The writer at one of the cafes near the Daereungwon Tomb Complex. — Photos: SUHAILAH UNZIR
Semester breaks when you’re studying abroad are best spent wandering off to another destination. There would always be something new for you to explore, and every nook and cranny of the place would have something new to experience.
It also helps to distract yourself from missing home, a feeling that would surface every now and then.
During one of my breaks while studying in South Korea, I decided to head to Gyeongju with a good friend, a place not as widely known as Seoul and Busan. A visit to this little city will take you back in time, and you’ll also be able to see South Korea in a different light.
The reader strolling around the vast Daereungwon Tomb Complex.
In the early days, Gyeongju used to be the capital of the Silla Kingdom, one of the three ancient Korean kingdoms. The city is brimming with rich cultural heritage and features Donggung Palace, Daereungwon Tomb Complex and Woljeonggyo Bridge.
We took an intercity bus from the Haeundae Bus Station in Busan and was greeted by early summer rain the whole journey. It only took about an hour to reach Geyongju. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we scanned the surroundings and noticed something: there were no skyscrapers and the atmosphere was pleasantly calm. The fast-paced life did not seem to apply here and it was a nice change of scenery.
We thought it would be best to explore the city on foot. With the help of our trusty Naver map, we made our way to the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, a popular attraction. Known as the place where kings and nobles from the Silla Kingdom were laid to rest, the complex is designed in such an intricate manner that visitors not only get to learn the history but also enjoy a peaceful walk around.
Our stroll was accompanied by soothing music played throughout the complex. You could spend up to an hour admiring the beauty of the place on a balmy day.
We spotted some traditional-themed cafes neatly arranged along the side of Daereungwon. Inspired by the rich history of Gyeongju, the architecture of the cafes incorporated elements of traditional Korean homes.
The most notable element is the Hanok roof with its slight curve.
We went in to the Do Not Disturb Bakers, grabbed a few pastries and found a place to sit on the second floor, which overlooked the vast complex. We sipped on our cold iced latte and just did some people watching.
One of the cafes with a Hanok roof at the Daereunwon Tomb Complex in Gyeongju. — SUHAILAH UNZIR
Gyeongju is a coastal city, so we could not pass up the chance to try some of their local delicacies featuring seafood. Some of the more famous items include cockle bibimbap and seafood pajeon.
After turning left and right down the narrow alleys, we managed to locate Hyanghwajeong, one of the four-star restaurants in the city.
We tried the seafood pajeon and were not disappointed. The pancake was crispy with lots of plump fresh shrimp and scallions in the middle – it was so delicious.
Unfortunately, we had to rush through our meal as we had only planned for a day trip. A part of me hoped that we could stay a little bit longer, though, as we only managed to experience a small section of Gyeongju.
It is said that in autumn, Gyeongju would be filled with bright red and orange ginkgo leaves, while in winter, the thick layer of snow would blanket the Earth, making everything look magical.
We hope to make it back there again one of these days.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
