Football and Buddhism
Last Wednesday, Chris and I attended FC Seoul's last game of the current season. It was played at the World Cup Stadium in Seoul, built for the 2002 World Cup. The stadium was impressive, but, owing, no doubt, to FC Seoul's poor performance this season, the crowd was not. FC Seoul lost 3-2, the deciding goal coming
in the last minute. Several days later, on Saturday, I returned to the World Cup Stadium alone for the Korean national team's friendly game against Sweden. The atmosphere couldn't have been more different. There was little chance of a ticket to this game; it must have been sold out as soon as the game was announced. Judging from the crowd and its enthusiasm, one might have thought it was the World Cup itself and not a preperatory friendly game. My failure to procure a ticket was no big disappointment; a large screen had been set up outside the stadium. I joined a large crowd of South Koreans watching the game on this screen with free hot drinks provided by one of the many sponsors' stands set up outside and accompanied by the roar of the capacity crowd in the stadium behind us. The game ended 2-2.
In the time between these two football games, Chris and I visited a Buddhist Temple in the mountains about 3 hours drive southwest of Seoul. It was an incredibly serene and peaceful place with beautiful views into the valley below.
We fly to Shanghai on Monday.
View from the temple into the mist filled valley below.
Walking through terraced fields near the temple.
in the last minute. Several days later, on Saturday, I returned to the World Cup Stadium alone for the Korean national team's friendly game against Sweden. The atmosphere couldn't have been more different. There was little chance of a ticket to this game; it must have been sold out as soon as the game was announced. Judging from the crowd and its enthusiasm, one might have thought it was the World Cup itself and not a preperatory friendly game. My failure to procure a ticket was no big disappointment; a large screen had been set up outside the stadium. I joined a large crowd of South Koreans watching the game on this screen with free hot drinks provided by one of the many sponsors' stands set up outside and accompanied by the roar of the capacity crowd in the stadium behind us. The game ended 2-2.In the time between these two football games, Chris and I visited a Buddhist Temple in the mountains about 3 hours drive southwest of Seoul. It was an incredibly serene and peaceful place with beautiful views into the valley below.
We fly to Shanghai on Monday.
View from the temple into the mist filled valley below.
Walking through terraced fields near the temple.
posted by Tor at 12:24 AM
2 Comments:
Very Good! I am glad you guys are having a good time.
Jaeyoon
Did you visit Tae Hoon?
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