Korea 2012: Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

Gyeongju, 19 October 2012.

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Gyeongju map that we get from tourist information kiosk. It’s good to start your day by visiting the kiosk to ask for direction, bus number, where to wait etc. They usually prepare with bus numbers for attraction that we want to go.

Initially, I don’t intend to go to Bulguksa Temple because it seem far for me. I travelling alone anyway. But luckily I met Helen & she ask me to go to Bulguksa Temple & Seokguram Grotto together. After long and relexing breakfast at our guesthouse, we walk toward tourist Information Kiosk in front of the train station. The officer there are really helpful in providing info to us.

From Gyeongju train station (not Singyeongju KTX station) or bus terminal, you can take Bus 10 or 11 to any of famous interaction in Gyeongju. The different between bus route is that, Bus 10 will use road along Bomun Lake first heading to Bulguksa Tample area, before return using road along Gyeongju National Museum / Anapji Pond. Bus 11 is in reverse order (it’s like circle). With this being said, if you wish to go to Anapji Pond from train Station, wait for Bus 11. In case you want to go to Bomun Lake first, then take Bus 10. Or else you will go long circle before reaching your destination.

[Accommodation] Shillabang Guest House, Gyeongju, South Korea

 

 

Hanok ialah istilah bagi rumah tradisional Korea. Senibina rumah ini unik. Bayangkan ratusan tahun dahulu, tanpa elektrik, rumah ini mampu memberi haba ketika musim sejuk, dan mampu mengekalkan kesejukkan semasa musim panas.

 

Ondol ialah jenis tempat tidur tanpa katil & hanya menggunakan lapisan cadar tebal. Ondol is a bed-less sleeping place that using only mattress. This is Korean traditional way of sleeping.

[Korea 2012] Anapji Pond & Cheomseongdae, Gyeongju

I met Helen on my first day arriving in Gyeongju. As I told in my previous post, I have a hard time finding my guest house, thus the lady owner come & pick me up…LOL. She’s a sweet lady, staying with her little son & husband in the hanok style guest house.

Soon after I arrived at the guesthouse, Helen arrived too. She travelling alone around Korea, and just came from Busan.   Envy that she even manage to get to Jeju..(OMG why I still haven’t go to Jeju-do yet?). She manage to find the guesthouse on her own, so I immediately greet her.

Helen then ask me if I want to follow her going to Anapji Pond..hell yes, that much better than just spending the night in the hanok. She also invite me to go find dinner too, but too bad I have bought MCD burger all the way from LCCT for my dinner (I also don’t think it will easy to find Muslim-friendly food there…hehe).

Truth is, even though I have a courage to travel alone, I’m still afraid to go out alone at night. This is the first time I’m going outside Malaysia after all. Thus I didn’t plan any night activity at all..haha. On my first week in Korea, I only go out when the sun still shine & try going back to hostel as early as I can..hehe.

[Korea 2012] Day 1: Gyeongju Downtown

Annyeonghaseyo yorobun ^_^

18th October 2012

Long journey from Kuching – Kuala Lumpur – Incheon – Seoul – Gyeongju.

~~ Read my previous travelogue:

– [Korea2012] Day 1: Kuching – LCCT – Incheon – Seoul – Gyeongju

– [KOREA 2012]: Day 1 ~ Singyeongju Station, Gyeongju, Gyeongsang-do

Taking one of the bus from Singyeongju Station, I finally arrived at Gyeongju downtown around 3.15pm. Bus ride from Singyeongju Station to Gyeongju Terminal Bus took about 20 minutes only. It’s autumn, Gyeongju look like late evening although it just 3 o’clock.

I stop at Gyeongju Bus Terminal, as from my inadequate research, this area is the tourist center or base. There’s a lot of cheap motel around here, you can simply just walk in into any of them (that’s what I do in my 2014 trip..LOL). But since this is my first trip, I book in advance a good stay for a night at a Hanok style guesthouse: Shillabang Guest House. Lucky that the tourist information booth is still open, so I ask them the direction. They tell me it’s about 20 minutes walk from bus terminal, located near the Gyeongju Train Station, and where to turn to get to guesthouse.

[KOREA 2012]: Day 1 ~ Singyeongju Station, Gyeongju, Gyeongsang-do

Annyeonghaseyo.

Gyeongju is the historical city of South Korea. It is equivalent to Melacca of Malaysia, but in greater scale. The whole Gyeongju downtown is full scatter with royal tombs, temples, museum & historical places from way back since Shilla Kingdom Period, and most local house & building still using old-style roofing that give very ancient feeling to it; making the whole city as a one big open air museum.

Where is Gyeongju? It’s nearer to Busan than from Seoul. (image credit to worldofmaps.net)

Gyeongju from Seoul:

• • KTX express train –  2 – 3 hours (fares about 36 700 won to 47 100won, varies if you using KRpass) & stop at Singyeongju Station, somewhere 20-30 minutes from downtown Gyeongju via public bus.
  • The Saemaeul Train (First Class Train) or The Mugunghwa Train (Second Class Train) –  6 hours, fares 23 100won; stop at Gyeongju Station, right in middle of Gyeongju downtown)
  • Express Bus – 4 hours and 20 minutes (fares varies from 19 500won to 31 900won; Bus will stop at Gyeongju Terminal)

Gyeongju from Busan:

• • KTX Express Train: 26 minutes, 10 000 won (stop at Singyeongju Station)

• • Regular Train: less than 2 hours if from Haeundae Station, fares 5600won to 8400won (stop at Gyeongju Station)
  • Express Bus: 50 minutes from Busan Central Bus terminal (fares 4500won) {in 2014 trip, i use bus from Sasang Station direct to Gyeongju Terminal}

click for enlarge view

​Tips: It is highly recommended to take accommodation near either Gyeongju Bus Terminal or Gyeongju (Train) Station, because it is easier to find your hotel/guesthouse if you using public transport here. Local people didn’t understand English much, but tourism officer at tourist booth are fluent in English. Plus, both Bus Terminal and Train Station do have tourist booth, so it is easy to start your day by dropping by at the booth to ask for direction & transport guide.

[Korea2012] Day 1: Kuching – LCCT – Incheon – Seoul – Gyeongju

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

7:10PM Departing Kuching International Airport, Kuching, Sarawak

8.50PM Arriving LCC Terminal, Sepang, Selangor

Travel Cost: Flight Tix RM29 (No Baggage)

Thursday, 18th October 2012

1.00 AM Departing LCC Terminal, Sepang, Selangor.

8.20 AM Arriving Incheon International Airport, Korea.

Travel Cost: Flight Tix RM 249 + Insurance RM24.50 + Processing Fee RM5 + Meal RM13 + Baggage 15kg RM50 = RM341.50

“We all travel for different reasons, and taking off solo trip seems to be a very powerful experience that will change not only how you view travel, but also impact who you are as a person” – Anonymous