May 2013
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The Lotus Lantern Festival: Cultural Experience...
If I was forced to choose one day of the Lotus Lantern Festival to go to, it’d be tough. Saturday’s parade is my favorite event to see, but Sunday offers many opportunities to get hands on experience making traditional Korean Buddhist crafts and there is time to talk with monks as well. From noon until 7PM the street in front of Jogyesa Temple is blocked off and 100 booths, a stage and...
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The Lotus Lantern Parade: From Beginning to End
The parade is by far the highlight of the Lotus Lantern Festival. It starts at 7PM from Dongguk University Stadium with all of the attendees of the Buddhist Cheer Rally lining up group by group to make their way waving and smiling to Jogyesa Temple. I wouldn’t recommend watching the parade until the procession leads past Dongdaemun History and Culture Park however though, because the grand...
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Eoulim Madang: The First Event of the Lotus...
The Lotus Lantern Festival was this past weekend and boy was I exhausted by the end of it. As a member of the Festival’s International Volunteer group, we were there before it started on Saturday and Sunday and stayed until the very end both nights. We got to see every aspect of the merriment surrounding Buddha’s Birthday Celebration: the ups, the downs and the all-arounds. Within our group were...
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A Trip to Gilsangsa Temple
Gilsangsa Temple, located on the southern side of Mt. Samgaksan in northern Seoul, may not be very old, only just registered in 1995, but it offers some great programs for those wishing to learn more about Buddhism as well as does a lot to help the community in the surrounding area. The buildings were originally a part of a restaurant called Daewongak owned by Kim Yeong-han, but were donated to...
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Don't Miss the Lotus Lantern Festival!
This weekend is the annual Lotus Lantern Festival here in Seoul in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. It’s an event not to be missed. In my almost seven years here, I think it is the only event that I have attended every year. I’ve done everything from take part in the many cultural experience booths to make the small and large lotus lanterns, Buddhist beaded bracelets, and...
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A Very Short But Sweet Trip to Sydney, Australia
The first day in Australia was over and we had two days to see some sights before we were headed back to Seoul. We took a walk down the road to a beautiful sandy beach in the morning. The only other people around were some surfers trying to catch the waves. We decided to check out the beach and then head into Sydney for the evening, so no swimming for us unfortunately. But if I were going to...
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Always Living, Seeing and Learning
Last month, we headed to Australia for three days. Yes, you read that correctly, three days. It wasn’t the most ideal trip, but when your younger sister is getting married and your job already gives you four months of vacation, you can’t very well ask for more off, nor can you skip the event. In the end, we felt like it was a great introduction to the country, we met some nice people, and we...
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First Meeting: The Korean Women of the Family
Two weeks ago, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law both called to ask what I wanted for my birthday. I’m getting better at telling them what I need, because I’ve realized when left to their own devices they get me things that aren’t me at all either because what they’re giving me is what Korean family members usually give each other, or they just don’t know me all that well due to the obvious...
April 2013
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