If your legs weren’t already sore from walking through the tunnel at the DMZ, then your legs were in for a treat today. We had six cultural visits today, and a lot of walking was involved.
Our first stop was the Daereungwon Royal Tomb. Green grass covered mounds where the tombs royalty were buried with their servants and wealth. I learned that usually favorite servants were killed once those they served passed away, and this was applicable to servants of all ages.
We entered the Daereungwon Royal Tomb, where an unknown king was buried. Featured was pieces of their wealth, like their crown and other pieces of jewelry. Going inside, we could see how tombs were constructed, using mix of rocks, pebbles, and clay.
A short walk away was Cheomseongdae, an astronomical observatory, and the oldest observatory in Asia. In the distance we could see a few more tombs.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (Anapji) was our next visit. Parties for upperclass people would be held here. The pond is an artificial pond, and there was one part of it built to filter the dirty water from entering the pond.
Lunch was hefty. We were continuously served with delicious foods, and I felt very satisfied. I unshelled shrimp for the first time, ate kiwi for the first time, and ate a slice of steamed octopus. My favorite foods were the beef bulgogi and the bimbap. It was so fulfilling! I really enjoyed today’s lunch.
We visited the Gyeongju National Museum, then took a bus ride to the Bulguksa Buddhist Temple and Seokguram.
Buddha’s Birthday was celebrated today as well. We were lucky that our visit to the temple is the one day that it is open to enter. Colorful lanterns decorated the temple area, reminding us of the lanterns we saw at Jogyesa.
I learned about the lanterns and the many lotus decorations around. Lotus flowers grow in dirty, muddy waters, and yet it is able to grow out of this environment and become beautiful. This encourages working hard to leave dirty waters and reach something greater.
At the temple, a wave of calm washed over me. The view on the mountain overlooked the forests beneath us, and I teared up unexpectedly.
