This morning we checked out of the hotel we had been calling home. We had to leave by 8:20 to catch the train to Gyeongju. I had the last breakfast with the orange juice and then checked out with Sophie. We rode the bus about 20 min to the train station.

At the train station we were given some free time to explore, and we went to the Dunkin’ Donuts and Wonder which is a collaboration between two companies. They had unique donuts and my favorite had a smiling face on it. I ate half of a glazed donut. It was really good. Then we went on the train, and this train was able to cross the country in 2 hours. It was super quick. I kept dozing in and out of sleep. Once we made it to Gyeongju we went to lunch.

At lunch they served these tiny fish in sauce. The food was good, but I still miss the kimchi dumplings. From there it was about a 30 min drive to the temple. 

The temple beginning was rough. It was a little bit disorganized, and I lugged my luggage up the stairs to the building that we thought we were staying at but then it turns out we weren’t, so I had to drag down the stairs again. Then a quick break to watch a performance from the monks and the people at the temple. It was very cool to watch. Then we had to drag the suitcases out from where we stored them and up a hill and some people had to double up to help. I was one of them. Anyway, we made it and the room is not the traditional one, but it is still cool. I haven’t slept in a bunk bed in a while. And we were given new clothes to wear. I accidentally grabbed someone else’s pants, and I found out when they were huge, so I had to switch. Then we went to orientation and seonmudo. 

At orientation we did some exercises and stretches. After that we practiced some kicks like forward and side. I was getting flash backs to karate. Then we did the 108 prostrations which is like praying to Buddha. Each prostration you bow down and place your head on the mat and your hand up, then come back up and do it again. We didn’t make it all the way because it was time for dinner, but I enjoyed it and felt refreshed afterwards. Then we went to dinner.

At the temple there is no meat allowed and typically you should not talk while eating but they understand that we are tourists and allow quiet voices. Another group is here on a temple stay also from the USA. I liked the dinner they had. They were really good mushrooms. You are also supposed to eat everything on your plate to not be wasteful. And you do your own dishes afterward. After the dinner we had a special performance. 

The performance was a dance with drums by two women. The same women then came back and sang and played another instrument. The acoustics were sooo good. Their voices were strong and could be heard all over the mountain. Then it was interactive yoga with the head monk of the temple. They laid out mats and a bunch of us went up. I was one of them. I did yoga with a head monk! Check that off the bucket list. I did suck at it and am not flexible at all, but you know I tried. Then after that the women came back out and did a fan dance. Their fans matched their dresses and had feathers on them. I am used to Chinese fans which never had feathers so seeing the difference is cool. Overall, the temple stay is a wonderful getaway from the bustling city.