Discovering the Rich History and Flavors of Gyeongju, Korea

Gyeongju is a city steeped in rich history, boasting an array of archaeological sites that offer a glimpse into Korea's ancient past. With its peaceful surroundings and scenic views of the river bordered by mountains, the atmosphere in Gyeongju is reminiscent of Kyoto, Japan.

This was my first visit to this fascinating city I discovered thanks to social media. Our first stop on arrival was of course to hunt for some food. After an unfortunate bout of food poisoning that led to a night of spewing my guts out, we were left feeling incredibly ravenous. We came across an interesting restaurant serving soy bean soup called kongguk. The dish had a very unique taste, consisting of a hot broth, made from a mixture of sweet and salty thickened ground soy bean topped with an uncooked egg yolk, glutinous rice balls and finished off with a sprinkling of sesame seeds on top. In addition, we ordered a bowl of delicious Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew) served with a variety of side dishes including fried fish and sticky red rice. The spicy tofu stew was certainly a perfect remedy to the gastroenteritis we suffered. 

                                                                                                                                                             

Next stop was a visit to Gyeongju National Museum, which turned out to be one of the most impressive museums I've ever visited. The exhibits were expertly curated, telling the story of the rise and fall of the Silla Kingdom over a period of more than a thousand years. I highly recommend taking a trip to the museum before exploring the rest of the city, as it will provide you with valuable context and deepen your understanding and appreciation for Gyeongju's rich cultural heritage.

One of my favourite things to do when visiting a new city is to explore the local markets, which always offers a unique insight into the country and the ability to soak up the vibrant atmosphere filled with different types of sights and smells. During our visit to the market, I came across many ajumma (middle-aged Korean women) selling vegetables and strawberries along the roadside.The prices of the strawberries varied, ranging from 5000 to 10000 KRW per kilo depending on their size. It was difficult to decide which vendor to buy from, but we finally settled on one and decided to take the chance.

The smallest strawberries were only 5000 KRW, and to my surprise, they turned out to be the juiciest and sweetest strawberries I've ever tasted. However, it did make me wonder how these vendors managed to eke out a living, as most of them were selling very similar types of food. I certainly felt that it was a great experience to try the local produce and support the local economy at the same time.

During our trip, we visited a local coffee shop with gorgeous Japanese-inspired architecture, complete with wooden paneling and white walls. However, our excitement quickly turned to disappointment when we took a sip of our coffee and found it to be burnt. We also came across a elegant pastry shop that looked like it had been plucked straight out of a food magazine. Our mouths watered as we perused the delicate cakes on display, but our taste buds were left unfulfilled as the offerings lacked the intricate flavours we had come to expect from Seoul's pastry shops. It was a reminder that looks can be deceiving, and that even the most stunning of appearances can't make up for lacklustre taste.

One evening, we ventured off to have some Korean BBQ at a highly rated spot on google maps, however we weren't too impressed as the quality and portions of meat provided did not commensurate with the price charged. To make matters worse, my brother was upset that he had to grill the meat himself. He was feeling very stressed as he was worried he might under or overcook the meat and would gladly have paid extra for someone else to cook it. We left unsatisfied as our appetites were not satiated. 

On our way back we stumbled upon a famous restaurant Sukyeong Sidang (숙영식당) by chance serving pajeon, a type of Korean pancake. The green onion pancake dish was impeccable; crispy and fragrant with just the right amount of seasoning. We washed it down with homemade dong dong ju, (a type of rice wine) that perfectly complemented the flavours of the dish. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very cosy as it is housed in an old hanok (traditional Korean house). The friendly owner even came and chatted with us, making us feel like we were dining at a friend's house.  We also struck up a brief conversation with some Korean guys at the next table, who kindly offered us a mushroom omelette to try after I inquisitively enquired about their order. Even though the pajeon was slightly pricey for a vegetarian dish, I felt it was worth the money as it was delicious.

All in all, I was left slightly underwhelmed with the food scene in Gyeong-ju perhaps our expectations were simply too high, having been spoiled by the incredible culinary experiences we had during our time in Jeju Island. Do bear in mind that everyone's tastes and preferences are different or maybe we went to the wrong places, and just because we didn't find the food in Gyeong-ju to be exceptional doesn't mean that others won't enjoy it. It's all part of the adventure and discovery of exploring new places and experiencing a different culture.