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.