Nature, Buddhism, and City Life

I've mentioned before how great the people here have been, but I don't think I've really yet captured what I'm talking about. In an attempt to do so, I'm posting this blog.

After meeting Prianka at the grocery store and finding her on the internet, she added me to a page on Facebook for people who live here and where they post social events on a regular basis. I immediately started getting welcome emails from other foreigners and getting invitations to their weekend outings. Two of those people were my new friends Ross and Nicole. They said that they were going to Gyeryongsan National Park, which is just outside of Daejeon, and that I should come along. Apparently Fall here is beautiful, which is something that I've never really experienced back in LA, so I jumped at the chance. They also said that there was a Buddhist Temple there and all of the monks are women, so that might be interesting to see. I was a little sick at this point, but I didn't want to miss out.

Well, it's a good thing that I decided to ignore my body's pleads to stay home and in bed because I met even more awesome people there and I got to see a little more of SoKo. I won't write much more than this but rather let the pictures do the talking (with minor captions for some of those pictures).

(^Daejeon Station. There was a guy dressed almost like a monk and playing come music.)

(^Old men with hats and canes quietly observing the world.)

(^New friends Sara and Amy.) :)

(^From left to right: Bart, Ross, Nicole, Sara, and Amy. All new.)

(^The infamous Durian fruit. It's supposed to taste like custardy putrid onions.)

(^Sara and her "Delicious Snack" from 7Eleven.)

(^On our way to Gyeryongsan National Park. We took a city bus.)

(^We thought this was hilarious and so I had to take a picture.)

(^If you've never seen what a traditional Korean toilet looks like, this is it. I've managed to avoid them so far.)

(^This is not really sweat in a bottle. It's a Gatorade-type drink.)

(^Mmmmm... Silk worms. Delicious... NOT!!)

(^Fall colors!!)

(^Female Buddhist Monks. I never knew that there were women monks. I thought this was awesome.)

(^I think the stones are piled neatly like this by people because if you can make the rocks balance, then your wishes come true... I may have the explanation a little off, but that's the gist of it.)

(^Pepero sticks. The people here have a holiday called Pepero Day whic is somewhat like Valentine's Day in which they give out Pepero (cookie sticks with chocolate inside or outside) to those they love.)

(^We got goofy and pretended to smoke them. I'm glad we didn't get smacked in the face because women are not allowed to smoke in SoKo. I think it's something about the movement of a stick-like object towards the mouth. I'll try to figure it out and report back on it later.)

(^Buddha)

(^Buddhist Temple)

(^I like this picture. I like the old man with the impeccable posture.)

(^More Female Buddhist Monks.)

(^We went back to the downtown area of Daejeon for dinner.)

(^Crazy trendy shopping.)

(^Fanciest Pizza Hut I've ever seen.)

(^Yay for new friends!)