Well, I can honestly say that the last day has been very interesting. Yesterday (Thursday) we loaded up on a bus after lunch and went to a temple complex of the Jogye Order of Buddhists. The temple is located up in the mountains (think Okanogan not Banff) near Ulsan. This had been one of the activities that I had been looking most forward to on this trip. After we arrived at the temple, we were met by one 
of the monks who escorted us to the main temple where we would be staying in the basement (the basement was quite modern, not what I had expected.) We were given pants and a top to wear and my top was quite small. It was a vest and my arms just barely fit through the holes making it slightly uncomfortable for the entire time I had to wear it. We were then given a tour of the main part of the grounds and then taken in to watch and take part in a traditional Korean tea ceremony. This was followed by dinner.
of the monks who escorted us to the main temple where we would be staying in the basement (the basement was quite modern, not what I had expected.) We were given pants and a top to wear and my top was quite small. It was a vest and my arms just barely fit through the holes making it slightly uncomfortable for the entire time I had to wear it. We were then given a tour of the main part of the grounds and then taken in to watch and take part in a traditional Korean tea ceremony. This was followed by dinner. Some of my friends had been warned by people who had done the program before that the food was terrible. This was an exaggeration but compared to some of the
other wonderful food in Korea, this was definitely sub-par. We were given a bundle that had four bows, some utensils (chopsticks and a spoon which is a basic Korean table setting), and a towel all bundled in some cloth. We sat on mats on the floor and had a very precise way to do everything from unpack our bowls, to bowing, and eating. Every third person went a got a tray of "sides" (kimchi, large beans, sprouts, and yellow radish. The monks came around and put water into one of the bowls which we used to rinse each of the other bowls ending with the water in the original bowl it was in. Then the monks came around with a large bucket of rice and scooped you as much as you wanted into your rice bowl followed by the same thing but with a tofu soup into your soup bowl. You then took your sides making sure to take a yellow radish. After eating (you were required to eat everything you took), you portioned your water into each of the bowls and used your radish to clean the bowls. Then you eat the radish and drink the water. The monks then come around with the leftover water from making the rice and give you some which you must also eat. The point is that you are not supposed to waste anything. After this you wipe your bowls and utensils and repackage them for use the next day.
other wonderful food in Korea, this was definitely sub-par. We were given a bundle that had four bows, some utensils (chopsticks and a spoon which is a basic Korean table setting), and a towel all bundled in some cloth. We sat on mats on the floor and had a very precise way to do everything from unpack our bowls, to bowing, and eating. Every third person went a got a tray of "sides" (kimchi, large beans, sprouts, and yellow radish. The monks came around and put water into one of the bowls which we used to rinse each of the other bowls ending with the water in the original bowl it was in. Then the monks came around with a large bucket of rice and scooped you as much as you wanted into your rice bowl followed by the same thing but with a tofu soup into your soup bowl. You then took your sides making sure to take a yellow radish. After eating (you were required to eat everything you took), you portioned your water into each of the bowls and used your radish to clean the bowls. Then you eat the radish and drink the water. The monks then come around with the leftover water from making the rice and give you some which you must also eat. The point is that you are not supposed to waste anything. After this you wipe your bowls and utensils and repackage them for use the next day.We then constructed some paper lanterns that we were going to use in a ceremony later that evening. The lanterns, when completed looked like lotus flowers and I think it was fairly easy but had a very nice result. Unfortunately, it began to rain rather hard and the ceremony, which was to held at an outdoor stupa containing relics from the Buddha, had to be canceled.
We then went into the temple where the prayer service was already underway. The service was very beautiful with the sound of the monks chanting and the sound of the nearby river flowing providing a very relaxing atmosphere. Unfortunately, due to the fact that they rushed us into the hall, some in the group were quite noisy going in and some people were taking pictures with their flash cameras. The head monk was not very impressed and gave the monk who was looking after us a good tongue lashing when the service was over.
Another monk then gave us a talk about Buddhism and we then headed to bed. We were each give a pillow and 2 blankets (1 thicker than the other) and we found a spot on the floor (guys in one room, girls in another) and that was our bed for the night (definitely Korean style). It was only 10 o'clock when we went to bed but we had to be up at 3 AM! We went to the morning prayer service (this time with strict orders on what to do and not do) and then had a meditation session. This was followed by breakfast, which was almost exactly the same as the dinner the night before.
We took a beautiful hike through the hillside and
bush to another temple. It was a beautiful morning with a misty blanket of fog falling around everything. We followed a small river/stream and passed rice patties, places where the monks had lotuses growing, and a small pond with lotus growing in it. The temple, like the rest of the buildings around the complex, was beautiful and as we were at the temple, the fog lifted just enough to reveal some large mountains around us. Before heading back we spent some time in and around the stream and I have to say it was a great morning and probably my favorite part of the trip.
bush to another temple. It was a beautiful morning with a misty blanket of fog falling around everything. We followed a small river/stream and passed rice patties, places where the monks had lotuses growing, and a small pond with lotus growing in it. The temple, like the rest of the buildings around the complex, was beautiful and as we were at the temple, the fog lifted just enough to reveal some large mountains around us. Before heading back we spent some time in and around the stream and I have to say it was a great morning and probably my favorite part of the trip.Once we got back, the monks took us for some ice cream and we had some time to look around and stop in some of the gift shops. We toured the temple's museum which had artwork and ceramics dating back over 1000 years and then headed off to our last meal at the temple. This one was in the cafeteria but the food was still essentially the same although there was some corn, potatoes and watermelon. After lunch, our temple stay was complete. The monks gave us each a scarf and bookmark before escorting us out (with another chance to stop at the main gift shop).
Overall, it was a really interesting experience. I am not sure how the monks can eat the same food day in and day out, 3 times per day and will never be able to spend as much time as them sitting cross-legged on the floor (my poor old knees and back just can't take it). I enjoyed the opportunity to take a walk in the countryside and have to say that this is a very beautiful country. It reminds me alot of the Okanagan but with the mountains in a more random placement (not a huge long valley), fields of rice patties instead of wheat, and a million plus people. As a side note, I was interviewed by a Busan English radio station at the temple, if anyone is interested in hearing it, it is on at 11 AM Monday (8PM Sunday at home), the interviewer is supposed to email me the radio station's website so if anyone wants to listen, let me know. lol.
Tonight I plan on taking it fairly easy. We have to do a ten page essay by the third weekend of the course so I may work on that. I will eventually wander out to the little business district in search of some supper and maybe buy a couple of t-shirts (I need something cooler to wear), do some laundry, and spend the rest of the evening relaxing. Tomorrow (Saturday) I am heading to Busan for some sightseeing and shopping. One of my classmates is from Busan and would like to show some of us his hometown. The bus to get there is 1700 won ($1.70) pretty good value for a place that is almost an hour away.
Anyways, I hope you all have a great weekend. Dion.
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