Bulguksa

Bulguksa is undoubtedly the most famous and frequently visited of the countless sites within Gyeongju’s city limits, located nearly 40 minutes away from the city center via bus. The site serves as one of the primary centers of the Jogye Order of Buddhism in Korea. As a result of its historical importance and beauty, the site is swamped with daily tourists viewing the temple grounds and ancient pagodas.

The temple is quite impressive in terms of its size and history, having been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times since its conception circa 528AD. However, the swarms of people leave it feeling less like a place of solitude and worship but rather more like an amusement park. With the sale of balloons, children’s toys, corndogs and more on the walk in, coupled with the presence of tour buses crowding the parking lot, expectations diminish upon arrival.

In addition to Bulguksa, a short one hour hike up Mt. Tohamsan leads to one of the most famous sites in all of Korea, the Seokguram artificial Grotto. Built nearly 1300 years ago into the peak of the mountain, the focal point of the grotto is a 3.5m granite Buddha sitting on a lotus flower signifying Nirvana. Visitors line up outside the small temple and once inside get a glimpse at the grotto from behind a protective glass shield; photography prohibited

Although both Bulguksa and Seokguram Grotto have been infiltrated by hoards of Korean tourists the two sites do share some common qualities. These qualities include their antiquity and uniqueness among Korean history. It is often impossible to have world wonders to yourself, therefore is imperative to remove oneself from the mindset of the masses and to appreciate sites for their true value.

            

Palgongsan

In the lower outskirts of Korea’s, Taebaek Mountain Range rests the modest Palgong-san Provincial Park. Certainly in terms of scale and being a natural spectacle, the park is lacking. However, showcasing Palgong Mountain at a mere 1192m, and dotted with Buddhist temples and statues, it creates a perfect backyard playground for Daegu.

The main trail up to Dongbong peak is completely flooded with daily hikers, however the easy going trail makes for a great first trip to the park. The fall foliage, which I always took for granted at home, creates excellent vistas throughout the hike. From most vantage points the brightly colored sloping valley’s engulfing Daegu make for beautiful scenery.

On the other side of the park and an entirely separate trip in itself, is the home of the infamous Gatbawi Buddha. The short 2km hike to the top of the mountain in the early morning hours, walking to the beating sound of drums, makes for an excellent start to any day, displacing oneself from the real world.  Countless others make the same hike everyday to the peak in order to pay homage and pray to the large stone Buddha carved into the mountains peak.

The park offers countless options for trails, some for the most casual of hikers, while others for those without time restraints to get off the more beaten path. Living so close, I have become a frequent visitor of the park to escape the city and find a sense of peace. It’s not easy finding a better way to start one’s day then a predawn hike encompassed in pure tranquility and serenity.