Saturday at Beomeosa Temple!

I decided to take a spontaneous trip to Beomeosa Buddhist Temple today!   It's one of the most famous temples in Busan, and I had yet to see it for some reason!  So, I jumped on the subway and rode 28 stops to Beomeosa!  When I got off the train, I looked at the map and realized I had a trek in front of me!  (3 kilometers to be exact - up hill!)  eeeehhh!  I started to walk up the hill and realized that this was going to be a long and hot climb!  (It was about 85 degrees and VERY humid!)  I stopped to snap this picture...

... and as I was taking it, a korean woman stopped her car next to me and asked, "Where are you from?"  I thought it was really funny that she stopped in the middle of the road to ask me where I was from!  After talking for about 45 seconds or so, her teenage daughter asked, "Can we give you a ride to the temple?" in the most perfect English I'd heard a Korean teenager ever speak!  Turns out, they lived in Malaysia for 2 years, and she became fluent during that time!  They totally made my day, and my legs were very thankful for their generosity! :)

There's a gorgeous river that runs down the mountainside, alongside the temple!  There were lots of families playing in the river and picnicing along it's shore!

I finally made it to Beomeosa after a year and a half of living in Busan!  

I loved these!  They are roof and wall tiles that patrons are allowed to purchase and write their own personal messages on.  They are on display for now, but will soon be used in the construction of future temples throughout the complex!

I just can't get enough of the temple drinking fountains!  They're all so creative in their own ways!

One of the small prayer rooms...

I have NO IDEA what this says... but I loved it!  I love carvings and writings on trees... There's something so country about!  

A lonely lantern hung in the trees near a prayer room...

Can you believe I live in a place where I can take a subway to a place this beautiful, old, and with this much history?!   If you can... Congratulations, because I still can't believe it!

He's supposed to be protecting the temple... but I'm pretty sure, by the look on his face, that I terrified him with my tiger impersonation!  I can be pretty realistic sometimes!  I've had a lot of practice, after teaching animals to elementary kids for almost 2 years!

I spent a couple hours, walking through the temple complex!  It was such a nice way to spend my Saturday afternoon!
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