A Day with the Gods

Hsiu-Li took me to a temple!

Praying to the gods.

A necklace with the good luck god for those
born during the year of the ram/goat on it.

Blessing my necklace.

Hsiu-Li and me!

The botanical gardens

Lotus flower

That's my name!  Kǎi lì Hotel!

Today my Taiwan buddy, Hsiu-Li, and her friend took me to a temple and the botanical garden.  Both were extremely gorgeous.

At the temple there were people burning incense everywhere so you had to watch out!  When you walk in you're given several incense sticks, you light them, and then go off to pray to whichever gods you wish.  I pretty much prayed to every god asking that he would help me improve my Chinese.  You bow and then tell the god your name, your age, where you live, and whatever you want.  After you pray, you stick your incense stick into a pot filled other incense sticks burning and bow again.  There are different gods for different things, like the god of education, the god of childbirth, and the god of the house.  Besides these three, there were about ten other gods.

I purchased a necklace with the god of good luck on it.  It was also the specific god of good luck for the year of the ram/goat which is my Chinese zodiac sign.  I had to take the necklace and do the same prayer ritual to the main god.  Then, I had to hold it inside the incense burning pot and twirl it in a circle three times to bless it.

After the temple, we went to the botanical garden which was filled with green.  There was a huge pond full of lotus flowers.  Also, there was an ancient police station which had been renovated.

I hope you're all doing well,

Kar