Tongdosa and Daegu

On Saturday morning I got up early to meet Mike and head out to Tongdosa, a huge temple that supposedly has relics of the Buddha enshrined there. We got up early and took a bus from the bus stop closest to Dong Daegu subway stop (there is no sign that says Tongdosa, but you can get a bus from there). 100 minutes later we made it to Tongdosa rest stop. This is actually a fair ways away from the temple entrance and the street signs aren't really all that clear, but if you just walk through the rest stop and down the road behind it you will find the temple.

You start with a long trail through the mountain that takes about 15-20 minutes to walk. Actually on a warm summer day it is very nice.

our walk in

You then come to the temple, one of the largest in Korea. I have actually been here once before way back in 2009 when I still lived in Ulsan (has it really been that long). 

on the way in

carvings outside the temple gate

inside Tongdosa

a bodhi tree (I think)

The temple itself is almost 1500 years old, though as with most things in Korea it has been rebuilt over the centuries. You can read about the temple itself here.

After that we tried to make our way back towards the bus terminal but there we realized that we were only about a $10 cab ride from Eonyang KTX train station (the new station that brings KTX service to Ulsan). This didn't exist when I lived there, but it does now and boy do I wish it did when I lived there. I can now get to Ulsan in 25 minutes (though it's a ways out of town and another 20 minutes or so on the bus). But that does make life easier.

We got back to Daegu and had time to rest before Ange and her boyfriend Chris came in. Mike and I then met them downtown and we had a few patio beers, some food, introduced Chris to makgeolli and had an overall good night out. Other Kris joined up from his trip to Seoul where it looks like he's landed a great job for when his Reading Town contract is up. Yet another friend who has moved to Seoul :P

The next day I got up and had my much awaited lazy day before meeting Ange and Chris again for dinner before they got their train up to Cheongju. 

Next weekend is Geoff's last in Korea so Sunday we will be hanging out. Otherwise a quiet week ahead.