PicklesTravel

Lanterns hung for Budda's Birthday

The Bongeunsa Temple, just north of the COEX Mall in downtown Seoul, has a lot to offer- especially when it comes to color! They were getting everything ready in preparation for Budda’s Birthday, which was on May 10.

White Lanterns in front of Mourning Temple

Wall of Budda for Bongeunsa Temple

Celebration Decorations for Budda's Birthday

All smiles for our reunion

I met Natsumi 13 years ago when she was a foreign exchange student from Japan, at my high school in Minnesota. She was fun, energetic and ready to take on the world and live, live, live.

This woman had a major impact on my life- as it was, in large part, due to my friendship with her that I decided to take the leap and do a year abroad in Spain, with AFS Intercultural Programs.

We met up in the middle of Seoul – I hadn’t seen her in 12 years – and yet, it felt as if we’d never stopped hanging out. It was amazing, and I am so glad she met me in Korea.

Today was a blast! We made Lotus Flowers as part of a tour at the Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul, S. Korea. The Lotus Flowers were quite easy to make- using paper cups and lots of glue! It’s been a long time since I’ve done arts and crafts with a glue stick, and it was fun going back to those days, if only for a while.

To make Lotus Flowers at home you will need:

1 paper cup, 4 different colored leaf-shaped pieces of origami-style paper (3 for first row, 4 for second row, 5 for last two rows), glue stick, small wire

Step 1: Pop two tiny holes in the bottom of your paper cup and pull the wire through- you will use this to hang your flower, so make sure it’s long enough!

Step 2: Take all your colored leaf-shaped paper and roll the tip and slightly curve the paper so that it takes on the shape of a leaf or petal. The paper we used was also folded accordian-style, but I don’t think this is necessary to get the desired effect (see the photo above to get a better idea).

Step 3: Start gluing on your petals. Flip your cup upside down (so that it looks like a little “table) Glue the first row (3 pieces) onto the cup so that they are overlapping just a little. You want to make sure to have your “petals” facing inward. Continue your way down the cup with each row- The second row should have 4 sheets, the third row 5 sheets. (note: the amount of “leaves” and “petals” you need will vary depending on the size glass you use, ours was relatively small)

Step 4: Now you are ready to glue on your last row- the leaves. This row is different in that you want your leaves to be facing outward. You want to make sure that this row is sitting on the lip of the cup. See the photo above for an example (the first “leaf” has been placed on the cup already)

"A Lock of Love"

This morning we headed to Namsan Seoul Tower, which, on a clear day, can be seen from all over the city, and vice versa. Today was not a clear day, it was extremely hazy. We took the cable car up to the main platform, which is on top of a mountain, but decided against going all the way to the top of the tower.

Just a few of the locks

This was fine by me, because I found something even more exciting to view than the city’s panorama. There were hundreds of thousands of locks hooked onto several of the chain link fences surrounded the platform. I know I have read about this phenomena before online, but to see it was truly remarkable. According to a sign that was posted in English, “from old times … if lovers make a wish at a shrine on Nam-San, it comes true. This place became a symbol … of promising an everlasting love for couples with hanging a lock…” Several of the locks had a heart “plaque” with something written on it. I just wish I could read Korean to know some of the lovely stories being told there…

Locked in Love

The War Memorial of Korea is a tribute to all that have been affected by war. The main focus of the memorial is the Korean War, something that still affects Koreans today. There are many powerful statues and displays both inside and out that help remind everyone of what war can do.

I may be reading into it, but I saw the suffering of a war between families even more than that of one between lands. The statue below (Statue of Two Brothers) is especially heart wrenching. I should have taken a photo of it from the side, because as you walk around the dome (“land”) upon which they are standing you see that there is a huge crack down the middle, right between them that gets wider towards the bottom. As I looked at it, I pictured the crack widening and literally pulling them apart as the land shifted…

The Statue of Two Brothers

Something that I found amazing and incredibly touching is how much emphasis there was on thanking those involved. One whole wing of the museum pays tribute to all the different UN countries that came to S. Korea’s aid during the war. There is even an area on the main level that pays tribute to each person involved, by name. Now that is gratitude.

Lights and Chaos of the Seoul Fish Market

The fish market of Seoul is a litany of colors, smells and chaos. Stingray, baby octopus, every type of mollusk, crayfish, eels and so many fish, to which I don’t know the names, are for sale in this Fish Market. Although I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t be surprised if they even had some form of pickled something, somewhere (just because that is what would truly make this place magical)

The best part of the Seoul market is that you can pick out your lunch here. Just decide what you want to eat that day, buy it, take it a few more steps and have it cooked for you right then and there. I didn’t realize this possibility until I had already left, so I will have to make another trip for the experience.

Bright lights from Fish Vendors

Colorful Seafood Choices