May

These Beginning pics are from our latest field trip to a display of famous monuments around the world. The one picture with our arms out was when we pretended to ‘fly’ to the different countries. This was my favorite field trip. People are so ingenious and capable of so much. I really felt/could see that when you put the whole world’s architectural accomplishments beside each other.

Last weekend, was Buddha’s Birthday. Yes Buddha apparently has a Birthday, well so does Jesus right?, and it is a Holiday in Korea, just as Christmas is… assahhh! On Buddha’s actually Birthday (Monday), a group of us, Cara, Roberta, Sweet, Daniel, Erin, and I went into Seoul to check out some Buddha temples that are in the city. We first stopped at one outside of COEX. I am so happy we did. It was crazy busy but the temple was adorned with beautiful colourful hanging lanterns everywhere! The previous weekend we had missed a parade of paper lanterns that look like paper sculptures. I was choked as I have known about Buddha’s birthday and have planned to attend some festivities since literally before I got to Korea. I thought that the majority of the festivities would be taking place on this Monday instead of the previous weekend when we were in Kyongju. In the end, it all did work out as this first temple had a room filled with these large paper lantern sculptures all lit up. They were breathtaking!!!!

From there, we went to temple number two to see the actual lighting of the lanterns. There were many monks around who chanted a little (even some toddler monks… seriously the most adorable thing) and then beat some drums… and voila they ‘turned on the lights) … of course they are all electricity now. It was a little bright out at 6 pm when this all happened so the group of us went for dinner and then came back to see the lanterns it in full effect.

The previous day we went on a crazy hike, Roberta, Cara, and myself. Literally it was like being a mountain goat. Koreans love their hiking and it is so funny to me because you ride the subway to get to these “mountains” to hike. And it was no easy feat we were huffing and puffing but it was nice to be in some relatively ‘clean’ air and surrounded by trees!!! The funniest part was on our way down we saw a man and his girlfriend drinking on a rock… he said… hey you haven’t experienced the Korean way to hike until you have “the outdoors, Bacali (Rice strong liquour wine), and dried kimchi.. think cabbage jerky!!!” I don’t know how he was going to get down as he was quite intoxicated but… “cheers” I suppose!