Poor Greg.
Greg is my 6'7" South African neighbor. He lives right next door to me, and within a month's time I am sure he is going to regret his living arrangements enormously.
Every day I knock on Greg's door with a new adventure. "Greg let's go to dinner! Greg let's go to the river! Greg let's go pound beers!"
Unfortunately for Greg, I am not asking if he wishes to partake in these activities with me, nay, I am demanding. Sometimes he tries to get out of things, "Not today Annie, I am going to sit and watch movies." Dear dear Greg, if only it was that easy to get out of such things!
So Saturday I knock on Greg's door and tell him that Daucy and I are going to climb the temple at 3:00. The temple is about a 5 minute walk from my door, and sits atop a mountain overlooking the Miryang River. Now, because we had spent Friday Night drinking, Greg was hesitant to do this, however after much peer pressure he obliged. We began a climb to the top, and found that we stumbled upon a major traditional ceremony up by the temple. There were Korean dancers, women wielding swords, singers, tae kwon do masters....basically it was rad.
We sat in the temple and watched, and because we are the obvious foreigners, we are just as entertaining for them. People talked with us, took pictures of us, and laughed with us. We continued up the mountain until we got to a big brick wall at the top. We passed a few crazy looking bugs and animals along the way.
"Greg are any of these bugs poisonous?"
"No Annie, there are not many things in Korea that can harm you...including the people."
Saturday night was another night of drinking in a dingy pool hall...and the next day I was ready for another adventure.
Rich from Minnesota told me of a decent hike a little ways down the road.
"Greg, Rich and I are going on another hike at 3 today."
Now what I didn't know is how seriously Koreans take their hiking. We are all dressed in regular clothes and sneakers, with a couple of bottles of water between us. All the Koreans on the mountain are dressed to the nines in visors, sunglasses, full body gear, visors, backpacks...etc.
After a grueling 2 hour hike up the mountain, we reached the summit, and saw the beautiful scenery of Milyang, and immediately forgot about all the mouthbreathing it took to get there. On the way down, we were "Anyong Ha-se-yo"ing everyone, riding on the high of our recent accomplishment, when all of a sudden we here an American voice.
"Hello How's it going."
We did a double take, and saw a Buddhist Monk, who we later will find out is originally from Fargo. He was very kind and told us the direction to go to his temple and get water. Once we arrived at the temple, we were greeted by a traditional Korean buddhist monk....on a Smartphone, which he handed to us. It was our friend from the mountain top! We told him our information and I gave him my email because I want to arrange a temple stay. The monk took us into a cave in the side of the temple, lit completely with lanterns and lights, and gave us bananas and pears. Then he took us to the top of the temple, where he served us Rose tea and nuts as we looked out the giant window to the Mountain.
We talked for a while, and then our friend called us back and invited us back for dinner later this week.
So lets be honest, there is a 90% chance I am going to accidentally become a buddhist at some point this year....and I am pumped!!!
Peace
Annie G.
Greg is my 6'7" South African neighbor. He lives right next door to me, and within a month's time I am sure he is going to regret his living arrangements enormously.
Every day I knock on Greg's door with a new adventure. "Greg let's go to dinner! Greg let's go to the river! Greg let's go pound beers!"
Unfortunately for Greg, I am not asking if he wishes to partake in these activities with me, nay, I am demanding. Sometimes he tries to get out of things, "Not today Annie, I am going to sit and watch movies." Dear dear Greg, if only it was that easy to get out of such things!
So Saturday I knock on Greg's door and tell him that Daucy and I are going to climb the temple at 3:00. The temple is about a 5 minute walk from my door, and sits atop a mountain overlooking the Miryang River. Now, because we had spent Friday Night drinking, Greg was hesitant to do this, however after much peer pressure he obliged. We began a climb to the top, and found that we stumbled upon a major traditional ceremony up by the temple. There were Korean dancers, women wielding swords, singers, tae kwon do masters....basically it was rad.
We sat in the temple and watched, and because we are the obvious foreigners, we are just as entertaining for them. People talked with us, took pictures of us, and laughed with us. We continued up the mountain until we got to a big brick wall at the top. We passed a few crazy looking bugs and animals along the way.
"Greg are any of these bugs poisonous?"
"No Annie, there are not many things in Korea that can harm you...including the people."
Saturday night was another night of drinking in a dingy pool hall...and the next day I was ready for another adventure.
Rich from Minnesota told me of a decent hike a little ways down the road.
"Greg, Rich and I are going on another hike at 3 today."
Now what I didn't know is how seriously Koreans take their hiking. We are all dressed in regular clothes and sneakers, with a couple of bottles of water between us. All the Koreans on the mountain are dressed to the nines in visors, sunglasses, full body gear, visors, backpacks...etc.
After a grueling 2 hour hike up the mountain, we reached the summit, and saw the beautiful scenery of Milyang, and immediately forgot about all the mouthbreathing it took to get there. On the way down, we were "Anyong Ha-se-yo"ing everyone, riding on the high of our recent accomplishment, when all of a sudden we here an American voice.
"Hello How's it going."
We did a double take, and saw a Buddhist Monk, who we later will find out is originally from Fargo. He was very kind and told us the direction to go to his temple and get water. Once we arrived at the temple, we were greeted by a traditional Korean buddhist monk....on a Smartphone, which he handed to us. It was our friend from the mountain top! We told him our information and I gave him my email because I want to arrange a temple stay. The monk took us into a cave in the side of the temple, lit completely with lanterns and lights, and gave us bananas and pears. Then he took us to the top of the temple, where he served us Rose tea and nuts as we looked out the giant window to the Mountain.
We talked for a while, and then our friend called us back and invited us back for dinner later this week.
So lets be honest, there is a 90% chance I am going to accidentally become a buddhist at some point this year....and I am pumped!!!
Peace
Annie G.
