Another Sunday in Seoul

Today I finally dragged my butt into Seoul to see Steve McCurry's exhibit and I was a busy-busy girl so this post is going to be a long one! It'll be more photos than writing though, so don't be scared - check it out!!  :)

First on my way in on the bus I got it into my head that I could use a new bag for walking around on the weekends, as I only have a big leatherish purse or a bigger backpack unsuitable for just a daytrip in the city. "Not leaving the city without one" I decided! So, I got off the bus. It turned out (I noticed only as the bus was driving away!) that I got off at the totally WRONG stop, and I have no idea what prompted me to get off! I started walking up the block (it was a pretty major shopping area crowded with people) and wandered about 5 blocks up and then down into the nearest subway station. When I reached the ticketing floor there was a little bag shop set up with totally functional out n' about in the city bags - LOVE IT!!! I couldda bought 10 different bags, I loved them, so I picked one out and went on my merry little way. Love when that happens!

I tried to hunt around the bookstore, as the huge Kyobo Bookstore (with the biggest English section I've ever seen in Korea!) is in the same neighbourhood, but after much wandering I found out that it was closed for renovations... boo!! I did spot a couple of old favorite spots tho...

As I was wandering I came across some strange little coin/bank festival/activity down along the Han river walkway where people were tossing 10 cent coins (100 Won) and trying to get them into a water dish to win an ugly plastic piggy bank...

The Han River walkway itself is really nice, and smack dab in the middle of Seoul... when you're down on the actual paths it's almost like you've left the city for awhile!

Korea has declared 2010-2010 "Visit Korea" Year

People just hunker down whatever for a chat in the sunshine

Lots of people out walking along the river (dressed for winter almost, but hey, maybe it's my Canadian genes kicking into overdrive with the sunshine that had me walking around in tshirt and shorts!)

What a beautiful day...

  

Before heading into the airconditioned exhibit I wandered around the square in front of the Sejong Centre checking out statues and museums dedicated to King Sejong (who created the Korean alphabet, among other things!) and Admiral Yee (who revamped the Turtle Ship during the wars with Japan)...

King Sejong

Admiral Yee and his Turtle Ship

There was a fountain on the square that people were walking around in. It was a beautiful sunny day and I enjoyed watching everyone playing

While I was waiting in line to buy my tickets, no fewer that 3 random people walked up and 'nonchalantly' took my photo standing in line... I just pretended I didn't notice, lol... on exhibit myself it seemed!!

The exhibit itself was great, it was in the basement of the Sejong Center, across the intersection from the square. The centre has so much going on in it, it has every kind of performance art you can imagine happening ALL the time! One of the philharmonics from the US is here now, but I can't remember which one!

Sejong Centre for the Arts

 Posters in the entrance 

I loved wandering around at my own pace inside the gallery. It was busy, but not packed, and it was more young people than old (so believe it or not, that meant less pushing and shoving!). The photos really took me on a journey, some of them fun, some of them heartwrenching. It would have been nice if the audio guide had also been available in English, as it was only in Korean... the photos were amazing, and we were actually allowed to take pictures inside, which I only did a couple times... these photos really caught me...

The woman on the bottom left in the purple is the Afghan girl (Shabart Gula) from "Ungaurded Moment"...  McCurry took the original photo in 1984 (top row, second from left), he didn't ask for her name or anything, it was just a random photo. After the picture caused such a stir and people were so interested in her, McCurry took a trip and after much ado found her again in Afghanistan after 20 years, she was 30 years old.

You can check out more of his work HERE on his own website, the photos are really incredible and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go out and see them.

After the exhibit I followed the lanterns strung along the street to an old favorite temple (you'll remember this one Sadie), JoGyeSa. They're getting ready for Buddha's birthday later this month so the lanterns are hung high, and so lovely...

 

What a fabulous way to spend my Sunday... a beautiful, gorgeous day that made me happy just to be alive in the world! 

Monk for a Day at Magoksa

I spent the past weekend on a temple stay at Magoksa in Gong-Ju, about 2 hours South of Seoul. When I told my mom before leaving that I was going to try out temple life for the weekend she quipped that she now had to worry about me going off and becoming a monk! No worries about that per se (I still don't want to become a monk Mom!) but I had a beautiful weekend.

It's hard to find words for experiences like these ones. I've mentioned before that every temple has a way about it, a uniqueness, a feeling that sometimes stirs me deep down inside? This was another one of those times... I know I won't be able to pass on to you just what that means for me, so instead I'll share some of the loveliness of it all... (I'll post about a few activities a bit later)...

When you arrive through these gates it is said that you leave all of your troubles and baggage behind, free to embrace the peace and spirit of the Buddhist temple

These are the guardians of the 4 directions who keep the temple and its occupants free from all things bad that might try to enter  

Buddha's birthday is coming up, May 21st, so there are lanterns everywhere in celebration... these ones guided us along the pathway to the next gate for another meeting...

The guardians with Action (with the elephant) and Wisdom... either one without the other doesn't really get you anywhere, so you should embrace them both as you travel through the second gate

The view when you first enter the temple grounds once you are past the gates... beautiful

The five-storied Ocheung Stone Pagoda is found in the centre of the temple grounds... it is unique because of the bronze that was used on the top of it (this technique was borrowed from the style of Tibetan Buddhism)

I love doorways most days, but I particularly loved this one with the light sneaking out... a doorway to illumination

This dragon is on the frame for the gong in the drum area... in Buddhism dragons are the highest creatures, so you see a lot of them

The view of one of the main temple halls where prayer is held... this one houses 3 Buddhas, one for long life, one for health, and one for... oh, I've forgotten, I hate that!

A view of the main temple hall from my favorite little temple on the hill

Lanterns marked most pathways... candles are strung within them, and many were lit up at night

We went to bed at 9pm (more like 10pm) and woke at 3am - monks do this every day. Despite being a little tired, the beauty of the morning made me forget -about it... no tourists, no bugs, the only things you could hear were the river and the birds. I left the group again for a walk on my own to soak in the peacefulness of the morning before morning prayers at 3:40am

The pathway up the mountain to my favorite little temple
(there are lots of temples at Magoksa (maybe 9 or 10?), all very different from one another)

The papers hanging from these lanterns are wishes that people have written to Buddha on this upcoming birthday... wishes for themselves, for others, for big things and little... the red lantern holds my wish

We all wore temple clothing, lovely and flattering as you can see  :)
This is me with our monk, the one who was in charge of our very large ANYTHING-BUT peaceful temple stay group... I think he may have even more patience than your average monk. Next time I temple stay I am definitely going groupless, because the experience really wasn't a peaceful one at most times!

This is my teacher monk... I skipped out on arts and crafts block after making my prayer bracelet and went for a walk on my own up the mountain. This monk was in a small hilltop temple that I stumbled upon, and when he saw me he invited me in to sit with him. He taught me about energy and prayer in Buddhism... it was really incredible... he also gave me his card and asked me to come back and talk with him again soon   :)

Looking out over the temple grounds from the hilltop temple hall... Magoksa is nestled in among the TaeHwa Mountains... it was so beautiful there