Templestay tour offered in Suncheon

Gwangju International Center will run a Templestay tour to Suncheon from Nov. 23-24.

The first stop will be a tour of Suncheon Bay, a wetland area famous for its reed beds, crabs and mudskippers, followed by a lunch of braised mackerel and fresh greens.

There will then be a tour of Nagan Fortress, including chances to try straw handicrafts and folk singing, before moving on to Songgwangsa Temple for the main part of the tour.

The Templestay will feature the usual introductions to Buddhism and monk life ― including the blisteringly early mornings ― and a guided tour of the temple, including a trip to a hermitage.

The tour will move on to a book village where participants can try their hand at traditional book binding before the tour returns to Gwangju at 2 p.m.

Participation in the tour costs 100,000 won for GIC members, 120,000 won for nonmembers and 60,000 won for preschoolers. The cost includes travel, accommodation, food and other tour expenses, including insurance.

To join, sign up via www.gic.or.kr.

(paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)