I headed to Gyeongju from Tongyeong on my last week in South Korea.

It was a 2.5 hour bus ride that bypassed Busan and a bus change. The buses move very quickly, passing cars on the freeway.

Gyeongju is the oldest city in South Korea and is known as the ‘museum without walls’.

And without tall buildings. The government intentionally maintains a low-rise profile to preserve its historical character and traditional Korean architecture.

It was the capital of the Silla kingdom for over a thousand years (57 BC to 935 AD).

The most obvious sight are the royal burial mounds.

A borrowed aerial view of the main complex that is in the centre of the city.

It’s possible to walk among them, but climbing is forbidden. 20 million won = Cdn$20,000

During the Japanese occupation there was some poorly executed excavations. This tomb has been redone as a museum.

The burial mounds were built as a wooden structure surrounded by stones and then clay. The body was lowered into the centre before being sealed up.

An image of a golden crown that was found on this site.

The mounds mimic the hills.

Site of a palace that overlooked the area.

The remains of the moat.

Cheomseongate was a stone astronomical observatory (632 CE) that makes it the oldest in the Far East. Very sophisticated design of rocks that match the number of months, days.

And another canola field.

It was a large sprawling area so bug buses were a choice!

And many tour buses!

The National Museum of Gyeongju sounded like a good plan on a rainy day.

But on Sunday of the busiest extra long weekend of the year, maybe not.

Monday was Children’s Day, a national celebration. As well, Buddha’s Birthday, which floats on the Lunar Calendar, ended up the same day so they added an additional day.

The Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok (771 AD) is the largest existing bronze bell in Korea.

A replication in another location.

Beopjangja Temple

Woljeonggto Bridge, a replica of the one originally built in 760 AD.

A ‘modern’ gas station, tourist shop and bus stop

And more modern coffee shops.

Street markets and bedding plant sales

A spicy tofu stew with all the side dishes. 8000 won (Cdn$8)

Bibimbap 9000 won (Cdn$9) at another reasonably priced local place.

Cutlery is hidden in little drawers of the table. Water is self serve and free. No tipping.

But oranges are expensive. 10,000 (Cdn$10) for the basket.

Then back to Busan to see places I missed on my first visit.

Wandering a market without a plan, but found strawberries for 5000 won (Cdn$5)

Beautiful display of watermelon, but I was shocked to see prices in a grocery store!

30,000 won = Cdn$30.

Cute kid and dried frogs.

Mall with a Lamborghini dealer next to Prada.

Busan Citizens Park was a huge area developed since 2010 after the site was finally obtained again after 100 years.

The area had been taken by the Japanese occupation in 1910. Then when they were expelled in 1948 at the end of World War 2, the US Forces set up a base there.

It had a huge range of options for play, walking, and water features.

A red clay walking path used in bare feet for health. It also included areas to wash your feet.

Young fathers seem very involved with parenting.

There was also a history museum in the old officers building.

Walking around. A police station.

BIFF Square celebrates the establishment of the Busan International Film Festival, one of most prominent Asian film festivals.

Jagalchi Market is the largest seafood market in Korea. The first floor were vendors, the second was restaurants.

Gukje Market was an old fashion market with a small restaurant where I had ‘Dwaeji-gukbap’. Pork soup with rice is the famous dish of Busan.

It’s not Korean if you don’t add lots of chili!

My best friend – litres of cold coffee for my morning.

Tteokokki is a solid tubular rice cake and fish cake simmered in a spicy sweet sauce. A common street food. 4600 won (Cdn$4.50)

Kalguksu is soup made with handmade, knife cut wheat flour noodles. I had a ‘set’ or combo with Gogmandu (meat dumplings). 6000 won (Cdn$6). Again, very reasonable as a local place by the market.

So now I’ve had all the classic Korean dishes and it’s time to move on!

My flight to Japan is 18:00 so I’m packing up and going over all the immigration forms and ‘how to get to the hotel from the airport’ plans!

Farewell South Korea, for now. I’m back to Seoul for a few days before I fly home July 2.