That one time with the surprise parade

Today, me and two other Americans went for a nice picnic in Daegu Park. It started off slow enough, but we heard some music and decided to follow it out. We found ourselves in an amphitheater with thousands of people most of which were dressed in traditional Korean garb (hanbok).  In further walking, we were offered some food by a tent of people.  Thinking nothing of it, we stopped to enjoy some rice/seawead soup, peppers, and what appeared to be seasoned fishbones.  We then attempted to ask if they were selling the beautiful laterns that were covering the tent.  They quickly brought three over and refused our money.  We were probably as pleased as three people could be.. However, what we didn't know, was that we had just promised to march in their parade.  Yes, we were conscripted into the Buddhist Lotus Festival Parade, which is quite a big deal in Daegu.  They grabbed our hands and quickly pulled us back to the amphitheater and sat us down, where we participated (read: stood around not understanding anything) during their hour long worship service. It began to get dark, and 600 school aged kids walked into the theater, carrying bags.  As the people around us continued to chant their prayers, these kids split into groups and began waving the bags around and starting a fire underneath them.  The effect was astonishing.  The bags soon lifted into the night sky, and as they floated higher and higher they began to look like stars in the night sky.

A sight I will never forget

It was absolutely one of the most remarkable and amazing sights of my life.  Afterwards an old blue truck drove in as we watched with curiousity... Much to my surprise, the truck bed was filled with fireworks which they set off... It was the closest I have ever been to fireworks and the effect left me awestruck..

As if these experiences weren't enough, the same group grabbed our hands again and pulled us into the street, where the parade was lining up.. Yup, we marched all through Daegu in front of the large group of monks, carrying our little lanterns.. We were a huge hit to boot.

Shortly after being fed and a long time before realizing what we were in for.

Nicest woman I have ever met.

Getting ready to go, all dressed in their Hanbok

Traditional band that we marched along too.

Our lanterns

Just a few of the monks we danced and marched with

"Yohng" or... dragon, as we would know him.

Photo's courtesy of James Kronmiller

I will be sharing the video of this as soon as I can.  But for now, it must suffice to say I truly made memories to last a life time.