Today started extremely early as I woke up at 5:00 in the morning for the temple stay schedule. Even though I was very sleepy at first, I was also excited because I knew this would be a unique experience I probably would not get to do very often. As soon as I woke up, I quickly got ready and headed to the morning meditation session.
During the session, we meditated for around 30 minutes and practiced several breathing exercises. It was honestly such a calming and peaceful experience. Meditating that early in the morning, while everything around us was still quiet, felt very different from our normal life. The atmosphere at the temple was so peaceful, and being surrounded by nature made the meditation feel even more relaxing. After the meditation, we went on a morning walking meditation with the head monk, where we slowly walked together in a large circle. It felt strange at first, but it was also very calming and meaningful. I never imagined myself doing something like that, especially so early in the morning, but it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of the temple stay.
After that, we had breakfast at the temple before getting ready for a morning hike up the hill to see the Buddha statues. The walk up the mountain was honestly so beautiful. There were colorful lanterns hanging from the trees along the pathway, and the scenery felt very peaceful and refreshing. I really enjoyed walking through nature and seeing the mountain views around us. When we finally reached the Buddha statues, it felt rewarding after the hike, and the entire area had such a calm atmosphere.
Once we came back down, we spent some time exploring a souvenir shop nearby before heading to another group meditation and stretching session. I honestly enjoyed this session a lot because it was very relaxing and focused more on stretches and breathing exercises. One part of the temple stay that I surprisingly enjoyed was doing the 100 prostrations. Even though it was physically tiring, it felt very meaningful and meditative at the same time.
Before leaving the temple, we also had a tea session with the head monk, which was another really unique and peaceful experience. During the session, we sat quietly together while the monk prepared and served the tea in a very calm, traditional manner.
Later in the day, we packed our things and checked out of the temple. Overall, this temple stay experience was completely new to me, as I have never stayed in a place like this before. Living closely with nature, following the temple routines, meditating, stretching, and learning about the monks’ lifestyle made this experience feel very unique and memorable. It was definitely outside my normal comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it and had a great time.
After leaving the temple, we got lunch and then continued our journey toward Pohang. Along the way, we stopped at Daereungwon Tomb Complex, which was really interesting to visit for its large ancient tombs and historical significance. We also explored Hwangnidan-gil, a very popular street filled with shops, cafes, and fun places to explore. The area had such a lively atmosphere, and it was fun walking around, seeing all the different stores and people. During the drive, we also passed by several temples and palace areas, which made the trip even more scenic and enjoyable.
Eventually, we finally arrived in Pohang. Overall, today felt like a lot of traveling and moving around, so I am definitely a little tired and exhausted from waking up at 5:00 AM and spending most of the day walking and traveling. Still, I am really excited for the upcoming days here in Pohang and everything we are going to experience next.