Autumn Colour
Episode:
Presenter: Melissa King, Trevor Cochrane, Neville Passmore
Autumn brings vibrant colour to the landscape and Nae Jang Sa National Park is the pinnacle. It is a really special place to visit as we just don?t have those large expanses of native deciduous forest back home.
It is part of a massive mountain range that stretches right along the Korean Peninsula. It is always worth a visit to the mountains because the autumn colour is that much more spectacular than at ground level.
You will also find that you will get a more intense show if the season has been a little bit cooler and a little bit dryer.
Korean Tourism actually maps out the peak of Autumn colour across the region. Log onto www.tour2korea.com to find out exactly where to go to capture an amazing display.
The name Naejang means many secrets. There are lots of unexpected treasures. The sacred Naejansan Buddhist temple is located at the top of the valley. It was built in the 6th century and renovated in the 10th century at the height of the Korean Dynasty.
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The main entry is guarded by the four divas and these fearsome creatures are protectors of the faithful. They watch over the temple, covering the four corners of the Earth.
Trevor loves the philosophy and the tradition and deep spirituality make visiting here a uniquely personal experience. The three main buildings are designed for worship with the gold Buddha, a destination for those hoping for enlightenment or a little mystical help with their desires.
The monks also sell handy crafts from the front of the temple and this includes lucky trinkets made from gingko wood and they also make jewellery made from precious stones taken from the region.
The funds that are raised from this are used to support the temple.
Neville decides to take a look at the view from the top of the mountain, which he is told is astounding and rather than going up a very steep slope you can go in total comfort in a funicular cable car. Even on the way up the view is pretty fantastic.
When you get to the top there are 150 steps to the viewing platform, but the view is breathtaking and well worth it. The deciduous trees form a tracery down the valleys and add great contrast to the conifers which are always green. It is a place of great beauty from the panoramas, right down to the scale of a single leaf.
It is well worth spending a full day on the captivating mountain and if you want to then stay at the village at the base of the mountain afterwards. There is terrific accommodation, the restaurants are fantastic, serving the very best cuisine and there is a market packed full of handy crafts that could make a great gift for someone special at home.
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