Hiking with the boys

It has been a while since we have taken the boys to do some outdoor cultural things and our base community center was offering a hiking trip to the Gatbawi and Donghwa Temples today. So I took the boys with me and we had an adventure. We actually went to Northern Daegu, but it took about 45-50 minutes to drive there. The first temple that we went to was the Gatbawi. Our tour guide took us through the back entrance because it was the easiest. The steep incline to the top of that entrance killed us. It seemed to be at a 45 degree angle. I am not kidding. But then we had to hike the same angle with about 500 steps(That is the number that our tour guide gave us, but I think that it was a lot more than that). Sounds easier than it was I promise. It took our tour group about 45 minutes to get to the top. But the harder front hill was similar only it has over 1000 steps, and they weren't all that even and as nice. It is said that people from all over come to hike the 1000 steps of the Gatbawi in search of a wish. The candles behind the boys are candles with people's names on them, where they are from and what they are wishing for. They are supposed to bow to Buddha 1000 times once on top(from standing to kneeling and then bow), and he will grant one visitor that day one wish. Isaiah thinks that he likes Buddha because he grants wishes. The Gatbawi is the Statue that looks like the Buddha is wearing a flat hat. On the picture of the boys under Buddha, there is a wall next to tham that people put their won coins on and if the coin stays there all day that person may have a wish. There were quite a lot of coins resting on the rock wall of the mountain beside the big statue, and Isaiah decided to try his hand at wishing and put 100 won on the wall (about 10 cents). Isaiah was helping all of the coins that would fall off and put them back on so that the person wouldn't miss out on their wish. He also saw the majority of the people bowing at different parts throughout the temple and at one point decided to join in. That is his hiking stick that is between his legs as he didn't have anywhere else to put it when he was bowing. He got a good reaction and so he continued to bow throughout the day. Funny kid. I hope it wasn't rude for him to be doing this. But I guess that we have the what do we know, we're American's excuse still. We then went to the Donghwa temple, and had been there once before to see the monks performing the drums, and didn't realize that there was more to see. I am glad that I was able to take the boys to see this as well.To give you an idea of the size of the Buddha a the Dongwha temple, the first picture you see Isaiah pretty much at the base of it minus the people praying. It is about 30 feet high. We were not expecting such a big statue to be there. It was a pretty fun day! The Donghwa temple is the oldest temple in Daegu. It was built in the 1500's. One of the most fun and interesting to see and experience here, is the rich history. It dates back to forever, and I am not able to keep track of which king did what and what time period it was in. I am glad that America is such a young country. There isn't as much to know in history as there is here. I would hate history class here I think.