Buddha's Birthday Weekend part Two

I missed the bus up to the cave. It left at 8:30, and I was there early, but I missed it. So, I was sad and upset because I never wake up this early anymore so it was quite the defeat to be there early only to miss it. Oh well. I started to walk around Samcheok, where I was staying. Down at the river I paused to listen to the music. A radio blared in some apartment accross the way. Hewie Lewis and the News played on the parks speakers and Buddhist chanting echoed down from a temple.

Ah, it was Buddha's birthday so I figured the two hour wait for the next bus could be well spent in ways other then self pity and annoyance. I walked up to the Jukseoru Pavillion, a temple from 1400-something and rebuilt in 1700 something, but the music wasn't coming from there so I walked on. Just up the road was a temple and the sourse of the sound, though it was prerecorded and the only events were people setting up. Nice. Ok. I'm off.

I continue along my way and come to another temple with better decoration. Come in, they tell me. So I do. Have something to drink, they tell me. And eat. Buddhists Temples are vegetarian, so I do. Chogum, I say, A little. I am the only 30-something in the place. Actually, I'm the only under 50-something. They all watch me eat and I smile and they smile and wish me well. Can I take a picture? Yes, they all chime and more and more ladies squeeze into the frame. Then eating time is over so they take my bowl away, give me more food and send me on my way.


I have 10 minutes to get to the bus, and this time I make it, and to the park, and to the cave. There's always a reason to miss a bus, I suppose, and a birthday party is one of them.

Buddha's Birthday Weekend

For this three day weekend I headed off solo in search of something beautiful and different. I succeeded. On the east coast of the country is a beautiful coastline of rocky outcroppings and sandy beaches. It would be a lovely place to vacation in the summer when the water warms up if you can get through the reported crowds and barbed wire that lines the beaches to keep the northerners out, (North Korean's that is).

The beaches have two big draws. The first in seaweed, which the locals collect and dry to supplement their fishing incomes (or maybe this is their income?). They collect it with this long pole, reaching out into the breaking surf for floating strands.



The second draw on this coastline comes from an ancient tale, also about seaweed. Once, long, long ago, a woman was out on an island collecting kelp. But, when it was time for her her fiance to pick her up in his boat, the waves were too great. Still on the shore, he watched a wave creash over the rock and his virgin love drowned.

After her death, the fish went away and there was no food for the village. Not sure what to do, the locals errected a large statue of a penis. Why? Well, why not. Today there is a penis park, which houses hundreds of penises, of all different types. It may seem odd, but the tour buses flock to this little village now, so even if the fishing hasn't gotten much better, there is no shortage of income.

Sincheorwon

I went with some coworkers to the village of Sincheorwon several weekends ago (sorry, I'm behind on my blogging...). It is a mere 8 kilometers to the North Korean border and here in the hills are signs of an old war, or a new war. Who knows which. Maybe both.
Once you get out of Seoul and Suwon, though, Korea is actually a beauiful place. The sky clears up, the hills are greener and there is actually a little bit of wilderness. Well, wilderness might be a little strong, but nature?

Seoul Olympic Torch Relay

The torch runner is surrounded by the men in yellow.