My last full day in Korea was spent in Gyeongju. We started by checking out of our hanok and writing thank you notes before walking to get breakfast. We found a charming café decorated with cat figurines (and a live cat) that had balcony seating. We enjoyed our beverages in the sun watching the activities below. What a gorgeous day! And the best was yet to come.
Goodbyes and thanks
View along walking path
Coffee and sunshine
We had to walk back to the hanok one final time to pick up our bags from the office, where Caroline's friend Jinhyang and her mother picked us up and drove us to see special king cherry blossoms (also known as double-flowered cherry blossoms) and the Bulguksa Temple.
Friends amongst the cherry blossoms
Bulguksa Temple
The 다보탑 (Dabotap) Pagoda, featured on the ₩10 coin
Beacuse the geometry teacher in me just loves this!
Wishes and prayers
In a trip filled with amazing experiences, my final evening was spent in the best possible way. Jinhyang's mother invited us into her home for a cooking class and dinner. She prepared all of the ingredients ahead of time, and cooked the rest of the courses while Jinhyang walked us through cooking, rolling, and cutting kimbap. Kimbap are Korean rice rolls that look a lot like sushi but, in truth, are nothing like it. The rolls we made used sesame oil in the rice and a variety of fillings, including meats, imitation crab, ham, eggs, kimchi, and seaweed. Most everything we ate was grown by their family, and they served homemade wine! I really appreciated the entire evening. It was so wonderful to end my trip with delicious home cooking, laughter, and friendship!
짠 Cheers!