Trip to Gyeongju (Buddhist temple)

Earlier this month we went to Gyeongju, which is a town about 45 minutes southwest of Pohang.  It is known for its historical sites, including giant burial mounds of kings and some significant buddhist sites from 10+ centuries ago. Before we went, David was assigned to research buddhism and create a presentation to give us some basic background.  Here are just a few pix from our trip.

Bulguksa Temple (actually, -sa means temple)
- this pic (from the web) doesn't show all the height differences (and steps) between areas.

Some entry doors with fierce metal rings.
I couldn't help but notice that they're almost as uneven as our apartment building door handles.

Section of ceiling - painstakingly handpainted in bright colors.

Not sure what the golden warthog is about.  But he's cute!

One of the four "guardian kings", which stand about 20' tall and carry different things.
I like the musical one.  All were very dusty.

Another section of ceiling.

Edge of the roof - even the end tiles have lovely decorations
(I realize they're probably meaningful Buddhist symbols and not just pretty faces)

After the temple, we also visited nearby Seokguram, which is a grotto with Buddha carved into the side of the mountain (no pix allowed, so I took this from the web).  The Buddha here is probably 15' tall, and behind glass to preserve the stonework from degrading due to the "breath of tourists."  We saw several people bowing to the statue.

The fam under an outdoor "ceiling" of paper lanterns just after the Seokguram Grotto.
It was really, really hot so we appreciated the shade.

On the way down the mountain/grotto, we paid 1000 W each to ring the giant bell of mercy. No clue who is supposedly getting the mercy, but the ajeemas running the show were eager to try their English and energetically demonstrate how the heavy wooden clanger should be swung (Wan! Tuh! TREE!) and then heaved into the 10' tall bell. The low-pitched clang lasts about 10 seconds, heard all over the valley.

Sam and I get a lovely cool drink from the mouth of a lion (it probably symbolizes something) with the communal ladles (that might symbolize something too). 

Elisabeth and I, enjoying her umbrella as a parasol.
My shirt is pretty racy by Korea women's fashion standards -
shoulders don't normally show, especially among the over-30 group.