[just get here?...miss a step?...start with part 1 here]

So we were following the monk back towards the main compound.

(Oh?…Where did I go yesterday?…Why didn’t I post anything?…Well, I had an off day. Ever have one of those?…

There were all these chores to do, I couldn’t really focus & I was really upset to learn that the commissary didn’t have any canned pumpkin. How is that even possible?…It’s Fall! 

So my plans of pumpkin bread for the Lumber Barons for Chuseok were dashed & it was back to the drawing board. And by the time I looked up it was way too late & I was way too incoherent. So I’m sorry about that.)

But when he passed these doors, I had to stop to take a picture.

I wish I knew what these men are called, what they represent…to my naive eye they look like samurai – but samurai are Japanese, not Korean. One is obviously wielding a sword & I’m not really sure what the other is doing.

But just around the corner is the main temple.

This one is old, too…and much more ornate.

Look at the faded murals.

But we have be very quiet…

…people are praying inside.

They stand-up with clasped hands, then bow & kneel…hands & foreheads to the floor.

They actually do this a couple of times.

If we sneak around real quiet like, we can catch a glimpse of the altar they’re praying to.

But we have to be very, very respectful…so everyone on their tip-toes & best behavior.

If there wasn’t anyone inside, I would go in…I brought socks to put on & everything…but it felt like it would be disrespectful to those praying.

So I stayed outside & quietly snapped pictures with the camera in stealth mode…no tell-tale click-click sound.

Although if you ever have the chance to visit a temple, temple etiquette 101 is to remove your shoes before you enter.

But no bare feet…and definitely no socks with holes in them!

The paper pinwheels on the ceiling with the hanging tags caught my eye.

The repetition, color…I think they’re prayers…but I can’t be sure.

But each one is numbered.