Korea

After 3 months of living in Japan, and during my spring break I took a trip to Korea. I flew to Busan on a rickety jet, landing around noon I made my way to the hostel. Let me tell you Korea has the most confusing subway system in the world. Eventually i got the grasp of it and was able to the hostel at 7pm! The people in the hostel and super helpful. During the week long stay I went all over Busan, UN cemetery, mountain climbing, fish markets and many other wild experiences. Included here are pictures from a Temple at the base of a mountain overlooking Busan.

I began to climb one of the surrounding mountains.

Slightly Tired(water rationing)

Strange Squirrel

Climbed Higher(no water)

UN Cemetery

 

Kamakura/Enoshima part 2

In 1192 after the war with the Taira clan, Minamoto Yoritomo moved the capital from Kyoto too Kamakura. His government was called Kamakura Bakufu, it lasted until 1333. During this period of time many temples statues and shrines were built to honor Buddah and other entities. Perhaps the most famous in Kamakura is the Daibutsu( Big Buddah).

Daibutsu(Near the statues base, were people honoring the Tsunami victims, it was the anniversary.

Weighing in at 121 tonnes and 43.8 feet high it was said to have been built in 1252AD. After its predecessor  a wooded statue was destroyed in a storm. This statue was subsequently damaged in 1923 by the Great Kanto Earthquake, it fell on its side and needed support braces to repair it.

It costed only a nickel to go inside the Dai-Butsu! My teacher told me at one time it was the home to Bandits and vagabonds.

Kamakura(Obama visited here) They named an ice cream after him.

The island on the Far right is Enoshima, a 25 minute beach side trolley ride from here.

Hokokuji Temple- Famous for its Bamboo and Rock Garden. I saw Bamboo a foot thick here.

A graveyard inside a Cave at the temple. The Japanese have a complicated method of burial, the first burn the body place the ashes in a 3 foot deep grave at a temple. Then they dig it up after a few years and lay the ashes at the families burial site. I believe this keeps evil ghosts out of their families site.

A bell is inside this housing. I asked the monks how many times a day they ring this bell. They laughed thinking it was funny. They ring it only once a year i believe, for new years.  I was thinking of church bell houses, ring at noon and before to dismiss and call a service.

A shrine situated on an island.

Backside to a Japanese Wedding Ceremony

Hachimangu Shrine(Here a samurai style conspiracy murder took place) Next to an old white tree, which fell in a storm last year.

Ginko tree that stood for a 1000 years, after its collapse scientists took small clippings and planted them next to it.

Shrine for dead children(each statue represents an actual child)

Kamakura/Enoshima(School trip)

Enoshima a small local resort island off the coast of the Fujisawa, is a great place to get away for the day. Complete with delicious ice cream, local seafood specialties and an arraignment of temples of shrines, it makes a fun experience. It is also very popular for young couples. They sometimes bring lockets and write each other love notes on them and lock it to a fence. The island was also home to Samuel Cocking a British merchant. Samuel built a botanical garden featuring man European and tropical plants.

Entrance to Enoshima(600 meter Bridge)

Looking back toward the bridge.(Hawks in the sky)In Enoshima instead of pigeons they have wild hawks, they swoop down and steal your food!

Guardian to the Temple

Enoshima Shrine

Walking past the hoop(Shrine for Benten-Goddess of Enoshima) a wish is granted when you walk through a wish is granted. Also washing your coins here may bring you wealth.

Shrine of Love

i

American KCP students