After my attempt to go to the DMZ failed (apparently we're not allowed to wear shorts), I decided I had to make up for it by going somewhere else that was cool... after some internet sleuthing I decided on Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. I know, another temple. I just can't seem to get enough of it! So much so, that I endured a 20 minute bus ride with a driver who brought out his anger about his job by passive aggressively making brutal stops and turns. I nearly fell down at least five times!
So why Haedong temple? Mostly because it's literally right by the sea... I have never seen a temple where there were massive waves splashing on the rocks below it.
The story of this temple's creation revolves around the dream of a monk named Naong. In this dream, a sea god of the East Sea appeared and told him to build a temple at the edge of Bongrae Mountain and the nation would strengthen and become awesome. You see, Korea was apparently in the middle of a big natural disaster (famine, drought, etc), so Naong took the god's advice and built a temple. Unfortunately, the original temple burned down when those damn Japanese came and invaded Korea in 1592. The temple was rebuilt and renamed to its current incarnation.
When you first enter the temple grounds, you run across statues of the twelve zodiac figures. They are supposed to help protect the temple. I took a picture with my zodiac animal, the Rat!
After that, I came across a nine-tiered pagoda with an accompanying tire that you could pray to for traffic safety. I probably should have spent more time there.
After that, we came across a turtle statue thingy where you could throw coins and get good luck! Shaun tried but couldn't get any coins in. Fail.
After that, we came to the main temple area. There were statues of two big gold pigs, one dragon (for the Dragon King) and a giant golden dharma.
There was also a cool painting of a dragon that is probably related to the story of the temple's creation but I'm not quite sure how.
Once we climbed up some stairs, we saw the statue of Haesu Gwaneum Daebul ("Great Buddha Goddess of Mercy"). Apparently if you say her name 33 times, you can get good luck! Too bad I didn't realize that at the time.
And that is one day in South Korea!
