Everland Amusement Park/Tulip Festival

Everland Amusement Park is South Korea's Disney wannabe.  I was impressed with the size of the park and the various amusements offered, from movies to roller coasters, beer garden to rose garden.  Everland also has some animal exhibitions, and up to this point, I had been less than impressed and even disgusted at how I have seen some animals kept.  Everland has a true conservation mentality with their animal displays, and although I would have liked to have seen the habitats larger, I did not see anything that made me turn and walk away.

The entrance to the park is like most amusement parks with people and shops.

This theater offered a 'holographic' movie experience with either a K-Pop group or Psy of 'Gangnam style' fame.  K-Pop for those who don't know is Korea's version of hip-hop boy or girl bands. 

 This is why we came, for the tulip festival.  One of my friends here said she was surprised to see it really WAS a tulip festival!  Often times Korean groups will use the word festival, but there isn't much of whatever it is they are celebrating present.

These dark purple, almost black, tulips were intriguing.  In a different section of the park, the names of the varieties were posted.

 I always have my picture taken once so I can prove I didn't just copy the photos from some place else.

You might get tired of seeing tulip pictures. 

 We decided to take one of the lifts (there were three) across the park.  This one was called Human Sky which I found interesting.

The other interesting thing was this sign, the first line of which reads, 'Guest with fear of height or the elderly must be accompanied by a guardian'.  I told Bill I would be his guardian!  We did see an older couple with a younger couple, and the younger fellow went with the elder lady while the younger lady went with the elder fellow.  Korean culture does emphasize respect of ancestors.

 I wish I could figure out how to put two pictures on one line.

For lunch we had sandwiches.  Mine was a bulgogi panini.  For those who don't know what bulgogi is, it is a Korean dish of meat marinated in spices and soy sauce and sesame oil.  It is very good. 

 I have not had any Korean food I didn't like.  Some of it can be very spicy.

 Meals are served with lots of little side dishes, including kimchi and these lovely pickled radishes.

 The Africa exhibit was viewed from an amphibious bus.  The space was limited.

 The orangutan had a large area.  Maybe not large enough, but...the other primates were housed in smaller enclosures, but all were enriched with toys and climbing gyms. 

 There were great signs up in Korean and English, talking about the animals' losing habitat in the world, etc.  It did seem that conservation was on their agenda.

I am not a big fan of zoos, but I will concede they serve a purpose of education, and I cannot deny I enjoy seeing the animals in a comfortable setting.  After having to leave another Korean park because of how they housed their animals, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well Everland was doing.

They also had an Ancient History section with columns and statues.  This water fountain was very popular even on this cool day.

 I did not ride the carousel, but I did ride the TwistnShout.

 The TwistnShout's warning sign said people with neck problems should not ride.  I made sure I kept my head braced against the padded head rest and moved it with the ride.  It did not jerk hardly at all.  Bill stayed on the ground and took this picture.  I am up there somewhere.

I was pleased with the tulip festival.  I hope we get back to Everland Park when the roses are in bloom.  The rose gardens were extensive, too.  And we will have to sample some beer at the beer garden!

Sudeoksa Temple

www.sudeoksa.com

The Korean-American Friendship Association in conjunction with the USO held a trip to Sudeoksa Temple for only $10 per person, including lunch!  How could I pass this up?  It was on a Friday, so Bill was not able to go.  I did happen to have a friend from the tax center on the bus.

This Buddhist monk was introduced to us as a very famous monk, but I am not sure what distinguishes him from others.  He played 'Arirang', a Korean folk song which is well known throughout the country, on his traditional Korean flute.








Sudeoksa is the largest temple I have been to.  Other temples have giant Buddhas or golden Buddhas.  Sudeoksa has a LOT of Buddhas, nine if I remember correctly.  The main temple was built in 1308 and despite all of Korea's wars and domination, the original structure has survived.  It has been repaired over the years, of course.  Photographs of inside this temple are not allowed because people use this temple constantly and as they wish.

I made that picture extra large so maybe you can read the history if you want to.

 Dragons on the first pagoda inside the temple


                                                                                Entrance to the temple

Most of the faces we saw while walking along the grounds were Asian.  Perhaps because it was not a weekend day, a few people seemed surprised to see us.  Two asked if we were 'miguk salam', Hangeul for American people.

I wish I could tell you who the figures are above.  Fearsome expressions, and their feet rest upon people and tigers.  Obviously they control various aspects of the universe with their gifts of power.

It is just beautiful there.

                These lotus flowers are placed in honor of a person by the monks.

                      This is where teacher and students sit/kneel to write and meditate.

The walls are reliefs, carved wood commemorating historical moments in Buddhism.  The white on the ceiling are lanterns with written prayers hanging from them.

 I saw two people inside a greenhouse type structure making lanterns, so I walked in and took some pictures of lanterns they had completed.

These lanterns were strung along the sides of some of the paths on the grounds.

Buddha has lots of friends and students.

Buddhas catching a fish

Temple altars

This building is a pass through and had the large statues inside, 2 on each side.

This is the building from 1308.  The pagoda on the right has pieces from the original which was built in the mid-tenth century.

 After our temple tour, we met in the town just outside the main gate for lunch.  We then explored the small town known for its items for health including teas, herbs, and medicinal foods.  The honey had comb and BEES in it.

This fellow was cutting candy with a pair of scissors as a hammer and a flat chisel.  It was musical in sound.  Sudeoksa Temple also has a 'Temple Stay' program where for the price of a little less than $30, you can spend 2 days and 1 night behaving as a Buddhist monk in training, doing chores, meditating, and writing Buddha's teachings as a way to learn and meditate.  I may have to do that at some point.