Things I Don't Remember: Okcheonsa

Today was absolutely gorgeous weather, and Kim suggested we go see Okcheonsa temple on our lunch break. It's about 10 minutes' drive away, and it was spectacular. It was an awesome, quiet break from the noise of screaming children and slamming doors. Nestled down into a beautiful valley, when you look up at the skyline, you see that you are surrounded by mountain peaks, giving the illusion that you are inside a blooming lotus flower, and giving the temple its name (Lotus temple). Built in 672, this temple is one of the oldest in Korea, though it has been destroyed by the Japanese twice (the buildings I saw were rebuilt in 1961). There is a water well on the grounds called "the living waters," the fountain dating back to the 200's (in existence before the first foundation of the temple was built!). I drank from it- it tasted delicious! A monk took us on a tour of the grounds for about two hours.