Firstly, when you come to any shrine, please either take a quick look in from the door-way and move on or take your shoes off and go into the shrine. Don't linger in the doorway as it is considered rude. If you enter, sit down for a few moments and feel the atmosphere. If there are people inside, they will be chanting, or reciting a special word or phrase with a long string of beads, or meditating. They are there because this is their main practice place and they can come at any time they wish.

Secondly, although the temple is magnifi-cent, it is the home of the monks or nuns who live there. Although there are no restric-tions to taking pictures of the exteriors of buildings, pagodas, stone lanterns etc., sometimes there are objections to taking photos inside. Ask someone with a gesture and respect their reply. Consider how you would feel being photo-graphed in similar circumstances... Put yourself in their shoes: would you like to be photographed at breakfast (even if you eat it in such a novel way)? So, if someone makes a gesture of "NO" (don't take that picture/go in that area), please respect it.

Thirdly, if a monk, nun or layperson should stop and put his/her hands together and bow, they are greeting you. Please return the greeting by stopping and bowing, or by making the same gesture.