One of the highlights on the first day of our trip to Busan was a visit to The Temple of Neptune's Palace (this I believe is the best translation of the Korean - Haedon YonggungSa.There are one hundred and twenty-seven steps from the two golden dragon pillars to the bridge that spans a narrow inlet. Good news is there is a cool ocean breeze you can enjoy at both ends of the journey.
The temple was founded during the Goryeo Dynasty in 1376 and claimed (rightfully) as one of the most interesting temples in Busan: "true that." There are numerous statues and wonderful carvings on the trail up and down. Thousands of people make this trek from all over the region and beyond to pray and make offerings for the goodness that they have experienced. It is written in a stone before the pilgrim takes the stairs to the temple by the sea, that you need to bring a wish with all you heart and soul, and with the help of the Buddha's guidance God will hear your prayer.
With that in mind Jae and I descended the stairs.
Among the many sculptures and carvings we found one of a bronze dragon whose flanks were adorned with hundreds of tiny buddhas. We were told that the tiny buddhas were offerings from parents for their children to help them with their studies: that's when the proverbial light bulb turned on.
I put our Little Buddha where only I could reach, far and away from the others, and with plenty of aloha.
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