Gabo Invades Korea: Solo Trip in Gyeongju [PART 1]

So the main point of going to Gyeongju was because of the Hallyu Dream Festival.  But I went there a day ahead of my friends to have a short tour of the city.

My friend booked me a bus ticket to Gyeongju. Since I didn't sleep the night before (because of the early schedule of the trip), I took the chance to sleep on my 4-hour travel.

Then, I woke up just in time. I arrived Gyeongju!

However, I'm still worried because my I hadn't received anything yet regarding my booking in Sarangchae Hostel. And I even lost my way to the hostel >_< Good thing I could speak basic Korean phrases and I found my way to the hostel.

And just as I'd thought of, I had no room to stay in Sarangchae! But the ahjussi and ahjumma are so kind and good in English, they called my back-up hostel, Nahbi Guest House, and asked if there was a space, and Nahbi said YES! The ahjussi gave me the directions to the Nahbi Guest House, so I walked again to Nahbi. (By the way, I walked from the station to Sarangchae, then to Nahbi, with backpack and my heavy sports bag :|)

And yes, Nahbi still had a vacant solo room for 25,000 won for a night. I reserved it before someone could take that spot. I put my stuff and rested for a while because I was walking too much already. At around 1PM, I felt hungry since I had not eaten anything yet. And my search for food/soul searching began..

So that's the view from one of the streets. It's much peaceful and calmer here than in Seoul, probably because this is a province.

I decided to start looking for tourists spots as I look for place to eat. I decided to go to Hwangseong Park first because it looks near on the map. But as I continue to walk towards the direction of the park, I CAN'T SEE ANY PARK/STATUE STILL. So now I was starting to ask the locals about the location of the park.

FIRST: I asked a man, probably a college student at around 23-28 years old, where the Hwangseong Park is. I think he couldn't understand my Korean phrase (I'm still practicing -____-) so I tried to speak in a mix of English and Korean like, "Hwangseong Park odieyo? Where? Hwangseong Park? Where? Place? Direction? Odieyo?" Then he suddenly said "wait" to me in Korean and called someone on his phone. I thought he's gonna call someone to ask for direction but I eavesdropped that he's saying, "Sorry. I don't know." WHAT THE... He's asking his friend how to say sorry and I don't know in English :))))) Why couldn't he just ask for the directions... -_____- oh well, I just thanked him in Korean.

SECOND *and successful one*: So I tried asking a couple (yes, couples are everywhere even in provinces). They seem to understand the way I spoke to them in Korean because the girl suddenly points on the direction then speaks in Korean! I can't understand a thing. All I could just say, "Ne~" to whatever she says, even if she's asking me something (because one of the things she said ends in "imnikka") HAHAHAHAHAHA! I think the guy noticed that I didn't understand her and luckily *YES!* he spoke to me in English and told me to go straight and cross the river that I will see. AT LAST, AN ENGLISH SPEAKING PERSON HERE IN GYEONGJU! (Not that I'm underestimating people from the provinces in their English-speaking skills but in a desperate time like this, I would really need someone who can speak English). So I continued my journey...

FAAAAAAK! No food stores yet! All I could see are bakeries and cafes! I need real food :(( plus, I've walked so far yet I couldn't see any sign of river/water!!!

And at last, I saw the end of the long and winding road...YEY RIVER!! But as of my current location that time, I was too far from the bridge and all I could see are some sort of rocks/stones that I think was used for crossing since people in bicycles crossed the one beside it (right part of the photo below). So I walked on those stones on the left...

It was funny because I was the only one walking on the stones. I thought that time, maybe I'm the only person crossing this stones. I'd like to run so fast because people might think I'm crazy because of crossing these stones. HAHAHA! Great experience!

So when I reached the other side of the river, this was what I'd seen...

THIS IS THE VENUE FOR THE HALLYU DREAM FESTIVAL!!! I didn't know actually that this is the venue lol :))

So I walked around the area, thinking that this wasn't the Hwangseong Park yet because there should be a tall statue according to the map I had. Here are some photos I took while roaming around the area...

Comments? :D