cycling around historic Gyeongju

Drove to Geoncheon 건천 and parked the car near Geoncheon stadium and started cycling eastwards to Gyeongju 경주 along national highway No. 4. From the west side, you usually cross Seocheon bridge 서천교 to get to downtown of Gyeongju. Took a detour heading south to Bulguksa temple 불국사. The cycle path leads along the bank of Seocheon and Namcheon river. Took some photos around Weoljeong bridge 월정교 recently restored and started south soon. Not far up from there, you can see rice green paddy fields these days. 

The 80 km route covers the roads which runs up mountain pass of Mt. Toham 토함산 via Bulguksa temple and downhill to the point in which national highway No. 4 connecting Gyeongju and Gampo 감포 meets the road. On the way back, you can take the old road partly closed due to landslide and cross the scenic pass named Churyeong 추령재. The road runs along the river between the mountains and the edge of Deokdong 덕동 reservoir and finally connects Bomun 보문 resort, and then runs alongside the bank of Bukcheon 북천 and Seocheon river. Crossed Seocheon bridge and returned back to the starting point, Geoncheon. 

riverside Cycling

Parked the car around HCW(Hapcheon-Changnyeong weir) and started cycling south along the cycling path on or by the bank of Nakdong River. The riverbank has beautiful views of the serene river surrounded by mountains.

History reminds us that this area used to be a ferocious and bloody battlefield during the Korean War(1950–1953). The North Korean communist army had pushed into the west bank of the river from the north with increasing vigor and watched vigilantly for opportunities to cross the river. Then, the US army was deployed to defend the eastern side of the river and finally succeeded in deterring the enemy attack and preventing the enemy army from crossing the river toward the east.

The southbound cyclists will struggle to ride up a steep uphill named Parkjin pass 박진 고개. Some cyclists claim that this could be one of the toughest sections of the entire bicycle path along Nakdong river. Cyclists can also see various scribbles written in Korean and English along the roadside blocks, which describe their own names, lovers' names, wishes, and occasional foul language as they express themselves during tough climbs.

cycling along Coastline

Loaded a bicycle into an SUV and drove to Yeongdeok 영덕, about 2 hours to start cycling. It has been a long-awaited dream to cycle around this rural coastal area where padyatri was raised for a few years during childhood. 

Cycled northwards from Yeongdeok Stadium and turned right past a village named Dogokri 도곡리 in the north and headed eastwards to Chuksan port 축산항. The route either to the south or north from the port leads you to Yeongdeok's most beautiful coastal areas. Panoramic views along the approximately 30 km long coastal road are fabulous. Hiking trails along the east coastline were also launched and named Blue Road. This scenic coastal hiking and cycling are well worth doing.

Buddha Nature

There are no subjects or doers with regards to Buddha and living things, the only one that exists is Karma for every living being. All existences are intrinsically empty. Buddha nature is emptiness and selflessness itself, which is ascertained by dependent origination(pratītyasa- mutpāda in Sanskrit). 

Every living being without exception has the Buddha nature. Intrinsically endowed with the true nature, all sentient beings have already been enlightened regardless of their awareness of this truth. 

Not formed by practice, no anguish to vanish,

Not to be gotten dirty by anguish, not to be purified through practice,

No anguish to be removed, no merit to be gained