07 December 2014

Cheongju and around, Korea


So the reason I was in Korea was to visit some good colleagues of mine at Chungbuk National University in the city of Cheongju and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) in Daejeon, both of which are just a few hours south of Seoul by bus.  I spent the majority of the week based in Cheongju, working at the University and only one day at KASI, where I gave a talk.  I had no idea what to expect in Cheongju, as it was only mentioned very, very briefly in my guide book.  I was surprised by what I found for several reasons, and thanks to some colleagues that I now count as friends,  I ended up having a great time there.

One of the first things that shocked me were the large buildings scattered somewhat randomly around town.  Cheongju was a lot bigger than I had expected.  The building above was a bizarre hodgepodge of styles, making it look like it was 4 or 5 different buildings from completely different places that had been glued together to form a single, larger construction.  It's almost as if the architect's name was Dr. Frankenstein, and he used signs and billboards as stitches. 


This statue represents the one reason why Cheongju was mentioned in my guidebook, the Jikji.  The Jikji is a book, a guide to Zen Buddhism actually, but it is a very special book: it is the first book ever produced using movable metal type.  This religious guide actually predated the Gutenberg Bible by 78 years.  Unfortunately, the only remaining copy is currently held in the National Library of France.  How it ended up there is a long story, but it is pretty obvious that the Koreans would really like it back home. 


I was surprised by how many churches there were between Seoul and Cheongju... they were one of the most prominent structures in almost every town we passed, and there were clearly multiple in the larger towns.  There were crosses everywhere, many of which appeared in neon sign form, funny enough, reminding me of so many mission crosses in inner cities here in the States... all those glowing purple, pink, red or green beacons of hope calling out to wayward souls.


Arriving at the inter-city bus terminal in Cheongju, these are some of the first buildings you see.  Did I mention the architecture was a little weird here?  These are quite likely (I never went in to check) love motels, cheap accommodation for couples to get a romantic night away, cheating spouses to get some time in with their lovers, and lonely individuals to get down to business with an escort.  These are infinitely better than the closest thing to an American equivalent: the sleazy, filthy, rotting pits called motels... you know, the ones that rent by the hour.  These Korean ones seem more like sex Disneyland or something.  I can only imagine what the room themes must be like if they devoted that much attention to the exterior!


One thing most Westerners will notice in Korea are all the signs that prominently portray the acronyms DVD and PC.  They are everywhere, which might lead one to naively think that there are movie and computer stores all over the place.  As tech savvy as the Koreans are, these are no ordinary electronics shops.  These are bang (방 in Hangeul, which you'll also see all over the place once you know what to look for).  Bang is the Korean word for "room", and the DVD and PC bangs are exactly that: rooms where people go to watch movies (DVD방) or play on computers (PC방).  Oh, and don't you worry singing enthusiasts, there are also noreibang all over the place, which is the Korean form of karaoke.  The cool thing about noreibang is that it is a small room, so you only need to make a fool of yourself in front of you and whatever small group of friends you decide to invite along.  The same goes for the DVD-bang, these are small rooms where a couple or group of friends can go rent to watch movies in an intimate, personal setting.  As you can probably guess, these are pretty popular with teenage couples looking to get some alone time.


Cheongju is a university town, so needless to say, it has a solid nightlife.  We ended up going out several nights in the area just north of the center of campus.  It had some great food options and plenty of awesome bars.


So much neon and light.  Is this what the future city will look like?  If you trust some science fiction movies, then yes... however, I think that parts of some cities will (and obviously already do) and yet most places people live will not.  As far as I can tell, there will always be (a majority of?) people that like a good dark night with a beautiful starry sky.  But that's just not possible with this level of light pollution... not possible for 10s of miles or more around such cities sadly 


Thanks to some new friends from the university that were willing to take me, I was able to take a day hiking in Songnisan National Park, very near the center of South Korea.   This was an amazing experience.  Songnisan is a mountain park, but there is also a great, distinctly rustic culture in the town around the entrance.  I don't know how much of this is played up for the tourists from the cities, but there is no denying the authenticity of all the local ingredients used in the restaurants and available in small roadside markets like this one.   Most of the things available were dried roots, herbs, and mushrooms.  Local ingredients like these were used in all the restaurants around town too, featured in their special "mountain" options.


At the entrance, the place was more like a big garden or city park, but as you walk further and further along the trail, things return more and more to natural wilderness.  The most popular hike in the park summits one of the high peaks in the area.


Further along, you hit this huge, ornate gate.  There are still monks living up in a monastery in the park too.  It's beautiful to know that such places actually do exist.


Korean Buddhism is unique from other forms of the religion.  One of its fundamental beliefs is that natural systems are not a system of independent smaller parts but one entire whole, with every part, big to small, being important to the full thing.  It's an amazing philosophy, and it helps to explain why hiking and natural places are so important in Korea. 


Just a little way past the gate was a beautiful cemetery... it didn't seem very old.  I wonder how they decide who's bodies end up in the place... I'm sure it goes for a premium.


Hiking is very popular in Korea.  There is an entire section of my guide book devoted to Korean's obsession with walking in nature.  I'm glad I got to get out and partake in this national obsession, because I was not disappointed.   Being Autumn, the air was cool and crisp, and there was even snow in places.   The woods were more brown than green, but each season has its own beauty to it, and the fall weather in this Songnisan was no exception.


The hike kept bringing us to more signs of human habitation, something that I'm not at all used to in North American national parks.  First we came upon the arch, then the cemetery, next this bridge and what I think was a monastery. Further up the mountain, we came to the small building with the food and home made maekgeolli that I described in the last post.


There were a few Buddhist shrines along the way too, including this masterpiece of carving.


Finally, there was this place.  A temple, named Beopjusa, a few kilometers into the hike, and...


A giant bronze Buddha.  I was not expecting to come across this in the park at all.



The setting around the temple complex is beautiful.  We were treated to a brief few minutes of sunshine and blue skies too.  As with many such places, the original temple was burned to the ground by Japanese invaders.  The main pagoda and many of the other buildings were reconstructed in the 1600s however.


I enjoyed this place a lot more than the palaces in Seoul... the natural setting had a lot to do with that.  There was also a large pool with spring water and little cups on sticks that hikers were using to take drinks with.  I tasted the water, and it was incredibly crisp and clean and wonderfully refreshing.


This place was so atmospheric.  The old buildings being all on their own in the middle of this specactular mountain valley scenery makes it all feel quite timeless.  You realize that you could just as easily be in the year 1600 as 2014.


Like the palaces in Seoul, bright colors were used to decorate the structures.


With the sun shining, the place really came to life and had a completely different aura about it... it felt so much warmer than it had under the clouds just a few minutes before.


This dragon was really a giant and very ornate hammer for the huge bell seen at the bottom left in the previous picture.  I can strongly recommend that you get out hiking if you ever have the great experience of traveling in Korea... there are many reasons why hiking is so popular there, and you can easily get out and experience them for yourself.

43 comments:

aishwarya said...

I am planning to do my post grad in CBNU next Spring. The amount of churches in the area scare me. I hear there are a lot of evangelists who think there's a magic bullet to convert people into Christianity. Sounds bothersome. Have you had any such experiences in SK?

jaanvikohli said...

high class Celebrity Escort Bangalore
Call Girls Services in Bangalore
Women seeking Men Bangalore
Top Beauty Models Escorts
VIP Models Escorts girls in Bangalore
Model Celebrity Escorts Bangalore
Independent VIP Model Escorts
High Profile Escorts in Bangalore
Bangalore Celebrity Escorts
Best Female Escort Models in Bangalore

rosyshah said...

jagdalpur escorts
janjgir champa escorts
jashpur escorts
kabirdham escorts
kanker escorts
kondagaon escorts
korba escorts
koriya escorts
mahasamund escorts

Escorts In Lahore said...




Elite Class Fashionable Well Educated Hot Sex 👙 Models Service Provider Madam Dolly lahore call girls
I Love All Countries Provider Escorts Service best Vip Call Girls in lahore
Full hot and sex excellent girls in available Hotel door service Pakistani lahore Call Girls in lahore
Pakistani lahore vip call girls best female professional call girl models in available vip Hotel best service in Pakistani
call girls in Lahore we have many Independent call girls in Lahore. Our call girls are not road side call girls.
Safe Service call girls in Pakistani lahore
We give you best and safe escorts service in Lahore islamabad call girls
Escorts Services 👉 69 sex 👄 Call/ Whatsapp ☛ ☎ ▻ +92 305 3777077 💃 girls Provider Madam Dolly
we serve all over in Lahore, If you want to more safe side I suggest you book an any 4 & 5 star hotel in Lahroe.
Vip Call Girls in Rawalpindi
Call Girls in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi call girls
Vip Call Girls in Islamabad
Call Girls in Islamabad
Islamabad call girls
Vip Call Girls in karachi
Call Girls in karachi
karachi call girls
escorts service in lahore
escort in lahore
lahore escorts service
escorts service in Pakistani
Pakistani escorts service
Pakistani call girls






Rawalpindi Escorts Service said...

Welcome the best KK Escorts.pleases visit our website Lahore Escorts Service

escorts in Lahore
escorts service pakistan
escorts in Lahore
escorts in murree

escorts Service Lahore
escorts in pakistan
escorts Service Lahore
escorts murree

escorts pakistan
pakistan escorts
Call girls in pakistan
escorts Lahore
Lahore escorts
Call girls in escorts

Nabiha Khan said...

7Star Simran escorts provide more options like Busty Escorts, Tall & Slim Escorts. Curvy, Elite or Cheap escorts. Celebrity escorts in Jaipur @ provide low prices. Cheap Jaipur escorts and high class girls. Call today to book for Jaipur escorts service for all occasions.
http://www.7starsimranescorts.com/celebrity-escorts-jaipur.html
http://www.7starsimranescorts.com/high-profile-escorts-jaipur.html
http://www.7starsimranescorts.com/call-girls-jodhpur.html
http://www.7starsimranescorts.com/call-girls-udaipur.html

Nabiha Khan said...

Goa Time Spend escorts 24/7 Adult work Goa , Our selection of premium Goa independent escorts will offer you touching sweethearts above our Goa escorts, Call Girls in Goa. Best Russian escorts agency in Goa. Incalls & Outcalls.We offer busty, petite and model looking escorts in Goa. Great Goa escorts services and reputation. The perfect selection of Goa escort girls to full fill all your desires and fantasies.
https://goatimespendescorts.blogspot.com/
https://asiyakapoor01.wixsite.com/goatimespendescorts
https://www.instagram.com/riyamitragoa
https://in.pinterest.com/ak506935/goa-dream-girl-for-time-spend

Anonymous said...

Love Marriage Specialist in Delhi, world famous astrologer to solve your all love marriage issues, Inter-caste marriage problem solution expert in Delhi Call - 9779315277.

love marriage specialist bangalore ###
love marriage specialist jaipur ###
love marriage specialist kolkata ###
http://metatag-analyzer.com/report.php?url=rkloveproblemsolution.com ##
http://malt-orden.info/userinfo.php?uid=301560 ##
https://www.reverbnation.com/rkloveproblem ##

Anonymous said...


Online Vashikaran Specialist Astrologer In Mumbai Pandit Ji

black magic specialist bhopal ###
black magic specialist hyderabad ###
https://torgi.gov.ru/forum/user/edit/1193596.page ###
https://www.free-ebooks.net/profile/1021299/rk-vashikaran-astrologer ###
https://www.chordie.com/forum/profile.php?id=1017538 ###
https://hackerone.com/rkvashikaran?type=user ###

Swami Sonu Shrama Ji said...

Love Marriage Specialist Baba Ji Hyderabad - Astrologer Swami Sonu Shrama Ji Call - 9779526881.

love marriage specialist in gurgaon ###
love marriage specialist in pune ###
https://worldcosplay.net/member/919115 ###
https://livevictoria.com/index.php?user_action=info&userid=359671 ###
http://www.cruzroja.es/creforumvolint_en/user/edit/111395.page ###
https://evermotion.org/portfolios/show/lostsloveback/1357907 ###

Best Vashikaran Specialist said...

A Love Marriage Specialist Astrologer In Pune Can Predict Problems Call Us-8725963685

vashikaran specialist gurgaon ###
vashikaran specialist mumbai ###
https://www.stageoflife.com/MemberProfile/tabid/69/u/1cc10076-fd96-414a-ba34-9ad176d8bcba/Default.aspx ###
https://www.zippyshare.com/vashitotke ###
https://www.affilorama.com/member/vashitotke ###
https://worknhire.com/Contractor/Profile/vashitotke ###
https://impression3d.laposte.fr/en/users/vashitotke ###

madhavikaur said...

High Profile Independent Delhi Escorts Service and best Delhi Call Girls in cheap prices. Call now and get a discount on your first booking.

call girls hauzkhas ###
call girls pitampura ###
call girls mayur vihar ###
call girls paharganj ###
delhi call girls service ###


Mileydsuza said...


Noida call girls hold fame. Well achieving reputation is not easy especially when many others try out their luck in this industry. Our escorts need to work hard to stand out from the crowd
Geeta Colony Independent Escorts ##
Kaushambi Independent Escorts ##
Ghitorni Independent Escorts ##
Gokulpuri Independent Escorts ##
Gole Market Independent Escorts ##
Govindpuri Independent Escorts ##
Greater Kailash Independent Escorts ##
Greater Noida Independent Escorts ##
Green Park Independent Escorts ##
Gtb Nagar Independent Escorts ##

David Jhonson said...

If you wish to spend a passionate meeting with an adult companion in Japan, you are at the right place. EscortFox.com is the leading and most trusted escort directory worldwide. We are currently listing call girls, erotic massages or other escort services in the following cities: For more details visit escort girls in Japan

kiranverma said...

We know that, you are feeling grumpy for a very long time because you are not getting any Call Girls Delhi time to chill or relax. We all are affected by the fast-paced life of ours and it is getting very monotonous day by day.
Ramesh nagar escorts service ##
Model town escorts service ##
Rajendra nagar escorts service ##
Raipur escorts service ##
Noida extension escorts service ##
Jodhpur escorts service ##
Greater noida escorts service ##
Delhi escorts ##
Mahipalpur escorts service ##

romikakkar said...

Hire more sexy & Best Escorts in Hyderabad, Hyderabad call girls service

Hyderabad escorts ***
Independent escort service Hyderabad ***
Hyderabad call girls ***
miyapur call girls ***
kukatpally call girls ***
banjara hills call girls ***
jubilee hills call girls ***
lakdi ka pul call girls ***

Anonymous said...

Top Class Chennai Escorts | Elite Call girls Chennai Available

ambattur escorts ###
Chennai Call Girls ###
Chennai Call Girls ###
Chennai Call Girls ###
Chennai Call Girls ###
Chennai Call Girls ###


anjlinabatra said...




We as well as our Aerocity call girls hold an intention to provide our clients the genuine taste of sensual service but with a class. We make the best effort to include everything premiere in our services.We feel delighted to have you onboard as our prestigious clients who are going to experience the extreme moments of lovemaking with our escorts.
Laxmi Nagar Escorts Service #
Mahipalpur Escorts Service #
Malviya Nagar Escorts Service #
Mayur Vihar Escorts Service #
Mukherjee Nagar Escorts Service #
Munirka Escorts Service #
Paharganj Escorts Service #
Patel Nagar Escorts Service #
Pitampura Escorts Service #

Anonymous said...

Delhi escorts service Delhi is just situated in the middle of India. This place brings many professionals and tourists in the city.

noida call girls
gurgaon call girls
ghaziabad call girls
faridabad call girls
greater noida call girls
saket call girls
rohini call girls

Anonymous said...

hosur escorts ###
jayanagar escorts ###
hebbal escorts ###
ulsoor escorts ###
malleswaram escorts ###
hsr layout escorts ###
marathahalli escorts ###
yelahanka escorts ###
shivaji nagar escorts ###
electronic city escorts ###

Anonymous said...

chandigarh escorts ###
ludhiana escorts ###
mohali escorts ###
amritsar escorts ###

nishaagarwal1 said...

escorts in daryaganj ###
escorts in kirti nagar ###
escorts in mukherjee nagar ###
escorts in gtb nagar ###
escorts in udaipur ###

nishaagarwal1 said...

escorts in gurgaon ###
escorts in greater noida ###
independent call girls Connaught Place ###
russian escorts price ###

Goa Babes said...

ponda escorts service ###
Female escorts in Goa ###
Female escorts in Goa ###
Female escorts in Goa ###
Female escorts in Goa ###
Female escorts in Goa ###
Female escorts in Goa ###

punebabes said...

khandala escorts ###
kondhwa escorts ###
koregaon park escorts ###
kothrud escorts ###
lavasa escorts ###

vinimathur said...

Janakpuri Escorts ||
Paschim Vihar Escorts ||
Aerocity Escorts ||
Cr Park Escorts ||
Rk Puram Escorts ||
Rajouri Garden Escorts ||

tanvikaur said...

kaushambi escorts ####
ghaziabad escorts ####
greater noida escorts ####
noida extension escorts ####
noida escorts ####
kalkaji escorts ####
uttam nagar escorts ####

tanvikaur said...

noida new ashok nagar call girls
noida sector 93 call girls
noida sector 137 call girls
botanical garden call girls

Anonymous said...

Air Hostess Escorts baner $$
Air Hostess Escorts dhayari $$
Air Hostess Escorts hadapsar $$
Air Hostess Escorts hinjewadi $$

Golu said...

Bangalore escorts service: is an call girls agency that provides Celebrity Model Escorts In Bangalore at the lowest price.

Bangalore Escorts Sexy Aunty’s WhatsApp Number $$
Celebrity Model Escorts In Bangalore $$
High Profile Call Girls Bangalore $$
Russian Call Girls Service In Bangalore $$
Unsatisfied Housewife Escorts In Bangalore $$

Sapna said...


Mumbai Escorts $$
Mumbai Escorts Service $$
Mumbai Escorts $$
Call Girl Service Mumbai $$
Air Hostess Escorts Mumabi $$

Sneha Mittal said...

Ahmedabad Escorts Service Girls Dating | Call Girls in Ahmedabad

Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$
Cheap Rates Ahmedabad Call Girls $$

Alisha Pathan said...

Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$
Escorts In Ahmedabad $$

Amy Garg : Russian Escorts in Delhi said...

!! Escorts Service Near Park Plaza Hotel Faridabad

!! Janakpuri escorts service

!! Paschim vihar escorts

!! Russian Escorts in Lajpat Nagar

!! Russian Escorts girls in preet vihar

!! Call Girls Service In Govindpuri

!! Female Escorts Service In Ashram

!! College Call Girls Service Inderlok

Jesika Alba said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Call/Whatsapp+91- 9873777170 Delhi Call Girls & Delhi Escorts Service | Russian Model along with exciting call girls facility available.visit my blog:-
Palam Vihar Gurgaon Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 15 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 22 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 55 and 56 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 47 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 137 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 44 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 39 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 75 & 76 Call Girls &&
Noida Sector 19 Call Girls &&


Jesika Alba said...

This is a really quite interesting web blog and incredible and come to know about it through browsing on Yahoo News. If please sharing your valuable tips on the ways of getting listed on a good social platform like Yahoo News. I tried in the past but couldn't manage to make a breakthrough. Thanks for share a lot of the initial assistance.
VIP TV Celebrity Escorts in Mysore

luxuryescortsinlebanon said...

For more entertainment and enjoyment, you can hire an escort Beirut for a night because at night these girls look very sexy, beautiful and adorable. Therefore, upon seeing them, your mind will rise up to enjoy the pleasure of touching them.
Escort in Lebanon
Escorts Lebanon
Escort Lebanon
Lebanon Escorts
Lebanon Escort
Escorts in Lebanon

luxuryescortsinlebanon said...

Lebanon escorts become more popular countrywide and helps the escort to attract clients. So it provides them Best offers in the booking of escorts in Lebanon. If you are in Beirut, then you can visit the site for a selection of escort girls, a lot of profiles are available.
Escort Lebanon
Escort in Lebanon
Lebanon Escort
Lebanon Escorts
Escort Lebanon
Escorts in Lebanon
Lebanon Escorta

Escorts Beirut said...

Escorts in Beirut are dependably there
for you we are in every case best and better for everybody our young ladies are having
the best stamina and they are having more strains. You can go wherever with our young
ladies like you can book any lodging we are dependably there for you, for your pleasure
we are ideal and better in the general vicinity you can contact with us.
Escort Beirut
Escorts Beirut
Beirut Escort
Escort in Beirut
Beirut Escorts
Escorts in Beirut

Escorts in Islamabad said...

Welcome to VIP Murree Escorts Agency, we are providing Pakistan's most beautiful girls. If you want to spend a night with the VIP Girls of Murree Pakistan then you come to the right place. VIP Murree Escorts

Escorts in Murree
Murree Escorts
Escorts in Abbottabad
Escorts Abbottabad

Innocent shabana said...

Chennai Call Girls - Things To Consider Before Choosing A Chennai Escorts Agency is an ideal place for alluring girls. Its nightlife is very lively and the best time to visit this city is during the Christmas season,
Call Girls Urapakkam &&
Call Girls Madipakkam &&
Call Girls Royapettah &&
Call Girls Anna Salai &&
Call Girls Nugambakkam &&
Call Girls Kolathur &&
Call Girls Ecr Road &&
Kotturpuram Call Girls &&
RA Puram Call Girls &&

Choice Furniture said...

"Buy Old-New Furniture, Electronic Items in Andheri West, Mumbai at Choice Furniture Shop. https://www.choicesfurniture.com
https://www.choicesfurniture.com/ac-service.php https://www.choicesfurniture.com/about-us.php
https://www.choicesfurniture.com/contact-us.php"