Last bits of Korea

The countryside changed as we headed west from Jeonju, flat with occasional steep bits rather than the other way around. All very agricultural. We came to Buan to visit Naesosa temple in the Byeonsanbando national park on the west coast. Almost impossible to find out when and where the bus left from so thought it would be quiet there. Ha-ha! There were thousands of people there, in cars and coaches and the approach road was a mass of restaurants, obviously really popular. By chance we'd hit their annual one-day music festival as well. Walked part way up another mountain for the views then came back for the music - very good and a great mix of styles.

Four buses got us to Gongju, our final stop.

Magoksa is another gorgeous temple in a stunning setting, just north of Gongju. Then a walk around the very steep ramparts of the fortress overlooking the city.

A day out in quiet Buyeo admiring Baekje dynasty stuff (temple remains of, and museum) and garden where they were just closing a display of chrysanthemums, it was not too strenuous. That just left us our last day for our last temple, superb and mountain, steep, before heading to Seoul for our flight tomorrow.

It's been superb, just a shame hardly anyone speaks English!  Sign language is a wonderful thing.

More Korean scenery

Another day walking up and down a mountain in the east of Jirisan national park, more great colours, more sore legs.

Then to Namwon for access to the western end, no info on this town in the guide book but it's turned out to be "The City of Love", the setting for a Korean Romeo and Juliet folk story. Everything here is based around it with parks galore.

The lovely temple complex of Hwaeomsa sits in a wooded valley on the western edge of Jirisan National Park, below Mount Nogodan. We admired the temple then managed to get a bus to within an hour's tough walk up to the summit. We walked the 8km back down dropping over 1000m in the first 6km. So glad we hadn't tried to walk up! More sore legs from clambering down a very rocky path.

We stopped in Jeonju only an hour away, it's very historic and the old part was packed with young people dressed in traditional garb.  Everyone was having a jolly day out. Enjoyed the sights, ate a super bibimbap lunch (local delicacy) then headed for Buan from where we hope to see another national park.