I love last minute plans. We’re going to Bogyeongsa for a little hike!
Caught the 510 bus from somewhere around Pohang bus terminal. The bus journey was around 1 hour. And guess how much is the bus ticket?
It was only KRW1500 ~ USD1.50
That is dirt cheap for a one hour bus ride.
The ride didn’t seem too long especially when you keep talking on the bus. So here we are at Bogyeongsa. You’ll be greeted with shops and restaurants before you start the hike.
Saw some interesting things while walking through the little town of Bogyeongsa.
One of them are these vulgar looking bottles. Maybe it’s the Tongkat Ali of Korea?
Mat and Jay stopped for a little snack before the hike. They had some fish cakes. Wasn’t tasty enough according to Mat. Jay also bought some “friends” for us to try.
Meet our friends:
I have nooooooo idea what it is. It isn’t something I would like to pop in my mouth.
But with a deep breath and a “just do it” mind, I popped this little thing into my mouth…
…started chewing it… quickly swallowed it… and desperately looked for a drink to wash it down.
NO THANK YOU for the second one. No way jose! That was enough to make my whole body squirm!
brrrr…
Saw a Ahjussi pressing oil from a tiny nut. I don’t know what nut. But it’s cool.
Walking towards the entrance:
Bought entrance tickets.
Which is cheap too. Only ~USD2.50
Entrance gate:
Chinese influenced design:
This is Bogyeongsa Temple. We’ll see more of it after the hike.
Good to get away from the city. Surrounded by trees…
… water…
… rocks…
What more could you ask? Nature is always refreshing to the soul.
Rayda and Jay standing on some rocks
Amazing sceneries everywhere you turn:
Saw a lot of squirmy friends around. Rayda was terrified of them.
Don’t you just feel like splashing around?
Jay was trying to build a bridge for me to cross because I didn’t want to get my shoes wet. How gentleman of him :”>
This looks like a lovely spot for a picnic.
Rayda couldn’t agree more!
Jay baking himself on a rock.
The great company!
The water is extremely clear. There are even fishes in the water.
Jay and Rayda are like mountain goats. They climbed to the top of the cliff like nobody’s business.
Mat found a baby squirmy friend on a stick.
A picture for keepers!
Mat made Kimbap for our picnic meal.
This place is surrounded by peaks of Mt Naeyeonsan. And the place boasts 12 beautiful waterfalls.
This next picture is the 2nd last waterfall I think.
A lot of people come here to hike the easy trail, and have a picnic.
This is the final, and grandest waterfall here.
It’s funny to find a coffee and tea vending machine here. Unfortunately this machine is out of order.
Someone made a pile of rocks… a covenant maybe?
Don’t you just feel like jumping into the water for a swim? Btw… the water is still freezing at this time of the year.
Mat was excited to find a weir (related to his Phd). This is a manual weir.
Saw two friends circling the thing non stop.
At the foot of the mountain, is the Bogyeongsa Temple. I’m not sure whether these lanterns are always there or not, because I saw them hanging around the city of Pohang, because Buddha’s birthday is around the corner, 28th May.
This tree is interesting. It’s half dead, yet, it’s still alive.
Some sort of tofu.
Made from these nuts. Gingko nuts?
They even provide air pressure jets to clean your shoes after the hike.
After the hike, we still had some time left before catching the next bus home. Jay chose a restaurant that he always frequents when he comes here, he’s not sure why, and ordered a rice drink. It’s a fermented rice drink. Tastes alcoholic to me.
And also what they call a Korean pizza. When it came, Mat said, this isn’t pizza. It’s a pancake!
The “pizza” is full of spring onion, squid, and flour.
The menu:
Refreshing air, beautiful scenery, an awesome hike, good company, interesting snacks, and a little “drink”…. this… is… pure… J.O.Y!
All glory to God for His marvelous creation. Makes me want to sing:
J.O.Y that is down in my heart,
Deep deep down in my heart
Jesus put it there
and nothing can destroy, destroy, destroy, destroy!
J.O.Y that is down in my heart,
Deep deep down in my heart!
Beautiful scenary, awesome hike but the food…….?
Food is not fantastic. A month here, and I still don’t like the food. I can only count with 1 hand the food that I like to eat here.
Very nicely described. I wanted to take my family and searched for information about the temple and the place. I found your blog, and it was handy. We went up to the 7th waterfall. We started hiking approximately at 10 am, and we came back to the bottom at 3 pm. We ordered 오리불고기 for lunch, and it was not that bad.