We learned at the captain’s dinner that in order for a non-Japanese ship to make stops in Japan, that the ship had to make a stop in at least one non-Japanese port.  That was the reason for the trip to South Korea.  We’re glad they did because we had a great day.  Even though rain was expected for the first time, it remained a beautiful, sunny day.  We disembarked at the port Ulsan (7^th largest of South Korea’s cities) and drove an hour inland to Gyeongiu, the ancient capital of the Shilla kingdom that ruled for 1,000 years, from 57 B.C. to A.D. 935.  They say that Gyeongiu ranked with Constantinople and Baghdad as one of the great cities at that time.

Leaving the ship we passed thousands of cars getting ready to be shipped overseas.  Hyundai produces 6,000 cars per day, and most are for export.

Our first stop was in the Tumuli Park at the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, a site of 50 tombs of kings, queens, and upper classes of the Shilla period.  Only a few of the tombs have been excavated, but one (Cheonmachong Tomb) was open to view and had replicas of the over 11,000 artifacts found in the tomb.  Most of the originals are kept in the museum we’d visit next.

The Gyeongiu National Museum’s highlights included jewelry (many in gold) and weaponry found in the tombs.  One was a 5^th-century gold crown.  Outside the museum was the Emile Bell (King Seongdeok’s Bell), one of the largest bells in Asia, whose sound can be heard over a 3 km distance.

Lunch was at the Commodore Hotel, on the shores of Bomun Lake, followed by a folkloric dance performance.  The buffet lunch included Kimchi, one of the spicy Korean delicacies (fermented cabbage).

After lunch, we visited the Bulguksa Temple, with beautifully painted original 6^th-century pagodas.  The original temple was built in 528 and restored in 1973.  The colored lanterns are all donated and are provided as wishes, prayers, or thanks.

Before dinner, we were given a presentation on “Love Among the Ruins” by Professor Alide Cagidemetrio, who described how the Madam Butterfly effect (American servicemen and Japanese women) was described in literature at the time.

Here are photos of the Tomb Complex:

Photos from the Gyeongiu National Museum:

And here are photos from the Bulguksa Temple: