The Temple of Heaven

Last season, the TV show "The Amazing Race" came to Korea. We've watched this show every week since it came on the air, and we were excited to see what locations in Korea the show would visit. Would the contestants have to navigate through bustling Namdaemun Market? Maybe they would take a trip to the Penis Park for a schlong-related challenge? Nope! The cast went rafting, hung out with the US army, and visited the Temple of Heaven. Whaaaaaaa? The least they could have done was hold a kimchi-eating challenge. Anyway, we recently decided to visit the Temple of Heaven since it was Amazing Race-worthy and we'd never heard of it.

Anyone who's been in Korea for a while has seen a million little temples like this one, but the Temple of Heaven feels kind of special. For starters, it's located on the grounds of the Westin Chosun Hotel near City Hall Station, which is kind of random. As a result of it's location, it's not that well-known and there are no crowds around. I'm assuming Phil and the cast were staying at the hotel that night, so that's why this was the pit stop for that leg of the race.

The Temple of Heaven is traditionally where sacrifices were left to ensure a bountiful harvest. Many moons ago, when Korea and China had some kind of split, Korea decided to build it's own Temple of Heaven (we visited China's last year). Though this place has nothing on the spectacle to be seen in Beijing (thanks for destroying everything but the altar, Japan!), it is a peaceful, colorful and impressive little temple.

A haetae statue. There were lots of these little guys, traditional fire-eating creatures, around the temple.

The fire-eater and the HEAT.

The ceremonial entrance which, ironically, you can't enter through. Beautiful, though.

Painting inside the gate.

The Temple of Heaven: we came, we saw, we stood where Phil stood.