Seu Mi Sa Temple

I’m not necessarily buddhist, but I respect and like the religion more than any other. My mom is a practicing buddhist, so when my brother and I were conveniently in tac-​town she suggested we go to the Seu Mi Sa temple for Buddha’s bday celebration.
Anyways, this is solely based on this one event on May 27^th. We got there a bit early and had a chance to look around. The temple is not very large but traditionally decorated. On this particular day they had the pretty lotus flowers all dangling from lines with peoples wishes written for each. The service was good, everything was very clean and well organized. They also are not super formal, but rather like to play because they had performances from members, and another perhaps hired woman who is a traditional korean singer. They read traditional korean poems, sang songs, put on plays, etc for a good hour.
We stayed for the meal after, it was bibimbap which was fairly good. They also had this KILLER makgulee (rice wine) that was SO strong it was more like rice vodka. They gave my mom a huge cupful, which my bro and I promptly finished off. They had little buddhist knick knacks for sale as well where of course all proceedings would go to the temple and monks. My mom bought my brother a bracelet and a bigger bracelet thing made out of walnuts to put in her car. Excellent craftsmanship and I think the bracelet was only $ 7 and the walnut thing I’m not sure.
I always like temples, they make me feel cleansed and calmer. I let myself envy the simple life of the shaved headed buddhist monks and wish I could even have the ¹⁄₁₀ 000 000 000 of capacity to be as calm and content as they are.
Quite good for a buddhist experience, I’d go back!