All the Trees of the Forest Sing for Joy

This past Saturday, Sandy and I enjoyed an outing with three of our colleagues from the international faculty. We traveled together to Gyeongju, the ancient capital city of Korea, and Bulguksa, a monastery that is nestled up in the mountains above Gyeongju. The cherry blossoms were at their height and many of the other trees and shrubs were beginning to show their many hues of new-growth green.

Cherry trees fill the hillside along the pathway up to the entrance of Bulguksa.

Just inside Bulguksa's main gate, we come to a lovely mountain pond.  The newly constructed monastery enclave can be seen in the background above the stone bridge.

Here's a close-up of the cherry blossoms with the new-growth of green leaves beginning to unfold.

As we walk along the path that encircles the garden pond, we can look back toward the monastery gate.

Another stone bridge leads over a slow-flowing, spring-fed stream that trickles down the mountain and fills the pond.

More cherry trees surround the monastery's 10-foot tall bell suspended in the center of this structure. The bell's low-tones mark the hours of prayer.  The entrance to the old monastic enclave can be seen along the left side of the photo.

This is the most popular perspective on the ascending stairs to the main temple enclosure.  The second stairway (in the distance) is called "The Stairway to Heaven."

Here we are with Lynn & Debi in front of one of the other temple buildings.  Lynn's husband Roy took the photo.

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord. ~ Psalm 96:12-13