Happy Lunar New Year

Today is the official lunar new year, although in Korea the holiday lasts for three days. Unlike the Chinese, who go all out with the partying to celebrate the new year, Koreans focus on their families. Most return to their ancestral homes and eat with their families. Lots of people wear hanboks, or traditional Korean dress. The best part--for kids anyway--is when they bow to their elders and get money in return.

Since we don't have a Korean family (obviously), we decided to go to a Buddhist temple complex in the mountains just outside Daejeon. It was a great experience--so peaceful and beautiful. It must be amazing in the spring and fall when the trees are in bloom/changing colors--we're definitely planning on going back then!

Outside the main temple.


Inside the main temple (the only one where it's ok to take pictures).

The undersides of the roofs of two adjacent buildings at the temple complex (the main temple is to the right).

Closeup of the intricate painting on the roof.

The walls of the temple are painted with scenes from Buddha's life. Here's one of Buddha's first sermon, at Sarnath (in India). Why am I including it here? Because I've been there!


If you want to learn about the temple, you're in luck--I took a page from Mom's book and took a picture of the sign. (Click on the picture to make it bigger.)

Here's the drum they sound in the mornings. Note the dragon on the corner of the roof!