Saturday, Buddha's Birthday and National Museum - The weather forecast predicted rain so we planned for indoor activities. First we headed to Rotiboy for delicious warm buns with butter and coffee which were brought to Seoul by a Malaysian guy and are very popular...and yummy!

On Buddha's birthday it was only fitting that we visited one of the many temples in Seoul, Jogyesa, which is in the middle of a busy part of the city...despite the rain there were hundreds of Buddhists lining up for meals and worship and others around to take pictures. The sky was filled with lanterns and hanging from them were prayers and wishes. We couldn't go up to the temple because there was a ceremony going on, but I snagged some pictures from afar and hope to go back before I leave to get a closer look...there are five plus giant Buddhas in the temple. On our way out of the temple grounds, a monk offered us a treat, some sort of dough surrounding a walnut...I ate it despite not liking walnuts because it has to be bad luck to not eat something a monk gives you!

Amidst the rain, we headed to the National Museum of Korea...Hyunok was worried the museum wasn't very good because of her trip many years ago, but Jake and I thought it was different...and boy, was it! The museum was relocated to a beautiful building and grounds in 2005...gardens and ponds surround an immense building that is a sight in itself. The museum is celebrating its 100th anniversary, so tickets were free! We didn't see the whole museum because we hadn't eaten lunch and honestly, you see one clay pot or iron tool and you've seen them all...but, as I've said, it was a beautiful museum and I enjoyed what I saw. Koreans are not any better museum goers than Americans...maybe worse, they shove and cut when they want to see something, especially little old ladies.

If you've been reading, you know it's been more or less Korean food all the time, so I needed a break...pizza! We found a Pizza Hut, which I usually wouldn't be very excited about, but it was a cheese emergency:)

After pizza we headed back to Jake's for a mandatory rest period (yes, that's an Amazing Race reference) and played some games...Rummikub and LoBo77...both really fun.

We had dinner in Yeondeungpo again, this time at a place that serves chicken, veggies and noodles in soy sauce...a bit spicy...Jake was sweating!