Seokguram

Because calling them all KyeongJu [Number] was getting old.





So, what is Seokguram? The signs call it a grotto. I would have called it a rock-cut cave. It's very similar to the Buddhist caves at Ellora. So, there used to be a giant rock. Now there's a kind of temple. antechamber featuring some freizes of guardian dieties and guardian kings, doorway,big Buddha, vaulted ceiling, and it's all one piece. Unlike Ellora, there's a big piece of glass protecting the priceless national treasure. That's probably for the best. (Reminds me of this time in Lebanon when the tour guide told us we were walking on the actual stones laid by the actual Phoenicians and then we all started walking like it was bubble wrap.) But unfortunately it's not special glare-free glass and they don't have the sun effectively blocked. So unfortunately you get a lot of your own reflection obscuring the Buddha. According to J, it's also an excellent place to watch the sunrise, if one wants to get up ridiculously early. For some reason, at Seokguram, there were a lot of soldiers standing about.