02 May 2023

Ancient tombs and relics at Gyeongju, South Korea

South Korea welcomed Heritage Adventurer with sensational weather as we arrived on the shores of the bustling metropolis of Ulsan.

Under clear sunny skies we explored the undulating landscape of Tumuli Park where we learned that the verdent hills dotting the landscape were actually tombs dating back to the Silla dynasty. The largest tumuli were reserved for royalty with the largest being 'The Flying Horse Tomb' - the final resting place of a 5^th-6^th Century Silla king and his consort.

To further enhance our newly gained knowledge of Korean history we visited Gyeongju National Museum. Largely devoted to relics of the Silla kingdom, the museum also showcases many art pieces, crafts and jewellery ranging all the way from the Paleolithic Age to the early 20^th Century.

Lunch proved to be a memorable experience as a banquet of local cuisine was served. We sat eyeing the food closely and attempted to match each dish with an item on the menu in front of us. It was the consensus among us to described the experience as 'mouthfuls of mystery' but delicious nonetheless.

We then enjoyed a visit exploring the fascinating Bulguksa Temple and Art Gallery, a representative relic of Buddhist culture vibrant array of lanterns and flowers where there was much to see and marvel. Rounding out another busy day we squeezed in visit at Daewangam Park, a beautiful coastal shift from our inland adventures, for some amazing photo opportunities before returning to the comforts of Heritage Adventurer.

Image (c) by: H.Finch