Girls Meditation-Yoga Temple Stay Weekend

Two of my girl friends and I visited a 4th living in Korea for a long weekend.  We flew into Busan and took a bus and taxi to the Golgusa Temple.  We picked it initially because of all the activities it had thinking we wouldn't be bored, but in retrospect it was exhausting!  4 AM wake up by chanting, just enough time to walk to the top of the mountain for 4:30 AM chanting, followed by 5AM walking meditation, and breakfast at 6.  Yoga at 8:30 and 108 bows - prostrations at 10 AM.  Lunch and afternoon meditation followed by Sunmundo martial arts training.  By the 2nd day we literally were looking for a spa.  Because of our outfits - orange and brown, the rigorous schedule and getting shsh'd for talking at times or put back in line, plus the dormitory bulk-style kimchi - we had a lot of prison references.  We joked that it probably took a lot of cigarettes to make our spa appointments and leave the compound. 

We spent a couple days in monk training, then took a bus to Daegu to our friend's gorgeous city-view 2000 SF apartment.  Spent Saturday night going shopping and exploring Daegu and flew back Sunday. 

Here are a few pics!  I'd always wanted to do a temple stay, but Jeff thought it all sounded like torture.  He was happy when we arranged with 'Moon' to do this without him. 

Bella's Bounce Party

What a successful bounce house party!  We invited Bella's kindergarten class of 14 kids, and 8 came (9 with Bella).  It was fun to meet all the parents and the kids had a great time bouncing, playing at the playground, eating cake and opening presents.  The weather was gorgeous and everyone had a great time. 

Bella's Birthday Weekend

We spent Bella's actual birthday in Harmonyland (Hello Kitty, My Melody and other Sanrio characters).  If you go on your actual birthday, you get to go on stage with Hello Kitty - a highlight for Bella.  We had a great visit and the girls rode in their first roller coaster together.  We weren't sure what the age cut-off was and told Morgan you might need to be 10, so when asked how old she was she quickly said "I'm 11 and my sister is 10."  :-)  It worked!  We lucked out with very short to no lines for the rides!

Surprise cupcakes in our hotel and more presents!

and the next morning we visited the Hells of Beppu.  We went to the Umi Jigoku blue hot spring which had a very hot foot bath.  We loved it and thought our feet felt rejuvenated afterward.  I was enjoying it a lot until Jeff pointed out all the dead skin floating (yuk!).  Then we went to the Chinoike Jigoku which was the red hot spring.  While we were there a camera crew asked us for an interview and apparently we will be on the local news at 8 PM!  It was a great day for exploring.