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Today was an amazing day! Starrlite's mom and step-dad took me to a Buddhist Temple near where they live. The temple is apparently over 1000 years old. They also introduced me to a guy named Jeong Woo who is studying International Relations in college and wanted to meet me. He wants someone to practice his English with and would like to show me some Korean sites. I was stunned at the beauty and sacredness of the temple. As I passed underneath a covered path that opened up to the main building of the temple, I walked up a few steps but had to stop dead in my tracks midway. I felt compelled to stop and look around at my surroundings. It was if something was telling me to stop and make sure I recognize everything around me and not just rush by. It also felt like I was asking permission to enter the grounds. After a few minutes, I was able to go forward. It was an intense feeling at a beautiful place. As we arrived and for the majority of the time we were there, I could hear a monk chanting over a loud speaker and playing a wooden drum-like instrument and a bell periodically. It was very interesting and soothing to listen to. Before entering the main temple building we took a walk up a steep path. It lead to a stone row of statues. Buddha was cremated and throughout the world his ashes are said to be buried. This is supposed to be one of those places. We walked back and entered the main temple building. We entered with our shoes off via the side entrance because only monks enter through the front. Sunja showed me how to bow as a greeting to Buddha with my hands and palms placed together. I walked around the small area and felt very at peace. It was colorful inside with numerous candles. People come to light candles when a loved one passes to wish them luck for their next reincarnation. I saw the items the monk was using to chant with as well. We departed and met up with Jeong Woo's father at a Japanese restaurant and had an exquisite meal. We sat on the floor around a small traditional table. The servers just constantly kept bringing dish after dish. The traditional way to eat here, is everyone just eats off of the same plates and bowls. If there's a bowl of soup, you all just dip your spoon in the same bowl and chow down. We had numerous types of raw fish, snails, seaweed soup, raw seafood salad, wild mushrooms, roasted garlic cloves, roasted gingko fruit, kim chi, and Soju! Boy-o-boy, what a meal. What I learned today about Korea: 1) The gingko tree has a female and male variety. Only the female bears fruit with the male's help. 2) Buddha is spelled Buddha, not Budda.
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