Gyeungju

We stayed around Gyeongju for Friday, visiting a nuclear power plant and a number of temples.

Tons of schoolchildren were at our hotel for Aquaworld.

The power plant would’ve interested Dad a lot. Unlike most plants, they use seawater for cooling and recycle as much of their resources as possible. Korea uses nuclear power to supply about 40% of the country’s electricity at a very high efficiency rate, or so they say. The promotional video they had was the most ridiculous yet, with [bad] hired actors and a storyline that could’ve been in an episode of 24. They tried to sell nuclear power as the salvation of mankind from global warming and as the logical progression of technology from the Silla dynasty, Korea’s last united Kingdom. I mean, I’m all about nuclear power, but they really wanted people to like it. Also, there was a video of an F-15 being rocketed into a sample of the outer wall of the facility. It disintegrated and the wall merely had a char mark. I love science.

The newest arm of the power plant under construction.

The city of Gyeongju is maintained as an historical location with the old style tiled roofs everywhere and lots of ancient structures around. Our first temple stop was Seokguram Grotto. No pictures were allowed inside the hut, but it had a giant and impressive statue of Buddha. The feeling of mysticism was broken by the glass wall a dozen feet in front of it and the guard eating a melon next to it. The hike up to it was nice, and I picked up some gifts for the family there.

The base of the shrine.

Outside the shrine.

Leaving the shrine, Viktor got another of his under-the-arm stealth shots off.

Next up was a temple, the Gyeongju Bulguksa, a sprawling city of shrines. Most of it had burned down at some point, but the remains were still quite interesting. Nothing like it in the States, and there was plenty of tradition to be learned. In one corner were small stacks of stones, meant to grant wishes when balanced atop one another. Pagodas with tigers guarding them, fish bells, goblin faces, and colorful Buddha shrines speckled the place.

The original Korean rockstars.

Look, stairs!

Everyone was trying to figure out what the hell...

...this guy was all about.

My wish? For you to be happy :)

Before heading home we visited a ceramics street. I picked up some handmade coffee mugs as gifts for 5,000 won each ($4.15). Dinner was bulgogi, and I spent my evening in a sauna with another guy from our group. Yes, I had to get naked to enter the bath. Yes, other naked old Asian men were there. Yes, they had a green tea hot tub. Will I do it again? We’ll see.

A totem for a store on the ceramics street.

North Korea had a football match against the Ivory Coast team, and I was hungry so we got some fried chicken and stayed up to watch the game. They got stomped, but we wondered what Korean’s attitude towards the People’s Republic of Korea was like. We guessed it was similar to ours, a mix of sympathy and pity for having to put up with such a backwards ruling government.

Of course the night wouldn’t be complete unless I stayed up past 4 AM again, so I kept the tradition rolling and talked religion and beliefs with Abby, Lindsay, and my roommate, Viktor until about that time. I’ll maintain that it was a worthwhile discussion. It was certainly a welcome throwback to my younger, more philosophical days in college.