Gyeonju Day 1 and 2: You Guesthouse/ Bulguksa Temple/ Seokguram Grotto/ Teddy Bear Museum

After one week of school, its the Chuseok (Thanksgiving) holidays! 5 days of holidays so me and my two friends, Hiang Ngee and Genevieve, headed to Gyeongju for a getaway.

We found accommodation at You Guesthouse, which was conveniently located opposite the Express Bus Terminal and Tourist Information Center!

The interior was really clean and homely! Love the kitchen especially:) The staff were all busy with Chuseok that we practically had the entire apartment to ourselves!!

Roamed around the streets only to find very limited food variety. Really a slow, suburban area compared to Seoul.. Had my first try at Cold Noodles (냉면), look at that iceberg in my bowl! Wasn't really my thing! Prefer hot soup hahhaa.

Day two started after a satisfying self-made scrambled eggs with toast breakfast!

Took bus 11 from outside our guesthouse to Bulguksa Temple, a World UNESCO Heritage site. It was served as the centre of Silla Buddhism and of protection of country from foreign invasion.

I was intrigued at how old the interior of the temple looked, faded colours and peeling wood! I wish they would leave it in its original state for a long time:)

Around the temple, people stacked stones from big to small sizes. There is a saying that if your tower of stones do not topple, your wish will come true:)

Afterwards, we took bus 12 from Bulguksa Temple to Seokguram Grotto. Took a long walk in only to find out that the main Buddha attraction was covered up for renovation. Was really disappointed.. 4,000won admission fee was not worth it!

With our rumbling tummies, we travelled out to have lunch. Missed our bus stop at Teddy Bear Museum, hence chancing upon this super delicious Tofu Stew place! It is opposite the road to the Gyeongju Botanical Gardens:)


Over here in Gyeongju, they serve whole Mackerels as a side dish. Really generous!

Anyone that visits this place MUST try their pajeon aka. spring onion pancake. It is really the best thing I have eaten in Korea as of now!

 The shop front

Teddy Bear Museum! The most anticipated visit of the day, partly due to the terribly hot weather! Bears here come in various shapes and sizes, dressed in different costumes, some depicting the cultures of Gyeongju:)

There was even one for Psy!

After the 3D show (that was in English), we were led to the Museum store! Everything was so cute! Wanted to get myself a teddy, but it was 35,000won, about SGD$40+… too expensive;(

Upstairs was a special exhibition for Goong, the hit Korean drama that I watched in Secondary school! Can't describe how happy I was to see the bears in person:):)