City of Gyeongju

Seoul - Daegu - Gyeongju - Woke up at 8am with 1 hour to freshen up and get ready to check out of Mariott Courtyard TimeSquare Hotel.  Young Jin will arrive at 9am and we leave for KTX station bound for Daeju city to meet our customer.   I left my big luggage at the Hotel and took toiletries, T-shirt and shorts for this trip.  Both Young Jin and I are not sure what is in store for us as our customer insist on booking the rooms.

We had breakfast at the KTX station later board the high-speed train on platform 8 bound for Daegu. I had cold dry noodles - my first time.

Dry Naengmyeon

Daegu city is being host to one of the most popular sporting event in the World - 13th World Championships in Athletics - 27 Aug to 4 Sept 2011.  

Advertisement at Daegu KTX station

We were met at the station and was immediately driven to Gyeongju city about 1 1/2 hr drive away for our lunch.   The restaurant is very traditional Hankook (Traditional Korean house).

Our restaurant

menu on a fan

bean apetitiser

Poster of an Anime at the restaurant

Kalbijim

Kalbijim is the 2nd most popular Korean beef dish after Bulgogi.  Meaty short ribs are marinated in traditional seasonings, then cooked long and slow until the meat gelatins form a deep, rich glaze. By the time it is done, the tender beef is practically falling from the bones, and the sauce is thick with flavor.

Next comes our liquor and it comes in a clay bottle.

Our liquor

And there was froth on top of the liquor

and more and more food.....

Rice with chestnuts wrapped in lotus leaf

Fish cooked in spicy chilli sauce

Rice with Gingko nut, red dates and mushrooms

Many side dishes of Kimchi and preserved tofu

Rice wrapped in Lotus leaf

Refreshing fruity drink