Home & Away with Robert Walshe
www.robertwalshe.com
Holiday Hotspot – Hilton Gyeongju
- South Korea www.hilton.com
Gyeongju in South Korea has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s most important ancient cultural cities. From the first to the tenth centuries, Gyeongju reigned as the spiritual, cultural, and political heart of the Korean peninsula, a city of immense wealth and power. When it unified the three major kingdoms it became the first, truly unified Korean state (The Shilla Kingdom) which continued to prosper
■ Hilton Gyeongju South Korea
well into 1000 AD. Gyeongju’s beauty is enhanced by the fact that it is far less congested than many cities in South Korea, with tree-lined streets and colourful flowers. Tourism in the city remains the major economic driver, but manufacturing activities have developed due to its proximity to major industrial centres such as Ulsan and Pohang. Nearby Bulguksa Temple is a testimony to both the skills of Silla architects and the depth of Buddhist faith. It is home to seven National treasures of South Korea, in-
cluding the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, Cheongungyo (Blue Cloud Bridge), and two gilt-bronze statues of Buddha. The temple is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can see an array of cultural, religious, and artistic treasures at the Gyeongju National Museum. Its exhibits give additional background on the sophisticated civilization that existed here for a millennium. The most visible signs of Gyeongju’s illustrious past are burial tombs. Nearly 700 have been discovered within the city outskirts. Some have been excavated, revealing rich caches of jewelry, weapons, decorative items, earthenware, and other artifacts. The best place to view them is Tumulus Park on the southern edge of downtown. The park offers a serene place to stroll amid more than a dozen of the grass-covered mounds, some rising to heights of seventyfive feet. One of the mounds has been turned into a small museum, allowing visitors to walk inside its inner chamber
For our best deals call 0044 28 9038 1111 or visit www.mooneyhotelgroup.com and see reproductions of the exquisitely crafted jewelry and weaponry that were found inside. Overlooking a scenic lake, the newly refurbished luxurious Hilton Gyeongju is located within Bomun Tourist Complex in historical Gyeongju. Boasting numerous dining options, it also has a seasonal outdoor pool, large indoor pool and squash courts. Light colours are comple■ Bulguksa Templ mented by elegant e South Korea wooden furnishings, giving each spacious room in Hilton Gyeongju a offers delicious Szechuan modern feel. Hilton Gyeongju and Cantonese dishes. Other is a 15-minute drive from dining options include an inGyeongju Railway Station ternational buffet at Lakeside and a 25-minute drive from Cafe, Mediterranean fare at the UNESCO World Heritage Da Vinci and Japanese food Site of Seokguram Grotto. at Genji. Drinks are available Singyeongju KTX Station at the hotel’s 2 bars. www. is a 30-minute drive away. hilton.com Turkish airlines The hotel is a 1-hour drive offer super connections from from Pohang Airport and a Dublin to Seoul or Busan in 1-hour, 30-minute drive from South Korea via Istanbul. On Gimhae Airport. For a good long-haul flights, first, busiworkout, guests can visit the ness & economy class paswell-equipped gym. The hotel senger’s feast on authentic also has a business centre Turkish and international and a beauty salon.Silkroad dishes and the “in flight” ex-
perience leaves other carriers trailing far behind. The new business lounge for passengers connecting at Istanbul to Korea will leave you breathless and for me is the finest of its kind in the world. For best fares visit www.turkishairlines.com Robert Walshe is a travel broadcaster with Q Radio Network and Travel Editor for River Media newspaper titles across the island of Ireland. www.robertwalshe.com