Almost immediately after stepping through the park gates, a hugely ICY wind came whipping down the mountain right at us. Hoods up, hands tucked in sleeves we trucked on (whatchagonna do??). The BulGukSa is a working Temple, so there were monks all around, some praying, others doing whatever else it is that monks do, and overall people seemed to do a decent job of being respectful.
The grotto itself was at the top of yet another climb (albeit a short one). I'm sad to say that I don't have any pictures of the incredible 3.5metre seated stone Buddha , as photography is never allowed inside temples and such, the whole holiness of it all isn't to be snapped at with cameras. Many people disregard the rule, but I will never snap a photo inside a temple myself, ever, no matter how much I want to remember it. You can try to get photos from outside, but that's it for me. You can see Wiki's write-up HERE with a picture (that does no real justice to it all) if you're interested.
It's hard to explain how it feels sometimes when I'm in a temple. Sometimes the peace and the calm is almost palpable, as though all I want to do is find someplace nearby quiet to sit down and just 'be,' soak up all of the thick, heavy calm. Not all temples feel this way to me, but the grotto did, I loved it.
Once out again I took some pictures of the view from the mountaintop, hands still tucked in sleeves with only my shutter finger poking out when necessary. Here are a few photos from the top...
There's a big bell in the centre there that the monks ring
The city of Gyeong-Ju is down there
The left side looks like a flying serpent and perhaps a phoenix, and the on the right are the heavenly horses, with beautiful firey manes... this is a symbol I saw often in Gyeong-Ju...
The exit from the grotto hung with lotus lanterns
I love seeing the satellite dish on the side of the temple building, hehehe... it seems nobody escapes technology. I can still remember the first time I was on a hike in the mountains in central Korea when I saw a monk in an isolated forest temple walking around on a cell phone - I almost died right there on the spot! Instead, some of my ideas about the world were just properly put in order :)
This is a fountain of fresh spring drinking water at the grotto, you can fill up your water bottle or drink from plastic cups that are provided and hanging to the side; I loved the lions and the little Buddha
After our time was up at the grotto (one downside of being on an organized tour) on the way back to the bus we passed several adjummas selling mountain vegetables and such from big tupperware bowls. You can see how she's wrapped right up to stave off the winds, it was so very cold!! In front of her you can see the couple of frying pans? Roasted Chesnuts. Yum. Yum. And. Yum. And I have to say, the best way to warm yourself back up after getting chilly on a hike!More soon on BulGukSa Temple (another incredible site) and the remainder of the weekend (before I start the next one!)... hope you are staying warm wherever you may be!!
S.
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