Fox Matsuri

In Tsugawa, a town about 2 hours South-East of Niigata city, there's an annual Fox festival. Apparently, couples compete to be the Fox and Fox-bride, and then there's a big marital procession and ceremony. Oh, and you can get your face painted.

All you can eat strawberries

Possibly the best idea ever. For about $15, you can wander between strawberry plants in a green house, eating as much as you can in half an hour.

Seoul at night

Dear god, the food

Love it. All of it.

Inchon ceramics fest

Went to a ceramics festival near Seoul. It boasted to be the world's largest?

Korean Zen

Shelby and I spent one night at Hwagyesa temple in Seoul. It was a little bit informal, probably because we arrived on a Tuesday night. They have a formal zazenkai on Sundays, but during the week there isn't anything specifically organized. Instead, we arrived around 4pm, rested until dinner at 5, chanted from 6-6:30, meditated from 6:30-7:30 and then 7:45-8:15. We went to bed at 9, only to wake up at 3 in order to meditate from 3-4, chant from 4-4:30, meditate from 4:30-5:30, and have breakfast at 6. After that, we climbed a mountain with the head priest and some of the monks and residents. Needless to say, I was exhausted afterwards for days (but it was worth it).

Korean Tea

Traditional Korean tea is very, very different from any other I have experienced. It's often made from a jelly, or else from pouring boiled water over dried fruits, nuts, and herbs. My favorite was one with prunes, pine nuts, and dates, among other things I couldn't identify. And of course, it's served with rice snacks.

The Lotus Lantern Festival

I arrived in Korea on Saturday night (April 25th), just in time for the beginning of the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul. The festival celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and is a huge event centered around Jogyesa temple. Shelby and I walked around the festival on Sunday, joining in the parade Sunday night and the concert/group dancing that followed.