The magic of Borobudur

I thought I was clever going to Borobudur on Christmas day, after all, this was a Muslim country. I guess I hadn’t learned my lesson from the train from Bandung. Instead of no one being at the site, the Buddhist structure was overcrowded. I soon realized it was a holiday in Indonesia. I’m not sure if it was a hangover from colonial times or that Islam revered Jesus (Isa) as a prophet and thus the holiday.

Taiwan’s oldest temple

I wasn’t going to visit another temple, but as I made my way along Tamsui’s Zhongshan Road, I passed the oldest temple in Taiwan. My feet took over my thoughts and I stepped towards the side entrance.

Hovering prayers of autumn

Chunwangsa Buddhist Temple was tucked away in one of the nighty-nine valleys of Hallasan National Park. I might never have entered the grounds except for the time of year.

Beomeosa Temple grounds

After roaming the temple buildings, I stumbled upon a cafeteria where free vegetarian food was offered to all visitors. Then after lunch explored the forest surrounding the temple site. Outside was a 560 year old ginkgo tree planted by a Buddhist monk after the Japanese invaded Joseon in 1592. The tree didn’t bare any nuts so 300 years ago a male ginkgo tree was planted not far away. The tree then produced thirty large sacks of nuts annually.

Beomeosa Temple

Three gates flanked the entrance to Beomeosa Temple. The first, Jogyemun Gate was built in the 1700s with four stone pillars supporting the roof. The third gate, the Burimum Gate was the most interesting and had been reconstructed less that ten years ago.

A way out

Like many temples, businesses hugged the outskirts of Senso-ji’s temple grounds. In one direction was an arcade where I spotted small containers of sake, but I headed towards the main gate.

Kyoto’s Eikando Temple

This temple was burned down during the Onin Wars, but reconstructed in 1497. Later other buildings were added to the grounds for another sect of Buddhism.

The Old Quarter’s Hang Bac Temple

This was definitely the last temple of my Vietnamese visit. At least that’s what I told myself during my final days in Hanoi. I was enticed by the narrow passageway and then up steps.

Buddhas, Buddhas and more Buddhas

Linh Buu Temple on the outskirts of Dalat seemed to be filled with sitting, standing or reclining Buddhas.