[just get here?...you can read part 1 here]

Ahem…

[putting on my best tour guide voice]

In 1938 Korea was occupied by Japanese forces at the beginning of what was to become WWII.

The Governor-General at the time decided he needed to protect all the historical, cultural & artistic items of the Joseon dynasty. So a law was passed & a list was created.

Numbered one by one, each national treasure was then given protection under the act and over the years the act expanded to cover every South Korea national treasure.

This is number 225.

[graceful hands directing you to the center of the compound]

It’s a marble stacked pagoda that was built in 1472.

If we actually had a real tour guide of our own on this trip, I would’ve known to look for the lotus blossoms & dragons carved on each side. I would’ve zoomed in as close as possible & taken pictures.

But we didn’t…so I didn’t…but at least I got this one.

There are a couple of other national treasures here…number 226 is just back this way.

I hope you wore good shoes….Ready to climb?

[cheesey tour guide laugh]

Whew!…I’m wishing I wore better shoes. I don’t know what I was thinking wearing these flip-flops.

Number 226 is a multi-layered mud brick pagoda.

And somewhere, …written in Korean – ahh, duh…, is what I believe to be the only known information on it.

But all I could find of the translation online is that it was renovated in 1726.

Next up is number…number…fudge, now I can’t find it.

Well, let’s call it number 227.

And you’ve got to climb a few more steps.

It’s a stone stele….

…and I can’t find a lick about it anywhere online.

But look at how intricate the writing is.

But let’s head back down…

Off to the side of the mud-brick pagoda are some grave markers of a few of the temple’s important monks.

Although I have no idea what they’re called, who’s grave they mark or how long they’ve been there.

But they look old.

[said optimistically]

 We’re about halfway through the tour now.

So if you need to go potty, the restroom is back down in the middle of the compound.

Blue is for boys. Red is for girls.

Just meet back here in 5 minutes so you don’t get separated from the rest of the group.