Land of the Morning Calm-Korea: South Korea-Land of Morning Calm

Day 5-Yesan-Gun-Korea, 1 May 2009.

It’s time to say goodbye to my host family in Asan city as we moved on to the next county, Yesan-gun (예산).

Upon arriving in Yesan, we were warmly received by the mayor; Major General (Ret.) Choi Seung Woo who introduced Yesan County’s products such as Loess apples and rice.

Then, we visited Yesan elementary school where facilities such as computer room, music room, library and hall were explained by its school principal who gave us a touring around. We also visited Sudeok-sa temple, a Buddhist temple renowned for a large number of great Seon masters who lived and practised there. Sudeok-sa temple has also produced a number of prominent Dharma teachers throughout its long history which is located on the southern slopes of Deoksungsan in Deoksan-myeon. It's main hall is daeungjeon (大雄殿), Korea's oldest wooden building and it has been clasified as Korea National Treasure No. 49.

We were treated lunch by Major General (Ret.) Choi where we had Korean Pork BBQ known as Pork Galbi.

We visited the house of Kim Jeong-Hui, known as ‘Chusa old house’, where he was known as ‘master of writing’.

We visited an apple farm and ate big juicy apple provided by the owner, Yedang tourism sites and we had vegetarian dinner and experienced Korean traditional tea culture back at Sudeok-sa temple.