Day 49 Busan: Haedong Yonggungsa
I got up at 7am today but i went back to sleep after having the yummy ginseng porridge that my host mom cooked. I left home for Haedong Yonggungsa at 10am.
It takes about 6 minutes to get to the temple from the bus stop. When i arrived at the stairs leading down to the temple and got my first glimpse of the main area from afar, i gasped in awe.
It was really crowded. I guess that is the price to pay for being beautiful. The crowds that flock there (unintentionally) disturb the tranquility of the place. It used to be a place of worship for devout buddhists, but now it has to open its doors to tourism. That is why i find the scene of the head monk chanting and the worshippers praying in the main hall a beautiful sight. There were tripods with self-timed cameras on them, couples and families posing in front of the holy statues and people touring around the temple grounds(sadly, i am one of them). Despite the ubiquitous yakking in various languages, the ones who are truly there out of faith and devotion remain oblivious to our presence.
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| First glimpse of the temple. |
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| Cookies and Cream Milkshake |
Directions:
Exit 7 of Haeundae station, bus #181 (30-minute ride)
Labels: Temples
