Gyeongju City Tour (part 8): Stamp on-the-spot

Eyra did the job of stamping the sites we visited. It's surely nothing of interest for adults. Sure..who would?

But, for kids...and for easy-going-foreigners like us...this is a kind of trivial stuff that we find 'why-not-if-it-is-fun!!! 

There are still many places that we should have visited. But..the tour does not cover all places...we just went to the some of the most-visited places.

Gyeongju City Tour (part 7): Bulguksa Temple (part 2)!

Still with the pagoda within the Bulguksa Temple. 

The green trees as the backdrop of the temple boosted the contrasting grey color of the temple. Apart from that, it symbolizes the summer's just begun. 

One more click on the Dabodap (or the Dabo pagoda). I am not sure what it symbolizes but....it had something to do with the Buddha reaching an enlightenment and riding the tower of many treasures.... 

Some say that it looks feminine....??hmm.it's the first time that a pagoda does reflect female/male representation...

One more and more click, but this time...right on the stairs....self camera... 

We're going inside deeper into the labyrinth of the temple... 

and found our way out...and got these stone-covered walls or.. 

wait..could it be that the whole stones serve as the upper foundation? 

heading towards the entrance and ....ready to get back to the bus... 

only to sit again on the very spot where others could be waiting for us... 

Another selca for us. 

Bulguksa Temple seen from the pictures.  

wish I could take the green back home... 

A panoramic view of the Bulguksa temple. 

Thanks, Eyra for taking a pic.of me.... 

Looks like no one's around. Well, we asked them to move aside so that we could take the whole background for us.^^ 

A must-have spot when we're in Bulguksa. Got a better idea of the photo angle?:) 

Finally, we met with on Wawan and tante Ulfa. What a coincidence. We thought they're already back in the bus. 

So, let's ask someone to take our picture.... 

From that side, too. 

And then...going back home....through this VIP lane...

no ..of course there's no such thing as VIP lane.

Gyeongju City Tour Bus (part 6): Bulguksa Temple (part 1);-D

First, greeted by the pond in our way to the temple. 

Just stay there and let me freeze you for a while, Dear.^^

for the sake of memories of being @ Gyeongju. 

Newly built ...er..planted trees on a park towards the temple. 

Yes...Eyra would never miss the chance of stamping her flyer. She's addicted to stamping!! 

The first glimpse of view of the whole temple...but shrouded by the trees. 

A clean earth-lane ..... 

I-should-have-known-what-those-were-monuments. 

now..the landmark of Gyeongju's tourism is in full view. 

Eyra surely did not yet understand what or where she were. She may just remember the word "Gyeongju", but not in the historical context...or just yet. 

So, the point of visiting was to experience the fact that we DID go there.

We're lucky to be here in the already cooling-off summer afternoon. 

The sky's still bright blue...but it's not that hot as noon's temperature. 

So, we could enjoy our sightseeing to the fullest. 

Just the two of us.^^ 

The famous Bulguksa temple has undergone ...more than 40 renovations!!

gosh...what a long history of renovation.

Built in 528 AD, it's once again..a proof of how historical object stay intact. 

Eyra...what were you trying to do, honey? trying to put the temple fit into your palms?^^ 

The famous Dabotap (many treasure pagoda) is within our reach. It's one of the most valued pagodas in Korea. It's well..only 10 meters or so..but the meaning and symbolical meaning it treasures...transcends those who take pride in it. 

Once again, Eyra..did not learn that much about it, yet. But, I am sure that she'll remember being here one day..and she'll be looking for what or where she was..^^ 

On the 2nd floor veranda(?) of the temple overlooking the front yard. 

and..let's take another pic of just-the-two-of-us.^^@ Bulguksa!!

Gyeongju City Tour Bus (part 5): 석굴암 Seokguram

Now we're walking up the hill towards the Seokguram: one of the must-visit Budha statues in Korea, or Gyeongju in particular. 

What a trail indeed. For those who're not that young-at-heart, discretion is advised. 

Never wear any high heels, lest you'd tire yourself down.^-^

Okay, what is it actually, this Seokguram? It's built in the 8th century..so I learned. It's actually a religious complex or let's call it a hermitage. 

Along the way..we're greeted with nothing but trees: which was a great thing..considering the fact that it's hot. so..the oxygen-filled trail was exactly what I needed. 

Yeach....we finally arrived to the top...only to find that we got to climb more stairs...

Okay more facts: Seokguram is actually a monumental statute of the Sakyamuni(?) Budha. Dubbed to be one of the masterpieces of East Asian Buddhist art. 

We're going up again, Eyra....Are you ready? 

Not long....we reached the top and approaching the exact place where the statue was placed. 

We needed to go inside the temple..to see the statue...

but...too bad...no cameras were allowed.

Of course, I got one:) *sneaky, Suray*** But..I won't upload it here... 

But, let me get it straight...this statue of Buddha was made of granite and overlooking the East sea. People flocked to see this...and though it's not that huge as I'd imagined before..and I am sure many others would have done the same......okay..I was here. 

The site was designated as the National Treasure in Korea and heavily guarded. Monitoring was strict, that's why. CCTV keeps on recording the ins and outs of the people.  

The lanterns hung on the front yard of the hermitage.  

The statue was kept inside the building up there... 

Let's wash our feet and hands...in this well. 

Should you drink this, you'll be pretty if you taste the water 'sweet'! Oh, c'mon.

But..that's just for the sake fun of it. 

and the other way around...and that's how we ended our journey there.