John goes Bicycling

Perhaps the most pleasant way to enjoy a city is on two wheels, and Gyeongju is certainly no exception.  The city actually is a cyclists paradise.  The flat geography and large biker friendly sidewalks allow for easy exploration of this great historic area.

We began our tour of the city within one of its many large parks.  The narrow, winding path rolled through large ponds filled with lily pads and blooming flowers.  Cranes gracefully patrolled the waters further enhancing the pastoral scene. We pedaled on to a garden full of a variety of colorful flowers and eventually to the Gyerim Forest.  The wood was full of large gnarled trees looming like ancient guardians of woodlands.  We left the park and bicycled around the countryside and through the rice fields which was a pleasant but exhausting trip.

After a simple lunch we returned to the park. A strange simplistic music floated over the fields.  We quickly cycled toward it in time to see a brightly clad percussion band marching through the forest.  We followed them and ended up at a traditional Korean wedding.

The day was completed with another visit to the lovely lily ponds within the park.  The cool evening breeze had just come in and the day was coming to a comfortable close.  This historic city holds much to be seen and done and in no better  way than on a bike.