Three sites visited in one day.

1. Today - Thursday 19th October 2006, we set off to see the fortess here in GONGJU called GONGSANSEONG, as it happens it is just across the other side of the river from the hotel.

Well it's an old garrison really with the outline of where buildings were and some have been rebuilt, but it is set on a hill so we were able to have a wander around it for a while. It also seems to be the local meeting place for retired Koreans as there were quite a lot of them walking and sitting and talking. As we were leaving loads of school children arrived - almost every one of them saying hello to us - we were a bit of a novelty I think, that was good timing - leaving when they were arriving.

2. Where to next, well we headed back to the bus station and set off for NONSEN, then a bit out of town to see the biggest stone Buddah in Korea. For once there was reall old stuff here - well the Buddha and a Stone lantern and a Stone Pagoda, oh and they were preparing for a Budhist Ceremony, which seemed to involve lots of sweet food. This place was really quite impressive, but we were the only tourists there.

Outside the Temple was a large lake of Lotus Flowers, unfortunately they had finished flowering and were now seeding, except for one or two, which gave an indication of their beauty when in full bloom.

3. We caught the bus back to NONSEN, and headed for BU YEO, this was the centre of the BAKJKE Kingdom in the 6th & 7th century - no I did not know that either. Apparantly they found at King Muryeongs Tomb (a bit along the lines of the Pharoes in Egypt - not quite up to Tut's standars) a whole host of artifacts, the best one was a very impressive a BAECKJE GILT BRONZE INCENSE BURNER, which was pretty big, and something special. We saw this and other relics at the local museum. Again there were hordes of young school children - they were not really interested in the relics being displayed but they all went around in single file - shuffling past every exhibit.

Outside there were a few more stone Budhas and Lanterns. At one stage we were surrounded by one of the classes of children, saying Hello, what's your name, do you like soccer, - ahh Beckham, oh yes Rooney. It was fun really.

After this we strolled back to the bus station and came back to GONGJU, where our hotel was.

We continued with our attempt to eat something different for dinner each night, so tonight we had intestines (we simply pointed at a picture on the window, thinking it was a chicken dish) - I have to say they were a bit rubbery, and not the best meal we have had, but it was cheap at 20,000 Won for us both including beer.

Afterwards we strolled towards the river and there were all these people, roller skating, walking, running and playing football next the the floodlit river - quite surprising. Tommorrow we return to Incheon.