Moose and Buddha

  Daegu, Korea Rep.
Sunday, November 18, 2007

November 17, 2007 from my journal...
No poker last night so I tried to plan a trip for Xmas but it looks like I'll be staying here because of finances. All this excitement about Thailand and Taiwan will have to wait for a time when I have paid the bank back and managed to save a few pennies for myself.

This morning Jill and I hit the streets at 6:30 to catch a bus to Daegu. It was a three and a half hour ride South to our destination. The plan: visit a temple and see Moose, a friend who I met while living in Vancouver. One of the more level headed of the many visitors my roomies and I had, Moose has made a life here in Korea by marrying a Korean and opening the Thunderbird Lounge and the Holy Grill restaurant in Daegu.

Jill and I got off the bus, strangers in a strange land. Interestingly enough there were three foreigners from Europe in the Dunkin Donuts we stopped at after arriving. After coffee we grabbed a cab to Mt. Palgong and Donghwasa Temple. A 40 minute cab ride, one flipped over truck, and 20,000 WON later we arrived at the base of the Mountain. Pressed for time we took a gondola to the top for 2,500 WON. The view was amazing. We snapped some pics and hiked around for an hour and then headed down to find the temple.

We walked around for an hour and then caught our first break. After staring at a map for a few moments a kind man asked us where our destination was. We told him Donghwasa Temple and he then pointed us in the right direction. Moments later we found ourselves walking through a large gate oblivious to the entrance fee. We were stopped  and then realizing our folly we paid the 2,500 WON entrance fee. Once inside we searched for the main event, a 33 meter Buddha statue, the largest on the planet. We walked around and soon found the relic. It was magnificent to behold. Completed in November of 1992 it has two pieces of Buddhas bones in the body. We also toured Tongil-dejoen Hall where the wishes of Buddhists desiring the reunification of Korea are stored.

I now sit at the base of the Buddha, the sun is shining brightly and there is a gentle hum of those who have come here to pray. This is it! I am completely lost in wanderlust. These are the moments that I seek out and love.

Tonight we will dine at Mooses restaurant. I am particularly excited because his menu is Canadian. I will clog my arteries with poutine and swill Canadian beer while catching up with Moose.

November 18, 2007
The lengthy bus ride home was painful. It took five hours because the roads were all jammed up. Last night was a blast. We ate at the Holy Grill, drank, and told old war stories. Moose and two other Canucks opened the Grill two months ago. It's a nice place with a big screen TV on which they play the hockey games. After dinner Jill and I headed to the Thunderbird Lounge where our host Moose let us drink on the house. The night got hazy as I drank. I chatted with a US soldier about Iraq and his job as a young 21 year old military police officer. It's sad to realize that young men like him are dying over in the desert. I sensed that he was a bit brain washed about the role the US has as the worlds "Police Force". He was also trained to dehumanize the enemy like any good soldier should; talking about how the enemy are  criminals and evil men seeking salvation to heaven by taking up arms against the infidels. It was very interesting. We said our goodbyes as he rushed back to the base for a 1 am curfew. To satisfy the crowds desire to see my infamous raptor impression I jumped up on the bar and became the raptor only to fall into the crowd. What a fun night. Thanks Moose.