A Family Trip to Gyeongju During Chuseok Holiday
During the Chuseok holiday, I went on a trip to Gyeongju with my family.
It was a 2-night, 3-day trip, and it was rainy and cloudy the entire time.
We only saw the sun on the last day, which was a shame, but Gyeongju was so great that I want to go back.
We took the KTX and didn't rent a car, so we had to travel on foot. But, surprisingly, buses came and went frequently around the tourist attractions, so it wasn't difficult to travel without a car.
It was so nice to revisit rainy Seoul Station after a long time. I should travel more often!
Goyu Hanwoo Gukbap (고유한우국밥)
We arrived in Gyeongju around 1 PM after taking the KTX from Seoul Station, so we started with lunch.
Since it was the Chuseok holiday, not many places were open, so we had to go all the way to Hwangnidan-gil to eat the Korean beef soup (Gukbap) we wanted.
We ordered two bowls of Hanwoo Gukbap and two bowls of Hanwoo Yukhoe Bibimbap (Korean Beef Tartare Bibimbap) at a place called Goyu Hanwoo Gukbap in Hwangnidan-gil, and it was so delicious.
The Gukbap was delicious, but the Hanwoo Yukhoe Bibimbap was especially good because of the savory sesame oil flavor, which made you want to keep eating it.
Cafe Neung (카페능)
Since hotel check-in wasn't until 4 PM, we went to a cafe after eating.
Hwangnidan-gil was too crowded and bustling because of the rain, so we rushed into a cafe that looked spacious and pretty. It was Cafe Neung.
The first floor was too crowded and chaotic, so we went up to the second floor, which had a strong traditional Korean house vibe and was quiet, which was nice.
My family, probably tired from taking the train since morning, but with faces full of anticipation.
Cheomseongdae Observatory (첨성대)
When it was time to check in, we dropped off our luggage at the hotel and headed straight to Cheomseongdae.
It's a place you might have seen at least once in school, but it felt new again when I saw it again as an adult.
There were so many families traveling to Gyeongju for the Chuseok holiday, and Cheomseongdae was incredibly popular.
In the midst of all this, we successfully took a family photo.
We also got some cute pictures of my parents. Fortunately, the rain subsided when we went to Cheomseongdae, so we were able to take some nice photos.
There are flower gardens around Cheomseongdae. Many of the flowers looked withered because it was autumn, but there were still some blooming flowers, so we took many pictures.
It would have been better if the sky was clear and blue, but we still took many pretty pictures of my parents.
Woljeonggyo Bridge (월정교)
If you go further from Cheomseongdae, you'll find Woljeonggyo Bridge.
It was a magnificent and beautiful place that made us say "Wow!"
The lighting was also spectacular, so it would be beautiful to see as a night view.
Oh, my dad looks eight heads tall in this picture!
Ipunyeo Guro Ssambap (이풍녀 구로쌈밥)
We got a little hungry after walking around a lot, so we went to Ipunyeo Guro Ssambap, which the taxi driver recommended.
To get straight to the point...
This restaurant was the worst place we ate at during our Gyeongju trip.
It cost ₩18,000 per person, which isn't cheap, and two pieces of Tteokgalbi (Korean Grilled Short Rib Patties) cost ₩12,000.
The most disappointing thing was the meat!
The amount of meat was too small for four people, and they used frozen meat, and the sauce wasn't delicious either.
It's a Ssambap (Korean Lettuce Wrap) restaurant, but how can they not put effort into the meat? It felt like cheap stir-fried pork sold in front of a university.
If we hadn't ordered the Tteokgalbi in addition, we wouldn't have had anything to eat...
Cheomseongdae Night View
After dinner, we came back to see the night view of Cheomseongdae because it was close to where we ate.
The color of the lights kept changing, which made it fun to watch, and it felt different from seeing it during the day.
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (동궁과 월지)
We came to see the night view of Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which you must see when you come to Gyeongju.
Honestly, it was the most beautiful night view of all the tourist destinations I've seen so far (even more than Budapest, Hungary!).
We kept saying "Wow!" as we watched. The reflection on the pond, like a decalcomania, was so beautiful.
If I come to Gyeongju again, I will definitely visit Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond again.
Gyeongju Jungang Market Night Market (경주 중앙시장 야시장)
The Jungang Market Night Market was open even during the Chuseok holiday.
Because we didn't have a proper meal at Ipunyeo Guro Ssambap, my sister and I were very hungry, so we headed to the night market.
We ordered a Big 4 Kit and chose coconut shrimp, squid fritters, Cheongcheon Makchang (Korean grilled intestines), Takoyaki, and Samgyeopsal Mari (Pork Belly Roll) to eat.
The Takoyaki smelled sour, so I spit it out, but everything else was delicious.
Still, my picks are the coconut shrimp and squid fritters!
We also ordered sweet and sour pork, which had a high meat ratio and was delicious.
This is how the first day of our family's Gyeongju walking tour ended!
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