April Instagrams

In April...

North Korea got crazy. Again.

I examined things closely.

I walked where ancient princes and princess used to walk.

Things got tough.

Things got done.

I made new friends.

Things got sweet.

I got to create.

I remembered to breathe.

Discovered a new way to get where I'm going.

Bike Ride in Oncheoncheon

This is Oncheoncheon.

I learned how to first ride a bike two years ago, while living in Oakland. And it's true what they say. You really do never forget how to.

Oncheoncheon is a stream that runs through Busan, following the subway tracks. One Sunday, I was walking along looking for potential places to hold a yoga class. Under one of the bridges, was a nondescript building lending out yellow bicycles. Moreover, it was completely free! So after leaving my ID with them, I borrowed one of the bikes and rode down the path along the stream.

Oncheoncheon has HUGE SMOOTH bike lanes for a n00b like me.

Flowers and other plants make the area around the stream so beautiful!

Lots of people make use of the bike lane.

Obligatory feet pic.

Every 100 meters is some sort of exercise area, a staple in all Korean parks and trails.
The area usually has hula hoops, pull-up bars, as well as several machines of which I had never seen before.

A group doing a walk along the stream.

The stream and path from underneath a bridge

Graffitti, art,  and drawings lines some of the cement walls.

A highlight was finding the foot acupressure area. Otherwise called reflexology walking paths, the ground consist of smooth stones embedded in concrete with one edge sticking up (more stimulation) or lying flat (less stimulation). The benefits include:

• stimulation of reflexology areas and pressure points in your feet allowing vital energy and blood flow through the body
• relieves stress, improve balance, and enhance physical & mental well-being

And it's pretty.

These stones actually hurt a lot.  In this picture, I'm actually in a world of pain.

Directions to Oncheoncheon Bike Borrow Place and Acupressure Foot Area
From Dongnae station, take Exit 4. Immediately to the right of the exit, walk down the staircase leading down to the stream. Continue forward, following the stream (past the rock wall structure). Less than 5 minute walk and you will see the Bike Borrow Place on your right across the stream. Continue walking down the stream another 5 minutes and the Acupressure Foot Area is on your right.

Beach Music Yoga Flow

Busan is wonderful because not only is it close to mountains and great hiking trails, but also to the BEACH! As days get warmer, there are more opportunities to do things outside... like YOGA! 

I had my first yoga class on the beach. We set up right in front of the sand so that we had a fantastic view of the ocean as well as Gwangali Bridge. Bridge pose in front of a bridge is on another level.

The instructor, Amanda led us through a Vinyasa flow set to music (which is the kind of yoga that feels like home). Additionally, it was Amanda's first time teaching and I was so happy to be there for it.  The class was beautiful and I felt so inspired by Amanda's enthusiastic presence and bravery. 

tree pose

Afterwards we had brunch at a nearby restaurant.  I rarely get a chance to eat an American style breakfast so I splurged!

Met some new yogi friends!

I ordered the Salmon Egg Benedict. I hadn't eaten a hash brown in over six months.

If you are interested in Yoga and live in Busan, subscribe to the Yoga and Meditation Facebook Group. There is always a free or donation based yoga class going on each week 

Seomyeon Street Carts

The side streets along Lotte Department store in Seomyeon are lined with uniform red and blue striped tents. Within these tarp walls is a unique eating experience! 

In Seomyeon, the streets behind Lotte

For a quick bite, you can enter one of these tents and order some of the fresh seafood..  I still have no idea the extent of what you can order, but I've seen people eating pajeon like dishes or piles of oysters and clams.  Meals can come out to be around 10,000 - 20,000 won.  It also seems quite common to order large amounts of beer, makgeoli, and/or soju to accompany your meal.

window graffiti

Fresh seafood and available drinks on display.
You can choose what to put in your pajeon and they cook it up fresh!

Pajeon with squid. I will never get enough of this stuff.

::NOM::

Directions to Seomyeon Food tents:

From Seomyeon station, take Exit 7. Make a u-turn towards the crossstreet and take a left.  You should be walking towards Lotte Department Store. Just before you Lotte, turn left and the streets are lined with these food tents. However, I have only seen them open for dinner.

Lantern Making

Each month there are free Korean culture classes organized by Dalma Busanbuddhism.  I went with Anne and Sara once more to Hongbeospa Temple.

The organization even provides a free shuttle bus from the subway station to the temple.

Lanterns decorated the entire compound for Buddha's birthday, happening  in May.

The theme of "see no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil" is prevalent throughout the temple.

This month's culture class was lantern making, in celebration of Buddha's upcoming birthday. The class was held inside the main temple hall, which was fully decorated with lanterns and lantern making papers.

The center had examples of some of the lanterns we would be making.

They had stations already set up for us with all the materials needed.  They even brought in a master lantern maker to teach us. She came in dressed in a hanbok and her voice sounded like a flowing river.  It was too legit.

The process of making a lantern:

Start with a wire frame.

Apply glue thoroughly on paper and secure on wire frame

Before applying glue to paper,
you can write your wishes with a marker.

Second lantern, lotus type:

Start with a small paper cup and using glue,
begin to secure the paper petals.

Continue gluing layer after layer until desired shape.

Finish products!

I HELLA LOVE ARTS AND CRAFTS!!!

After the lesson was over, we took a tour of the temple.  We went on the roof where the giant golden Buddha sits.

More lanterns

Each ribbon is a person's prayer or wish.

They are tied all over the roof of the temple.  

From the Buddha's point of view

Lastly, we actually went inside the Buddha.

Here's a picture of our tour guide, a retired high school principle genuinely filled with joy.

Inside the Buddha, the walls are lined with lotus lights.

Each one is someone's prayer.

Another day at this magical temple.  I say magical because both times I have been here, I have felt like I was a 6-year-old filled with wonder again. There are so many beautiful things out there to see and to create. How refreshing to learn something new or try something for the first time!

Directions to Hongbeopsa
From Nopo station, take Exit 1.  It is easiest to take a taxi from there.

There is however, a temple shuttle bus that leaves from Nopo station during the culture class events.  But more information can be found at the website: https://www.facebook.com/busanbuddhism.  You can subscribe to their facebook page to receive information about future events as well.