Hi everyone, it’s almost the end of the year! But before that, let me take you for a one-night stay at Geumsunsa Temple in Korea ✨🪷🙏
Once again, thank you One Life Adventures for sponsoring the 10 Day South Korea tour! Yes, I’m their affiliate, so you’ll see me sprinkling some discount codes in my blog post 😉
We had some free time until around 1pm before departing for the beautiful, 600-year-old Buddhist temple.
Since we didn’t have time to visit the famous Namsan Tower yesterday, our tour guide, Cheong An, gave us 15,000 KRW (equivalent to the entrance ticket price) and let us decide how to spend our free time.
As for me, of course, I… used it for a nice meal!! 😄 😄 😄
I knew Namsan Tower was famous, but I wasn’t interested. I’d rather have a proper and balanced Korean meal, a nice one… since I’d been pinching pennies for food, hehe!
Since it was still too early for lunch, I explored Myeongdong for the last time and stumbled upon a cute Hello Kitty Cafe.
Afterward, I headed to a BBQ restaurant which banners I always saw near the hostel’s entrance.
Cheong An said the food was good, so I gave it a try. The restaurant turned out to be very elegant and the food was also nice ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Ahhh, finally, my first and last black pork BBQ meal in Korea! I was so happy!! Ahahahhaha 😋 😋 😋
Geumsunsa Temple, Korea – Orientation and Temple Tour
We took taxis from the hostel to Geumsunsa Temple. Since the temple was located on top of a mountain and wasn’t accessible by cars, we had to climb some stairs to reach it.
Cheong An, Adam, and others were so kind, they helped us load our luggage manually and sent them to the temple. Oh ya, did you know? Adam is working at the airport, at the luggage checking point!
Wow, Adam, so you’re working while on holiday? Thank you so much, everyone! 🙏 😊
The hike to the Geumsunsa Temple stay was light and pleasant. Laura, Marlene, Rita and I were the last in the group, but it was ok! We had plenty of time and enjoyed our slow hike.
The air was fresh, the surroundings were lush, and the afternoon sun warmed our bodies.
After some time, we finally reached the beautiful and serene Geumsunsa Temple. Yaaay, we couldn’t wait to join the activities and stay overnight there!
While waiting for our luggage to arrive, we met our host, a kind Korean lady (sorry, I forgot her name), who passed us our uniform.
The material was soft, and after changing into the uniform, I felt like blending in with the temple. And what a nice blue and purple colours!
CLARA10
I still had some free time until the Geumsunsa Temple’s orientation and temple tour, so I explored the area and took some photos. This temple was huge and blended well with its natural surroundings!
There was a small river and a bench nearby, where you could relax, close your eyes, and listen to the sound of water flowing (like what Dominik did).
You can also catch sunrise or sunset from this peak:
Finally, it’s time for the temple tour!
The kind lady took us up and down, exploring the whole Geumsunsa Temple, including the underground cave temple and the main temple at the top of the mountain.
CLARA10
Will I have the luxury of returning to this place for the second time? Without taking photos, just me chilling in nature and being present… 🪷 🪷 🪷
Also read: “Feeling Zen at Ryogen-in Temple, Kyoto”
Also read: “Baliem Valley Festival Budget Tour: Day 1”
Vegetarian Dinner at Geumsunsa Temple, Korea with One Life Adventures
Similar to the temple stay that I experienced in Japan, the included dinner at Geumsunsa Temple, Korea, was vegetarian. But it was nice, healthy, and filling! 🪷 🪷 🪷
I was so happy when the canteen aunties served pear, as I hadn’t eaten fruits since I arrived in Korea. Again, similar to Japan, the fruits in Korea are expensive.
Luckily, Korean meals tend to be balanced. If you order set meals, the side dishes are mainly vegetables, so at least you get some fibre🫰 😄 ✨
After eating, we had to wash our own plates and cutlery. I like this rule, it keeps us disciplined!
By the way, did I tell you that Geumsunsa Temple was founded by a Buddhist monk named Muhak, during the Joseon Dynasty?
According to Temple Stay, one day, Muhak Sunim was looking for a place to be the new capital for the kingdom.
Then, he explored Mount Samgaksan and found a spot where the mountain’s energy was concentrated. So, he built a temple there and it became the start of Geumsunsa Temple.
Wow! Thank you, One Life Adventures for including this temple stay experience in the South Korea tour package!
Also read: “Flores Overland Trip: What to Do in Bajawa”
Also read: “Gyeongju: Bulguksa Temple, Taekwondo Class & Food Galore”
Geumsunsa Temple Stay: Ringing the Bell of the Temple, Evening Chanting, and Singing Bowl Meditation
Afterwards, we sat on the stairs to watch the monk ring the temple bells. There were three bells, with each represented different thing (sorry, I forgot).
It was a nice experience, hearing the bell sound in nature, surrounded by my new friends and the moonlight…
Next, we hiked a bit to reach the place for our evening chanting. I was a bit late because I went to the toilet beforehand, but at least I got this shot where everyone was praying:
CLARA10
The next temple stay activity at Geumsunsa Temple was singing bowl meditation. We returned to the living room and sat in a big circle.
Ok, actually, I wasn’t supposed to take photos during this session – but I couldn’t help it!
I wanted to document the moment for this blog post (and for my friends)… sorry, lady host! I put my phone on silent mode and took some photos.
Did I miss the supposedly tranquil experience? Well… yes. But it’s ok, because it wasn’t my first time joining singing bowl meditation 😉
Before we returned to our rooms to rest, we wrote our wishes on the prayer papers. The next morning, the lady host will burn the papers during the prayer.
May all of our wishes come true! 🙏 🙏 🙏
Also read: “Solo Trip to the Mystical Djawatan and Antaboga, Banyuwangi”
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A Slow Morning at Geumsunsa Temple Stay, Korea
The next day, most of my friends joined the morning prayer chanting while I decided to have a slow morning. I woke up a bit late and returned to the temple inside the cave for some private time.
Although I’m a Catholic who frequents a Christian church, I don’t mind having some peaceful time, sitting across the Buddha statue.
At that moment, I was the only one inside the temple cave, with a soft sound of water flowing and warm sunlight penetrating the room ✨ ✨ ✨
I like Buddhism; the teaching is generally about love. And the most important thing, there are no extremists…
I mean, Buddhism doesn’t say we must be heterosexual, shouldn’t eat this or that, etc. The general teaching is to be a good person and love one another.
Although I’m a Catholic, I still greeted her/him (the Buddha statue) and shared my wishes. Amitabha, sadhu sadhu sadhu 🙏 🙏 🙏
Afterward, the group had a vegetarian breakfast together and then went to Gyeongju.
And that’s a wrap! My last blog post of this year! I hope you like our 1N temple stay at Geumsunsa Temple, Korea with One Life Adventures.
🎉 Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Happy New Year! 🎉
CLARA10
Also read: “Japan Temple Stay: Daimyoo-in, Koyasan”
Also read: “Seoul Day Trip: Garden of Morning Calm, Gangchon Rail Park & Nami Island”
Country list for your next trip…
