South Korea

Pusan - the second largest city of South Korea, view toward Yongdo Island, where there is a large nature park.

Pusan - Yongdusan Park, a popular park atop a small hill in the center of the city, from where there is a sweeping view of the city.

Pusan, statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Korean tactician who nearly rebuffed a Japanese invasion in 1592.

Pusan - central part of the city.  Despite the rather bleak appearance, a fascinating place to explore on foot.

Pusan - a street (Kudong-no) in the central city.

Pusan - less then an hour bus ride from central Pusan there is beautiful nature in Hamji-gol Park on Yongdo Island.

Pusan - they must think I'm either sexy or rich (looks can be deceiving!).

Pusan - in the northern suburbs of the city is Pomosa, founded in 678 AD.  The current buildings mostly date from a reconstruction in the 17C.

Pusan, Pomosa - new friend Richard makes a contribution to the temple, so can sign his name to a new roof tile.

Pusan, Pomosa - Richard gets fitted for a temple jacket by some friendly but aggressive resident nuns.

A number of small fishing villages such as this one line the rugged coast west of Pusan near Chinhae.

Sunset on the coast near Chinhae.

T'odongsa - entrance to the temple.  This temple complex is one of the largest in Korea, and was founded in 646 AD.

T'odongsa - near the entrance to the temple.  The temple's founder brought Buddhism from China.

T'odongsa - one of the temple "guardians" at the entrance gate to the main complex.

T'odongsa - entering the main temple area.

T'odongsa - detail of a painting on the side of one of the buildings.

T'odongsa - view of the complex from atop a nearby small hill.

Magnolias blooming near T'odongsa.  Few people imagine Korea to be so beautiful.

Naewonsa - another temple in Kajisan Regional Park, much smaller than T'odongsa but still quite charming.

Naewonsa - view of the temple's interior courtyard.

Yangdong - this small village near Kyongju is an almost perfectly preserved village from the Yi dynasty (late 15 - early 16C).

Yangdong - the village consists of about 150 traditional houses, which are still occupied.

Yangdong - a beautiful stream runs through part of the village.

Yangdong - another traditional house.  Behind the walls are the jars used to make kim chi, the spicy pickled cabbage which is a mainstay of Korean cuisine.

Map courtesy of Mapquest.