Earth Day in Songnisan

Without even paying any mind to the date, Tony and I eagerly agreed to accompany our director, Heather, on a weekend hike in Songnisan National Park, only to realize at the end of the day that we spent Earth Day in the best and most appropriate way - surrounded by her bountiful beauty and breathtaking wonder.

After getting lost for a bit in the car, we finally made it to Songni Mountain and began our ascent. Mind you, hiking with Koreans is always a dangerous task - they're born in the mountains and have evolved to be natural climbers who hop up the steep rocks without a single hesitation or drop of sweat. It's a fact.

It's worth the risk. :)

After an hour and a half of climbing, we reached our destination: the dwelling place and temple of an old Buddhist monk. Using Heather as his translator, he invited us in to share lunch with him - this meal was made exclusively (perhaps minus the rice) from ingredients grown on his mountainside: weeds, herbs, and vegetables; soup, kimchi, and lettuce wraps. I think this may have been the healthiest meal I've eaten in my life. The monk has lived at this spot for over thirty years, and he only comes down once a year or so, which means he lives off the land and therefore lives an extremely healthy vegetarian lifestyle. Though he appeared to be in his fifties, this man was 71 years old and has been studying Buddhism since he was sixteen years old. What an incredible human!

Our new monk friend's home and grounds

I don't think he ever complains about the view or noisy neighbors!!

After lunch, he proudly showed us his grounds, read Tony's soul (yet another person tells me how lucky I am to have such a loving man as a husband!), and shared his "treasure" with us - his own homemade tea! Before I had the chance to use my limited Korean vocabulary to tell him "I love tea!" he pulled out a two-liter plastic bottle filled with a root bathing in some liquid and poured a splash into each of the four teacups he has set out for us. "Yak cha," he said; "medicine tea." I took a tentative sip - tea, my eye! This tasted like grain alcohol and has such effects! Halfway through the second cup, I was feeling a bit drunk! But hey, whatever keeps you healthy and happy when you live alone on a mountain!

He called this tree "천년 나무" or "Thousand Year Old Tree"

I love trees.

After a few hours with our new friend the monk, we descended Songnisan and stopped by a more well-known and more accessible temple, Beopjusa, at the bottom of the mountain. What incredible scenery we found there! A several-story high giant golden Buddha statue; a museum filled with countless miniature golden Buddha figurines; pagodas, cherry blossoms, lanterns, and lakes.

Thank you, Mother Earth, for your ceaseless wonders. I can't express how blessed I am to be able to live on the other side of where my roots are, so that I may explore and enjoy the countless treasures across your diverse lands and seas.