Seokbulsa Temple in pictures

A picture is a worth a thousand words, and I have probably written about that much so far. I think you deserve a break from , and I took enough pictures of this first hike for everyone to get the idea of what it was like. But, just in case, I'll add some details here and there along the way. 



Welcome to Geumgang Park! If ever there was an amusement park for the outdoors (aka a giant park), this would be it. 

Traditional houses and artifacts, oh and Tom and George, who are above such tourist traps.



No park is complete without a rabbit enclosure!

Found the cable car ride that takes you up the mountain, so the hike was shortened considerably. 

Found a viewpoint! Be sure to note the way the Koreans enjoy the view...with beer and a nap on the rocks. 



We enjoyed the view by staring at it... 

...and by taking pictures of ourselves looking at it, how artsy. 

We hiked across the mountain and found a wall, so we climbed it and then documented dutifully. This is Jenna and I posin' for a girls only picture. 

Our stomachs got the better of us, on to lunch! The mountain was dotted with small restaurants, so we picked one, pointed at the menu and this is what we got. Oh I would've taken a picture before we ate, but I was to hungry, so imagine what it really looked like (hint: barbecue chicken). 

There were also a bunch of these small tennis courts, which the Koreans used as kick volleyball. There's Zach trying to play, it didn't work out too well.  

Of course when you are hiking, you need to take breaks, feel free to use the outdoor exercise equipment.



How are you supposed to use these again?

Jenna having a blast on the... walking machine? No idea really.

Water break! Let's climb this random rock. Jenna, Tom, George and Zach (left to right). 

Great, now how do we get down?

Ah here is the Temple!

Beautiful view of the mountains (yes, here they are called mountains, what we in Washington call foothills). But think Mt. Cy status of steepness combined with Mt. Rainier paved trails and traffic.

Look how far we've come!

Group picture, taken by a bicyclist, so impressed that he made it up the mountain!

Second group picture, our photogrpaher wanted one of us at the temple entrance, definitely felt shorter in this one.

Beautiful outer temple.

Look at those reliefs carved int he rock!

View from the upper temple, the previous rock reliefs are to the left.

Taking a break at the top to admire the view and the silence.

View between the rocks

On the way down, after a friendly chat and a snakc of roasted chestnuts with older (and slightly tipsy) Koreans, we found a soccer court! Time to play soccer!

The hiking trail turned into a village road which then turned into a major highway and we found our way back to the subway station. All and all not the most strenuous of hikes, but a nice day of meandering through the mountains. I've heard that in general the hikes in Korea are very difficult, so be on the look out for more posts on future hikes to find out the verdict.