Wonderful place, set in a gorgeous setting. Few monks - I counted five during the two weeks of my visit - and many Western visitors. Many Russian for some reason. On weekends, lay visitors come and sometimes high school groups stay the night. Lots of chatter results. You are free to disengage and wear an "I'm in silence" name tag. People will leave you alone.
Instruction is generally given in the afternoon sessions, and afterwards there is usually room for a symposium style Q&A session. Total organised practice time amounts to 5 hours every day, with a further one hour dedicated each to offerings, work meditation and chanting. Of course, there is room for more practice and the monastery is a big enough place to avoid the chattering of others. There is a forest on the hill and even a cave. If you are lucky enough to get a kuti, you could practice in there.
It isn't a strict place though, and those looking for a retreat center dedicated to practice might find the place too loose. The abbot seemed to think so, as I've seen him go around in his impish way, exhorting visitors to be quiet. "Talk, talk, talk... mindfulness gone," he would say, smiling. At the evening sitting, he would frequently remind us that we were to refrain from suntanning ourselves on the grassy area in front of the abbot's kuti. Him being celibate and all that...
I hope this helps!
