Byeonsan Peninsula (Puan)

So one of my favorite places in Korea is Puan. I was told the Jikso Waterfalls were a cool place to go by our DMZ tourguide, and she was right. After a bus ride down the coast, and then a city bus across town, I made it to the entrance to Naesosa Temple and Jikso Waterfalls. There seems to be several ways to spell words here, so if you see slightly different names in the pictures, that's why.

Anyways, I couldn't find anyone willing to go on this excursion with me, so I decided to brave it alone. All I had to do was make it back through the gate by 2100 hours, or I'd be busted by the night time "buddy" policy, daytime it's only encouraged to have one.
I get to the Byeonsan Peninsula National Park and decide to hike up the mountain to see Jikso Falls first, and then swing on by Naesosa Temple after.

What a hike; I had no idea it would be so long and mountainy! I had no water and I was wearing jeans and crappy sneakers that had no traction on 'em. I was sliding all over that mountain!

So here's some pics:














The ocean, to the south of "Mount Kill-Me"













This trip was on 2 October, and these were the very first Autumn leaves I had seen.














Good place for a rest













After scaling and descending two freakin' mountains, I found Jikso Waterfalls:



















I couldn't decide between the two photos, so here's another shot.



















Some people "on top of 'ole Jikso, all covered in cheese"














So I came back down those mountains and hit Naesosa Temple, built in 633. This main hall was built in 1633, during the reign of King Injo of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). They fitted together meticulously-cut pieces of wood, without using a single metal nail. I'd have sprung for the nails, but that's just how I roll!












I thought this water lily was kinda cool.















And here's another cool building with a mountain behind it.













Next Post: Monkey School!!