Spring in Korea 2015 (Part 1) ~ 15-day itinerary

 

 

The flowers are blooming, signaling that spring will soon arrive.  The bitter winter will soon be over!  Get ready to enjoy the clear sky and breezy cool air!

Every moment in the cold is precious, for only those of us who stay in the tropical countries will know why. 

Here's my itinerary for the 15-day Korea trip.  Stay tuned for the travel details!

Day 1: Seoul
Day 2 to 3: Haeinsa Templestay
Day 4: Gyeongju
Day 5 to 8: Busan
Day 9 to 10: Songgwangsa Templestay
Day 11 to 12: Suncheon
Day 13 to 15: Seoul

Here's a preview of the 5 temples (UNESCO sites included) I have visited.

Cheers!


Related posts:
Preview of Temples in Korea and Templestay (click here)
Airline Promotions to Korea - Summer/Autumn 2015 (click here)

[New & Upcoming] Templestay and Temple-hopping in Korea

Hello everyone, it has been a while since I blog about my travel experiences.  I have just returned from a 2-week templestay cum temple-hopping trip in Korea.  There is so much to share about this unique and tranquil experience visiting these temples that are more than 15-centuries old, and located in the mountains.  For a preview of the itinerary, click on this link.

A year ago, I read about the Three-Jewel temples in Korea.  The three-jewel is of great significance in Mahayana Buddhism and it refers to the Buddha, Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) and the Sangha (the Buddhist community who's role is to actively propagate of the Dharma after the Buddha's passing).  I was totally excited and had this travel plan in mind for a year and it finally came into fruition

Some background about Buddhism in Korea.  After a long journey through China, Buddhism arrived in Goguryeo, one of the three ancient Korean kingdoms, in A.D. 372.  From there, it travelled further south to another Korean kingdom, Baekje, about a decade later and then finally to Silla about a century later.  Buddhism thrived most during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. to A.D. 935) and was persecuted under the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1910).  Korean Buddhism has their unique and distinct features based on historical relics.  Through this journey, the uniqueness are evident from the infrastructure and culture of Korean Buddhism.

Tongdosa Temple in South Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangnam-do) represents the first jewel - the Buddha.  Haeinsa Temple, also in South Gyeongsang Province represents the second jewel - the Dharma.  Songgwangsa Temple, in South Jeolla Province (Jeollanam-do) represents the third jewel - the Sangha.

Having in mind the triple-jewel is an important practice for Buddhist for it is the constant reflection and reminder of the Buddha's teaching that enable us to develop compassion and wisdom.  These are the key qualities of all Bodhisattvas and Buddha which enable them to liberate the sufferings of all sentient beings.

Here's a sneak preview of the 3 key temples for this trip. 

 Tongdosa Temple (通度寺）

 Haeinsa Temple （海印寺）

 



Songgwangsa Temple （松广寺）

We also took the opportunity to visit 2 other UNESCO sites, the Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto (a stone-cave hermitage).  Bulguksa Temple is unique because within this temple, we can meet all the "Three Bodies of Buddhas at the Vairocana Hall, Paradise Hall and Hall of Great Hero.  The Avalokitesvara Hall is located right next to the Vairocana Hall.  As such, it was said that this temple features all the Buddhism's most celebrated "superstars".

Bulguksa Temple (佛国寺）

 

 

Seokguram Grotto (石窟庵）

And since I was in Busan, we also made a trip to visit Beomeosa Temple.  This temple is known as the temple where the fish from Nirvana play.  Elaborations about the temple will be shared in my later post.

Beomeosa Temple (梵鱼寺）

If you plan to take a route less-travelled in Korea, experience about templestay and accomodations in those cities that I visited, keep a lookout for my postings!!


Related post:
15-day itinerary in Korea (click here)
Airline promotions to Korea - Summer/Autumn 2015 (click here)
Airline promotions to Korea - Winter 2015 (click here)

Airline Promotions to Korea - Singapore to Seoul / Busan (Autumn 2013)

[Note: For Autumn 2015 travel deals, please refer to this page.]

The autumn season is soon to arrive again... other than spring, autumn is the next best time to visit the land of the morning calm.  Enjoy the beauty of the autumn leaves, the gentle cool breeze and the occasional chilly nights.  Savour hotpots, BBQs or fried chicken with beer.  Have a leisure stroll in the parks, palaces, university campuses or even the street of gangnam.  Have a sip of coffee at the theme cafes or some soju in the tentage street stalls.  Shop at the Dongdaemun wholesale centre, fashionable downtown Myeongdong or check out the Namdaemun traditional market.  There's just so much to do and never enough time.

Some airlines have started marketing and giving promotional airfares to the early birds.  Visit or subscribe to my blog to receive updates on airfare promotions.


Asiana Airlines


[Promotion Ended]

Singapore to Seoul : SGD 751.79 [Promotion Ended]
Booking Period: 1 Aug to 31 Aug 2013
Travel Period: 1 Aug 2013 to 21 Nov 2013
Min/Max Stay: nil/6M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Direct Flight

Details: www.airfares.com.sg


Singapore to Seoul : SGD 692 [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 1 Jul to 31 Jul 2013
Travel Period: 1 Sep 2013 to 15 Nov 2013
Min/Max Stay: nil/6M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Direct Flight

Details: www.airfares.com.sgSingapore to Seoul : SGD 783 [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 1 Jul to 31 July 2013
Travel Period: 16 Nov 2013 to 30 Nov 2013
Min/Max Stay: nil/6M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Direct Flight

Details: http://www.newshan.com/airfare/Promotions/Asiana_Airlines/1213.html


Korean Air

Singapore to Seoul: SGD 785 (Gift from the Sky II Promotion) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 15 Oct to 15 Nov 2013
Travel Period: 18 Oct 2013 to 31 Mar 2014

Details can be found at http://www.koreanair.com/local/sg/ld/eng/tp/pm/ps_subList.jsp?promoid=18


Singapore to Seoul: SGD 723

Booking Period: 5 Aug to 14 Sep 2013 (Promotion Ended)
Travel Period: 1 Nov 2013 to 15 Jan 2014
Max Stay: 1 months
Round Trip Economy Class

Details: www.airfares.com.sg


Singapore to Seoul: SGD 759 (Natas Promo Fare) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 16 Jul to 31 Aug 2013
Travel Period: 16 Aug to 14 Nov 2013
Max Stay: 6 months
Round Trip Economy Class

Details: http://www.koreanair.com/local/sg/ld/eng/ft/ne/20130724_95160.jsp

Singapore to Seoul : SGD 795 (Pre-Natas One-to-go Promo Fare) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period : 18 Jun to 17 Jul 2013
Travel Period : 18 Jun to 31 Oct 2013
Min / Max Stay : nil / 6 months
Round Trip Economy Class
Direct Flight

Details: http://www.koreanair.com/local/sg/ld/eng/ft/ne/20130624_94746.jsp

Singapore Airlines

Singapore to Seoul : SGD 788 (Minimum 1 to travel) [Promotion Ended]
Booking Period : until 18 Oct 2013
Travel Period : 1 Oct 2013 to 24 Jan 2014
Special Condition : Not applicable for outbound travel from Singapore from 10 Nov to 31 Dec 2013
Min/Max Stay: 3 / 14 Days
Round Trip Economy Class
Check out details and flight restrictions from website:

http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/special-offers/fare-deals-listing/

Singapore to Seoul : SGD 728 (Minimum 1 to travel) [Promotion Ended]
Booking Period : From 1 Aug to 15 Sep 2013
Travel Period : 1 Oct 2013 to 24 Jan 2014
Special Condition : Not applicable for outbound travel from Singapore from 10 Nov to 15 Dec 2013
Min/Max Stay: 3 / 14 Days
Round Trip Economy Class
Check out details and flight restrictions from website:

http://www.singaporeair.com/jsp/cms/en_UK/promotions/singapore-promotions.jsp


Singapore to Seoul : SGD 708 (Minimum 2 to travel) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period : From 4 Jul to 19 August 2013
Travel Period : 15 July to 30 Sep 2013 (please note the blackout periods from the website)
Min / Max Stay : 3 / 14 Days
Round Trip Economy Class
Direct Flight Outbound Flights: SQ600 or SQ602
Inbound Flights: SQ607 or SQ609

Details: http://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/special-offers/fare-deals-listing/


Cathay Pacific

Singapore to Seoul at SGD737 (Two-to-go Promotion) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 1 May to 31 Oct 2013
Travel Period: 1 May 2013 to 31 Mar 2014
Min/Max Stay:  2D/1M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Stopover at Hong Kong

Details: www.airfares.com.sg


Singapore to Seoul/Busan/Jeju at SGD613.18 to $637.80 (DBS and POSB Card Promotion) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 18 Jul to 6 Sep 2013
Travel Period: 18 Jul to 30 Nov 2013
Min/Max Stay:  2D/1M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Stopover at Hong Kong

Details: www.airfares.com.sg


Early Bird Fare from Singapore to Seoul at SGD611 or Singapore to Busan at SGD605 [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: Until 17 July 2013
Travel Period: 16 Nov 2013 to 16 Jan 2014
Min/Max Stay:  2D/1M
Round Trip / Economy Class
Flight / date change permitted within ticket validity with amendment fee of SGD200 per person per change after ticket issuance.
Stopover at Hong Kong

Details:  http://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_SG/latest-offers/flights.html


Singapore to Seoul at SGD600.20 (ANZ Card Promotion) [Promotion Ended]

Booking Period: 1 Jul to 17 Jul 2013
Travel Period: 1 Jul to 15 Nov 2013
Min/Max Stay:  2D/1M
Round Trip / Economy Class

Details: www.airfares.com.sg

More promotions will be added when available.  Do keep me posted too, if you come across airfare promos to Korea!

Related Posts:
- Airfare Promotions to Seoul/Busan/Jeju (Click here)
- Flight Options to Jeju (Click here)
- Gangwon-do: Chuncheong Dakgalbi (Click here)
- Exploring Korean Traditional Markets on Subway Line 5 (Click here)
- Korean Fried Chicken Culture (Click here)