Buddha's Birthday

Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul

May 10th of every year is special for being the birthday of somebody near and dear to me. May 10th 2011, however, is special to many people around the globe for being the birthday of Prince Siddhartha Gautama a.k.a. Buddha.

East Asian countries following the Chinese Lunar calendar (all but Japan) celebrate Buddha's birthday on the 8th day of the 4th month. For some, it is an event worthy of an entire month of celebrations, while for others, it is merely a day off work and an excuse to visit the local temple to take in the colorful displays of lotus lanterns.

My only direct experience with Buddha's birthday comes from South Korea. Even though only about 20% of the population identifies as Buddhist (close to 30% are Christian, while most of the remaining population do not identify as any particular religion), Buddha's birthday is a public holiday and is marked by celebrations at all of the major temples. Though I cannot speak for the other major cities in Korea, Seoul holds a big festival, typically the weekend before the official holiday, which culminates in a huge parade through the city. During the preceding month, colorful lotus lanterns are hung around temples and at strategic points throughout the city. The temples, gorgeous and peaceful during the daytime, become magical during the fresh spring nights when the lanterns are lit. It is truly one of the best times to experience Seoul, a brief sojourn into the world of perfect spring weather squeezed between the harsh winter and the oppressively hot, humid, and rainy summer. During last year's festivities, even though I had to get up and work at 6 am the following morning, I made myself get out to soak in the parade and the flawless night. Though I typically am not a fan of the crowds in Seoul, it was totally worth it. I'd love to experience this holiday again in another part of the world. But until then... happy birthday, Buddha!

The weekend before Buddha's birthday, there is a parade through Seoul starting near City Hall and ending at Jogyesa temple. Many people wear traditional clothing, like hanbok, to march in the parade.

festivities at Jogyesa temple

Buddha flies into Seoul in a glowing helicopter these days. 21st century Buddha.

happiness is...

...cherry blossoms in the springtime.

Seriously, everyone always goes nuts for the cherry blossoms, with festivals popping up all over the world to celebrate their arrival... which always makes me inclined to say "ehhh, what's the big deal?"  But I'll admit that it brings me out of my winter funk a bit to suddenly see bursts of color emerging where barren trees had previously stood.

Cherry trees in bloom in front of the 63 Building in Yeouido- the tallest building in Korea

The island of Yeouido in Seoul is the best spot in the city to witness cherry blossom season and is always great for a walk or bike ride along the Hangang.  Right about this time last year, I was delighted to be brought back to the world of the living with the arrival of spring in Seoul.
(Yeouido is along Line 5/Purple- stop Yeouido lets you off near the National Assembly and close to the start of the festival, while Yeouinaru is closest to Hangang Park and the path along the river)

hello world, here's my cliché "beginnings" post

I'll preface this entire project (lifestyle?) by quoting the lovely Margaret Atwood, just as I did my last blogging endeavor...

In The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood writes:

“Why is it that we want so badly to memorialize ourselves? Even while we’re still alive. We wish to assert our existence, like dogs peeing on fire hydrants. We put on display our framed photographs, our parchment diplomas, our silver-plated cups; we monogram our linen, we carve our names on trees, we scrawl them on washroom walls. It’s all the same impulse. What do we hope from it? Applause, envy, respect? Or simply attention, of any kind we can get?

At the very least we want a witness. We can’t stand the idea of our own voices falling silent finally, like the radio running down.”

I offer this passage as the anthem to the Millennials.  Say what you want about us, maybe we are all just attention seeking whores.  But is it so bad to want a witness?  Perhaps memorializing ourselves is not something undertaken in an act of attention seeking, but rather in pursuit of a future pause for reflection.

A year and a half ago, when I left the Northeastern US for Seoul, S. Korea, I deliberated for a long time over whether or not to keep a blog.  In the end, I resolved to put away my blogger judgment and give it my best effort.  Sure, I had a small audience who tuned in now and again to see me make an ass of myself in my new surroundings, but ultimately I wrote for myself.  Looking back, it is easy for me to form opinions one way or another about my overall experience in Korea.  But reading through that stupid blog chronicling the ups and downs over the span of my year in Korea reminds me that life is not just about the averages.

So, here I am again.  Insert something cliché about "starting over" here.