As a 20-year-old female college student, I've always dreamed of traveling the world, and the recently opened Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2011 brought this dream a lot closer to home. The grand cultural fair was an ideal place to get some hands-on experience of various cultures, languages and cuisines from around the world.
When I arrived at the tourist complex around Bomun Lake in the ancient capital of the Shilla Dynasty, a looming tower rose into view and the Expo Park was easy to find. Although entering the site was something of an exercise in patience due to the large crowds, I still managed to catch a performance inside the park called "Flying" that I had been hoping not to miss.
The narrative of the performance centers on the Hwarang, an elite set of young men during the Shilla Dynasty, and a goblin. The acting was complemented by humorous interludes, gymnastics and B-boy shows, and the production values and actors' talents were second to none. It was also a great introduction to one of the most colorful episodes of Korea's long history and there were no barriers -- this being ingeniously designed as a non-verbal performance -- impeding my understanding of this presentation of the past.
After the show wrapped up, I headed to Cheonma Hall and was soon enthralled by traditional dances from the various countries assembled there. Korea's fan dance, with its graceful choreography, and the dances of other nations will no doubt remain etched in my mind long after I leave Korea.
Next up was the World Traditional Culture Hall, presenting the traditional clothing, cuisine and housing found in 10 countries from Turkey to Israel and Thailand. The design of the Cambodian pavilion was especially inventive as it felt like I had been transported into the country. I got to play some traditional percussion instruments in front of a photo of Angkor Wat and took some pictures with the local Cambodian staff.
In between traipsing around the pavilions, I took a rest at the Shilla Wanggyeong Forest. This is actually a reconstructed version of the forest where the kings of the Shilla Dynasty used to take their walks. With the autumn wind brushing my face on a bench, I took a much-needed breather before moving on to Gyeongju Tower.
A pagoda carved in the middle of the tower is a full-scale reproduction of the original nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangryongsa Temple. Interestingly, an elevator installed inside the structure eschews the normal marking of which floor you are heading to, and instead informs you of the height you have traveled in meters. In the observatory at the top, I could enjoy a panoramic view of Gyeongju, including Bomun Lake glittering in the sunlight and the various tourist facilities around the lake.
As I walked around the park later, I ate some tidbits from the world traditional food stalls and picked up some souvenirs along the way. When I finished looking around the huge Expo Park, it was already getting dark, and Gyeongju Tower began to come alive with the aid of laser beams, colorful light shows, musical accompaniment and beamed images.
Spectators leaving the park were compelled to stop in their tracks and stare in awe before exiting. As for me, I concluded an unforgettable day straddling Gyeongju and the rest of the world watching Gyeongju Tower light up in a blaze of fiery red.
