Roadtrip stop #2: Gyeongju

We left Daegu and drove through Gyeongju on our way to Busan. Two things we wished we known before setting out: (1) it was the worst day for yellow dust so far; and (2) Gyeongju set records that day for sheer number of tourists coming because of the cherry blossoms. Traffic was bumper-to-bumper. As we tried to leave Gyeongju on our way to Busan, traffic was so slow that a group of bicyclists passed us twice.

Our first stop in Gyeongju was Anapji Pond. It was a beautiful place to get out of the car and stretch our legs. It was easy to see why the king who built it enjoyed it so much. I wish I could share more pictures but both my camera and mom's decided this was good place to have their batteries die.

Some of the famous, crowd-drawing cherry blossoms

Just down the road from Anapji Pond is a park with the large mounds of royal tombs and this ancient observatory, Cheomseongdae.

We left the city of Gyeongju and headed for the mountains and the Buddhist shrine and monastery of Bulguksa. It was late afternoon by the time we arrived. We missed closing time by only an hour or so. It was an uphill hike to the entrance and then another uphill hike to the actual shrine.