Last weekend decided to visit the Haeinsa Temple about an hour outside Daegu. This is one of the three most important temples in korea and forms the 'golden triangle' of these three temples. The temple is important as it houses the 'Tripitaka Koreana' wooden scrolls with writings from the 11th century. The originals were destroyed when the Mongols raided so replacements were created in the 13th century. The wood was soaked in seawater for three years, then cut and boiled, then kept sheltered from sun and rain for another three years but exposed to wind. When they were carved not one spelling mistake was found in the thousands of blocks so now they are used as a template for other bhuddist writings. Today it is Unesco World Heritage site.

Once again its set in a mountain but fortunately the bus goes most of the way up the mountain, although for the more adventurous, there are hiking paths from the base. First there was a small museum with different types of bhuddist artworks and artefacts that I've seen in other museums. As you walk uphill to the temple you hear bhuddist chants and bells on speakers as this is still a practicing monastery. After climbing steps to the first gate was a courtyard where people walked in circles to reach a pagoda in the centre, some sort of religious act.

The next courtyard was a surprise as it was filled with hundreds of worshipers seated and listening to bhuddist chants and drum beats. As you climb more steps you finally reach the wooden tablets. No photographs are allowed but I managed to get a couple. I thought they would be in a large indoor hall to protect them but they were in outdoor huts exposed to the elements. Around the temple are half a dozen more little shrines and temple complexes depending on how much hiking you want to do. The architecture is pretty much the same but they are scenic with mountain backdrops or along the river springs and rock waterfalls.

Video - Haeinsa Temple : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ7A8J18 WT0

Taking the bus back to Daegu there was a big covered bazaar behind the station stretching in different directions (reminded me of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul for a brief second!). I tried some of the food vendors. They had what I thought was fried bread as I saw her frying some dough into a flat circle for .50 cents. The only way I can describe it was Indian Puri laced in syrup and cinnaman, not what I was expecting. Some lady bought a dozen but one was too rich for me! (I tried it again in my neighbourhood and tastes more like a donut so I guess everyone has their own recipe style). I also tried what I call fish sticks for $1 which is a long pancake type thing folded many times with a chopstick threaded down the middle. At the temple I tried those bean paste donut things again but this time it had walnuts in the centre too.

Video - Market food vendors : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALCkz3if FS8

Since we're on the topic, also worth mentioning I have a channel Bhuddist TV where they just show you temples and religious ceremonies. Turns out those giant hanging fish are hollowed drums that they use for tapping. Most of the temples I have been to tend to be in awkward locations on hills in mountains that involve some hiking so no car access. Part of the experience is appreciating the nature and surroundings and not so much the actual building and structure.

Got my cell phone bill, calls $1.40, texts $0.80, tax $0.60, guess I need to start chatting some more! This week was my open class where various people including other foreign teachers and school officials come to observe. First I had to 'pimp' my classroom by leaving all the Halloween decorations up and more dressing with stuff I brought from Canada, as well as snacks for the visiting people. My co-teacher Suki did a lot of work too by making colour copies of the displays and laminating the phrase cards. The topic was how to earn pocket money by doing household tasks, and items to spend your money on. There was a slide of people making dinner and I asked what are they making, and the girls started yelling 'bibimbab' (korean rice dish) instead of using the phrase 'making dinner' and I start cracking up during my presentation! :-)

Turns out we did all this work for nothing as only the three foreign teachers showed up, the Principal who never says anything, and nobody from the school board came. I think the other teachers liked the class but were more comparing the school and textbook with theirs. At least we were the first group to present to get it out of the way and set the tone for the other presentations although I would have liked more of an evaluation. Also, I confirmed what I thought that I am the northern most teacher in the Daegu city limits as the other teachers were all more south in Chilgok. My bus route ends north at Dongmyeong but i'm told that falls in Gyungbuk province not Daegu City.

Suddenly I'm the popular teacher. First my school asked me to do two more after school classes in addition to my Wednesday after school Teachers Class and Friday after school regular class, so I said no as that would be four days a week, even though they offered me overtime pay. My korean teacher from the English Buddies program wants me to go and talk at his adult students class next week so I said ok as they are very eager to meet me. Now, he wants me to teach two times a week after school at his school (when his school has their own foreign teacher???), which I politely said no as thats way too much work, aside from all the hassle and getting permissions.
And my friday after school class is being opened to more students as ten more asked to come.

Many students, and parents, are running into me in the neighbourhood and chatting which is nice. Sometimes they say hi and I have no idea who they are as there are 700 students in my school. For Guy Fawkes Day we did toture and famous executions. I mentioned Grease as they sang the closing song in the school show but they dont know about the movie. Now everyone, including the boys, want to see the Grease movie. So I spend my time on youtube looking up stuff to use in class and kareoke songs so they can use english and kareoke is very popular here. (yes, this what i'm paid to do folks!)

fridays class was discussing favourite movies:
conversation with me and student
what movies do you like to watch?... yes
what movies do you like to watch?.... ok

overheard conversation with two students
what movies do you like to watch?..... shut up

This weekend went exploring downtown again. I will alternate weekends with trips in and outside daegu while the weather holds up, still reaching high of 18 degrees and crisp in the evenings/mornings. Found a temple downtown on top of a small cliff. For lunch had mixed seafood which came with a fist sized octopus. First instinct was to throw it out and I lifted it with my chopsticks. Then decided to use the scissors they gave me and cut all the legs off and body in half. Mixed in with the rice, soup, and everything else you dont really notice it so know I can claim to have eaten octopus. The head I just couldnt do so i'll leave that for next time. I saw a tv clip where taekwondo fighters eat live octopus as a right of passage but thats something I wont be doing!!

Next week planning to go back to Gyeongju to see the crown jewels and mountaintop temple with views of the ocean and Japan....