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Start
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Donghaewon
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Royal Tomb of King Muryeong
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Gongju Hanok Village
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Gongju National Museum
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Muin Hotel
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Cherry Blossom Festival
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Donghak Temple
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Finish
Representative temple in Gyeryong Mountain, 'Donghak Temple'
'Cherry Blossom Festival of Gyeryong Mountain' might come up in your head first when you think about 'The spring of Gongju'. There is a beautiful view with cherry blossoms along the 4 km of road from Park Jeong-ja three-way intersection connected to Yuseong, Daejeon to Donghak Temple. The best view of the cherry blossom festival is a 1Km-long road especially from the entrance where there is a small bridge towards the Donghak Temple to the parking lot. The Donghak Temple is well-known for not only cherry blossoms but also clear valley that flows over the year. As I row upstream from the meeting point of Cheonjeonggol valley and Donghaksa valley, the forest is more dense and it's crowded with summer vacationers in family unit. Let's go up carefully to the temple along this valley.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:50:08 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 25mm
This temple is in the Gyeryongsan National Park. Here is the entrance of Gyeryongsan trail, so it's always crowded with climbers.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:52:00 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 20mm
It has admission fee because it's in the cultural heritage area. It costs 2,000 won for adults, 700 won for youths, and 400 won for children. I already let you know the way to visit charged cultural heritage sites in Gongju for free in another post, but please note that it's not free to visit the Donghak Temple.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:52:48 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
It's pleasant to walk up to the Donghak Temple along Donghak stream with cool sounds. On the address of the temple, it belongs to Gongju-si, but actually it is 25km away from Gongju city hall. There are more tourists from Daejeon, because it is 8km away from Daejeon.
Canon EOS 550D | f/5.6 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:54:09 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 50mm
The valley is 3.5km-long from Hak Rock to Gwaneum Mountaintop. I can feel refreshed in a dense green forest with water sound and birds' song. As you go up for 20 minutes along this road, you would get to the Donghak Temple that has a monk college.
Canon EOS 550D | f/5.6 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:54:39 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Hongsal Gate(Hongjeon Gate, Hong Gate) appears right before meeting Ilju Gate. It's the first time to see Hongsal Gate at the entrance of temple. It's a red wooden gate that usually stands in front of palaces, government offices, and tombs. A sign on the back of the gate says it's a divine place and it's necessary to express your respect. It might be a shrine that honors someone. Shall we go up?
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:56:28 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 40mm
There are quite many people who are going hiking although it's on a weekday. Let's go further after Iljumun.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:58:23 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
This valley is the best valley in Chungcheongnam-do with a large amount of water and much refreshing sound of the valley. The valley is not that deep inside and there are many rocks around, so it attracts many tourists in summer. If you order some food at a restaurant around the edge of the valley, you can enjoy a great meal on the table in the valley.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 11:57:13 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 50mm
I was eating some bread and coffee sitting at the water's edge for a while. There were squirrels hanging around me. They looked at me mournfully with desire for a piece of bread. My eyes hardly avoided them and ate the bread and coffee away. ^^*
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:15:31 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 20mm
There are colorful lotus lanterns along both sides of the road. It might be because The Day of Buddha's Coming is on May 25th. This road might have many events to celebrate.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:19:38 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
I don't know why but much moss cover stones and walls. They are all covered with moss and it produces mysterious mood.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:25:55 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
There are 3 small temples on the way to the Donghak Temple. It seems there are more attractions here than the destination to me. Buildings are more beautiful and there are many praying people.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:33:23 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Injae Gate, it's not a temple. Where is it? The gate looks like a shrine. That's why there was the Hongsal Gate before the Ilju Gate.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:33:43 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
This palace is called as 'Sukmojeon'. Royal palaces called 'Jeon' are used only for kings and queens(queen dowagers). Then it should mean a king is enshrined in the Sukmojeon. In fact, King Danjong who lost his throne by King Sejo is kept here. Left building in the picture has Hwang Bo-in and Kim Jong-seo who died in Gyeyujeongnan. Right one does Sayuksin who sought the restoration of King Danjong.
Canon EOS 550D | f/3.2 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:32:45 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 35mm
They all passed away but after hundreds of years, we are thinking about them under the mossy wall. Their names are left so they are not dead. Would anyone remember my name after my death?
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:30:56 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Going up more from the Sukmojeon here is the entrance of Donghak Temple. There is no Cheonwang Gate(Temple gate dedicated to the Four Devas) or Haetal Gate. You can directly find stairs towards Daeungjeon.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:36:21 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Steel structures are set to hang lotus lanterns because the Buddha's Birthday is coming. Hmm…. I understand it’s the peak time when the temple is able to earn lots of money but it looks ugly to tourists who paid for the entrance fee. A neat three-story stone pagoda is located in the middle of the yard of Daeungjeon. It has one-main temple one-pagoda structure. This stone pagoda was built with the Donghak Temple in the period King Seongdeok in Silla.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 125 | 2015:04:09 12:39:36 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 23mm
Beompae(Buddhist chant) sound of monksemanates from somewhere and a few women are praying for their family in the Daeungjeon. 3 wooden seated Sakyamuni triad statues in the Daeungjeon are slated to be designated as the national treasures.
Canon EOS 550D | f/5.6 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:43:02 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 32mm
Red Dahlias bloomed in the front yard of Daeungjeon. Leaves of magnolia are falling around but the dahlias are just blooming. The dahlia usually blossom in the summer. Isn't it dahlia?
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:37:59 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
On the back side, there is a Buddhist nun college forbidden to the public. I wanted to take closer look at the college but all the entrance had ‘No admittance’ signs. I don’t know if they are for keeping worldly men away or training nuns’ spirit.
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 12:44:58 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
It seems it's time to finish the trip and go down. Someone built groups of stone tower on the wall of Donghak Temple with delicate engineering skill. See the effort trying to insert a bondstone to the cliff and put up small towers on it. If you try hard like this, you would fulfill your wish. Believe me!
Canon EOS 550D | f/9.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:20:07 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 36mm
On the way home is also wonderful with the tunnel of pretty cherry blossom. You head for the home with happiness feeling like you walk into the wedding as the bride and groom! When you go trip to Gongju in a warm spring, go cherry blossom viewing and go up see the Donghak Temple. It’s best to climb up to the Gyeryong Mountain if you have more energy. Have a good trip~
+ Address : 789, Hakbong-ri, Banpo-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+ Telephone : 042-825-2570
+ Parking Fee : 4,000 won for 1 day
Simple Korean Table d'hote restaurant 'Mother's Table' nearby Donghak Temple
Gyeryongsan National Park is the representative tourist site in Gongju. Tourists keep coming to the park 365 days a year. Usually there are many restaurants with ingredients from mountains like wild herbs and deodeok(Mountain herb whose roots have restorative properties) in front of famous mountains. I refused to go to the restaurants that attract tourists with all the similar menus and went to a quiet Korean Table d'hote restaurant, 'Mother's Table'.
Canon EOS 550D | f/8.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:35:38 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Mother's Table is located in Bonggok-ri, Banpomyeon which is a quiet village in the countryside nearby Donghak Temple in the Gyeryongsan National Park.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 125 | 2015:04:09 13:39:13 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
The Mother's Table serves healthy food. It's well known for good mood of restaurant and nicely presented food, so many women love this restaurant.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:39:00 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
There are set menus and several single dishes. We ordered a Ueongbab(Steamed Rice with Burdock) Jeongsik(Set) that the ingredients are in season and Yeonipbab(Steamed Rice Wrapped in a Lotus Leaf) Jeongsik that has good scent. It costs 15,000 won per person. It's not that cheap but I'm curious how it does look like.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:46:26 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Before main meal, appetizers came out. There are sour and sweet vegetable salad, savory potato salad, and soft and chubby jellied salad. They are all well-seasoned, not too much. These salads also have the taste of ingredients as they are. This jellied food is particularly made with seaweeds, slightly salty dried lavers, and aromatic sesame oil. It is simply seasoned and tastes very good.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.5 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:47:27 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
I heard cold dishes are served firstly and hot dishes are secondly as French appetizers.
Secondly, warm Nokdu Buchimgae(Mung Bean Pancake) came out. It's light and savory because they use little amount of oil.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:59:42 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
Food of Mother's Table are all well seasoned. It's not too salty nor too bland. They don't use artificial seasoning so you can taste clean and fresh flavor as ingredients are. There is no high-calorie fancy dish, but all dishes taste so good.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:57:10 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
This is 'Yeonipbab(Steamed Rice Wrapped in a Lotus Leaf)' made with cooked glutinous rice that my wife ordered. It’s wrapped in a lotus leaf like this.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:58:15 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 28mm
Yeonipbab is made with sticky rice and cereals wrapped in lotus leaves. Then it is steamed. I can feel the unique scent of lotus leaf penetrated in the rice. The Yeonipbab is gooey rice with delicate scent of the lotus leaf.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 13:59:04 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 17mm
'UeongSotbab(Steamed Rice with Burdock in a Hot Pot)' is what I ordered, even though I don’t like sticky rice. It’s been a long time to eat this kind of steamed rice in a hot pot, because electric rice cookers are widely used in recent days.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 160 | 2015:04:09 13:59:21 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 47mm
Burdock is in season so it tastes very good and is healthy. I can smell soil from ample pieces of burdock on properly cooked rice. This scent makes my mouth water.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 100 | 2015:04:09 14:01:03 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 25mm
To eat Ueongbab, take some rice out of the pot and mix with spicy soy sauce. Next, pour water into the pot to eat scorched rice. I can crunch the burdock and smell nice flavor.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 160 | 2015:04:09 14:22:59 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 29mm
Buckwheat tea is served after the meal. It tastes savory with fried buckwheat. It looks charming and colorful.
Canon EOS 550D | f/4.0 | iso 200 | 2015:04:09 14:28:53 | Flash did not fire, compulsory flash mode | 24mm
I didn't recognize them during the meal time but there are flowers on edges of the table. They go well with small and quiet atmosphere of the restaurant.
I was so much full but felt comfortable at the Mother's Table, because there was no fried or strongly spicy and salty food. The food had the taste of fresh ingredients and tasted light and neat. The restaurant has quiet and comfortable mood so I felt like I was eating at my grandmother’s house in countryside. If you find a restaurant where you can take rest and have sound meal, ‘Mother's Table’ is the best one. I paid for my meal!
+ Address : 501, Bonggok-ri, Banpo-myeon, Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do
+ Telephone : 041-881-8212
+ Open Hour & Holiday : 11:30 am ~ 9 pm (Third Sunday of month Closed)
