Songgwangsa in the Snow

While Canada seems to be heating up, winter is alive and well in Suncheon. For my last weekend here before leaving for India, I dragged Jessica out to Songgwangsa (Temple). As it snowed all day on Saturday, we figured (correctly) that we'd be in for a treat: A Temple in the Snow.

Songgwangsa is further away than Seonamsa, but I've been to Seonamsa about a million times, including twice in the past month. I was excited to get to Songgwangsa again, as it is a more brightly painted temple, even though the bus ride out there is a bit daunting (more than an hour long and rather treacherous - our bus passed an 18-wheeler on a curve, wet roads etc). There is also a small museum with Buddhist relics that have survived Japanese invasions, the Korean war and the ravages of time. The highlight for me is always the Thousand Buddhas: a small side temple with a thousand (?) statues inside. Look closely, each (dusty) statue has a different face.

The whole day was great, even though I was so tired that I was having a hard time completing sentences. I've been super busy these past few weeks (both working and playing a bit hard), and I think it is catching up on me. To make matter worse, Shidae apartments saw fit to cut off my heat this weekend (late paying a bill), and I can't get my boiler to fire up again.

Luckily, I am not teaching this week, which will give me ample time to figure out how to mime "Who the hell cuts off someone's heat without warning in the middle of winter?" to Shidae Apartment Services, and finally pack for India.

Oh, and before I forget: I got my first "injury" at Tae Kwon Do. We were practicing kicks and the targets flew back and hit me in the face. Yes, I cried like a little girl, but I am much better now.