat stir-fried with the kimchee. Must do more recon on this one for our vegetarian book buyers.
Steamed dumplings
Something not red!
BBQ (again and again and again)
Sliced pork belly… yum!
Korea | Cheryn August 20, 2008 | 
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