Kusala, a Simple Woman on Cooking and Travelling

I visited to 7 temples in Kedah state on 8/8/2010

2010-08-10T00:30:00.000+08:00

Yesterday about 6.00am, mom and I paid for RM50 each and followed the organizer to below temples. Wow ! Very punctual ! Good ! (Seldom happened here, ha....too many VIP...Ooops......)

Mom already prepared the offerings of daily requisites for the temples earlier.

On the way , the bus driver went to collect others devotees a long the road. In the bus the organizer distributed mineral water and the potato bun.....so soft...and nice for my breakfast..

When the sky went a bit brighter.....Goodness ! I'm worry...will it be raining? Hope not so, because it will be my beautiful day....my off day...and I'm having one day tour to seven temples! Please......Exposed to Thai culture....in Northern part of West Malaysia.

The first temple that we reached was WAT SRI MAHAPO, Baling Kedah. Tel : 019-5939582, 4705114. Then we were invited to take the porridge chicken ...my......my.....very delicious with the special soya sauce.

Then we went to do some donation....well ! This was the tradition...clipped the money on the lidi (soft stick) which beautifully decorated and pierced on the small banana tree. Well like this one....

Then we started to do the Pamsukula ceremony ( a small ceremony to offer monk's robe). The chief monk accepted it. The devotees started to offer the items that brought by themself. See...they had the water pouring ceremony while transfered merits. Everyone also use fingers to slightly hold each other blouse until completed the ceremony.

This building is still under construction. The time we wanted to leave this temple. Wow ! Heavy raining...run ...run...run...we run up to the bus......There were 7 buses for these trips....

Waiting for a while...then started our journey to the second temple. Ooops ! Rain stop ! The second temple we went was WAT CARUK PADANG, Sik, Kedah. Tel: 04 - 4693519

We were invited to take biscuits and coffee. See !

Well ! The ceremony not yet started, so I walked around. I saw a small hut which some of them prayed for the sampan (a very small old boat). At last I read for the old papers sticked on the wall. oh...actually, this sampan, more than 200 years ..was found in this area. The sampan had been adopted by this temple.

Then I went to the back and saw a few things build with glass bottle. Well ! In Hatyai, South Thailand..also had this kind of creative art....

We went into the temple to listen to short dhamma from the chief monk. Then began the robe offerings and other items. Later, the chief monks blessing us with Thai style....showering us with the chanting blessing water.....

Then we quickly left and moved to the third temple. WAT CHONG CHARERN SUDDHAWARD,Kampung Chong, 08200 Sik, Kedah. Tel: 04 - 4694251, 019 - 4950199 Well ! A beautiful temple....good scenery from the front view.

In this temple, we took lunch. We took package rice with red syrup drink.

After the lunch meal, we started the ceremony. Almost the same for every temples.

We went the fourth temple, WAT THAT CHAREON, Kampung begia, sik, Kedah. Tel : 04 - 4647224, 012 - 5847938. They invited to take the green beans soup. Wow ! very nice soup.....

This was the bus we took. Here, the school bus mostly will be use as a tour bus in Weekends or school holidays.

By the time we wanted to leave the temples..well ! we came to know 2 women fainted. One of them did not take the High Blood Pressure pils (Need to know very well for own health status)...another one not sure. well ! They were sent to the hospital.

We moved to the fifth temple, that was WAT KURA,Wat Kampung Kura, Mukim Jenari, Sik, Kedah. Tel : 04 - 7520497 We were invited to take the fried Mee Hoon in the dining hall. Very nice Fried Mee Hoon with the small Chilli Padi !

The surrounding of the temples look like these....Wow ! so creative.....Tortises holding the light round the fence of the temple....cute one......

Then we moved to the sixth temples, WAT BUKIT PERAK, Pendang, Kedah. tel : 019 - 4319394 It looks like very nice temple from outside. Wow ! With the Thai songs....really looks like we are in Thailand. The surrounding of temples also very nice. we were invited to have Loh Mee (noodles) and Fried rice. Somehow I just can only taste a bit of them....stomach full already....

Meanwhile very good to hear the two women who were fainted just now, already in the good condition.

After the ceremony, we went to the seventh temple, and the last for the ne day tour temple. The temple was WAT OLAK MADU, Sidam kiri, Padang Serai. They invited us to take the pork porridge when we reached. Well ! I just took a bit. It was because already very full in stomach.

Have a look for this temple scenery................

We went into the temple hall...Wow ! this one is a bit special. There were many beautiful wall paintings about the story of Buddha. The chief monk is very good at speaking Hokkien. We did the last offering in this temple.

Then we left the temples and we reached home at about 8.30 pm. A very nice trip. Mom and I love that. It's hard to get chance to do good deeds. Yesterday we went for so many temples.....we got 7 chances to be practising good deeds.....Happy days ! Sadhu ! Sadhu ! and Sadhu !

2010 Chinese New Year

2010-02-23T17:22:00.013+08:00

This year I felt the Chinese New Year mood was not so excited, if compared to last year. Chinese New Year songs has not been heard frequently from town area shophouses. Somehow in the big department stores, we did see some programmes to boots up the Chinese New Year festival.

On the Friday morning, about 6.40am I started to drive to Shah Alam. On the way I stopped at Tapah and Rawang, based on brother's hand drew map, I reached his new house.Quite relax to drive cause no traffic jam.

My brother invited us to celebrate Chinese New Year at his new house. A very nice house....Somehow one thing was missing....The kennel has no dog. The cute dog has been sent away because the neighbours not allow. What an area??? Can keep cat but cannot keep dog....all also catergorized as pets. Since the license has been given out. Whats wrong to keep the pets. Ha...I don't understand that! OK ! Because of respectation, no help, has to agree to send the dog away, the cute dog has to follow the new family.

I'm very happy to see my handsome newphew and beautiful niece.

It's very quiet outside of the house. The weather was warm but suddenly there could be a heavy rain. Luckly, the new house has few fans and air-cons.

I like the lovely white and wood kitchen...more bigger space to move around. On the Chinese New Year eve, my sister-in-law, mother and myself started to prepare the Reunion dinner dishes. Wow ! See the photo....Yummy delicious!

We also prepared the vegetables yee-sang and the hot-pot. We did really enjoyed the Reunion dinner. One of my family member couldn't make it to join us. Hopefully, he will be around with us next year.

After the reunion dinner, my sister-in-law and her beautiful daughter started to make the 'tang yuen' (glutine rice ball)....ha....little niece make so many shapes instead of round one....never mind...let her learn....Good ! I love that !

At 12.00am midnight, we prayed for the "God Of Wealth". Then we played firework.

Only one time of playing, ha....again one of the neighbour came and told us, his children cannot sleep....'Sorry..lah..little children....One year only one time playing, tolerate a bit lah....' Huh !! Never mind, on the second day we played the firework a bit earlier.

The first day of Chinese new year, we went to a Chinese temple to pray. Then we enjoyed our new year with relatives who came to the house. Love to see the children playing around. Meanwhile we also enjoyed watching the Korean episode dramma 'Queen Seon Duk'. Nice drama ! Have a watch !

Time ran fast, the third day of the Chinese New Year, I drove back to kampung with my family members. Ah Ha...this time...I saw 2 cases of reckless drivers on the North-South highway....Pity....I also saw a dead monkey on the middle of the road, pity that it don't know the speed of people drive on the highway.

On the 8th day Chinese New Year night, some Chinese started to pray for the 'Emperor of God'...On the 9th day, it was Hokkien people Chinese New Year....This year my family cannot pray for the God because my grandma passed away last year. In the village...every where were fireworks...huh, so beautiful when you looked up to the sky..and of cause..we cannot get to sleep....the exploded sound was loud and continuous...but the Chinese New Year festival mood was there.....Great !!!

Today is the 10th day of Chinese New Year...everything went back to normal...

Awaiting for the 15th day of the Chinese New Year, my mom will prepare grand meal to let us enjoy food again.....!! My mom is a good cook....my sister-in-law also a good cook too....see...she cooked for us the sweet soup in this eve of Chinese New Year...nice to take it......

12/27/09 second day in Hatyai

2009-12-29T17:05:00.016+08:00

6 of us already paid for 25 Baths to visit 3 temples yesterday, so we started to gather at the lobby at about 6.30 am, with the van driver and tour guide we proceeded to the four faces of Buddha in the morning. When we got there, still in the dark..

Sun rising.....marvelous...it's beautiful...........

Then we went to the hill top Buddha near to the Chow Mei Kuan Yin...so good we could see the Hat Yai panorama throughout the Hat Yai....what can I said.....with the fresh air...mild wind.....morning taste...I love them................

I really wish to stay a bit longer here.........but time constrained. We proceeded to Chow Mei Kuan Yin.

Here is another shrine in the temple compound. Inside there were 8 'Ba Xian' dieties.

In other area, we could see these beautiful statues.......

Then we traveled to the steel pagoda. This time we reached in the morning, it's cleared in view....very nice pagoda....we offered the robes...the tour guide taught us the way....round the pagoda, put the robe on the stand, cleaned the alms bowl and hung the little bell.....so nice..........very calm....and happy...........

Then the van driver send us to market. We went to take the breakfast then do shopping again. Below is the photo of Thailand King which placed on the building of the market.

We went back to the hotel and prepared to take lunch. We are very surprising that the bus tyre had been sabotaged by the local people. Anyway it's the mistake from the bus driver, he wrongly put the bus in such a location that supposed not to park the bus there.

Then we walked to the restaurant. There was a Cheng Mai peanut hawker, somehow the business was not good. He would better put some flavours for the nuts. It was because this nuts not as fragant as the peanut.

Then we went for the window shopping and walked back to hotel. This hotel should put more sofa or chairs for the customer at the lobby...cause there were a lot of older customers, especially with the long wait for bus....or van..... See ! Mom had to become a temporary security guard ! Ha...jokes.... ! Father had to sit on the floor.......

Then about 2.30 pm we left Hat Yai to Malaysia- Thai border. A lot of cars, van and bus. We had to quee for a long times.

On the way back home, before reached Sungai Petani. Well ! suddenly I heard there was a loud sound, seems like something crashing.... probably the tyre had some problem. The bus driver then stopped at the side of the highway, then have a check. Really ! it's true...the Hatyai local people sabotage another tyre which the bus driver never aware of......

What can I said this time.....to the one who did the sabotage.....Please think of the whole bus passengers lives......you can asked policeman to take care of this matter....but don't do this kind of stuff...have you ever think of the lives of the passengers who travel a long way to visit your places and not safely back to home? Think about that.....don't do this next time....you won't feel good...if you heard the bad news......which will coming back to you.............

Our bus driver drove slowly and we changed another bus to go back home safely.

12/26/2009 went to Hat Yai

2009-12-29T12:37:00.016+08:00

Mom told me that an aunt in our village organized a trip to Hat Yai, so I took a day leave and followed. The fare of the trip this time was RM150. Well ! A bit expensive ! (What can we do the Christmas and the New Year seasons)

We started to depart from our village about 5.3o am. We took the school bus as in the photo.

I met my old school mate in the bus too. We all are aging ! Started to recall when we were with the school uniform. It's a mess when I get up the bus for the seat, not follow the agreement....according to the aunt (organizer) cause there was another organizer from other area. Anyway, we found the seat and we just sit down and start to sleep again...too early.

When we got up, oh ! stop at Changloon coffee shop. (Malaysia site) Then we took the breakfast there and changed the Thai currency. This time we only got 955 Baths for RM100. Our currency is no good....

Then we proceed to Ban Dannok immigration control (Thai site) to have our stamping of the passport. As usual program, we went to Hat Yai...Songkhla.....

The first stop was the twin cow head temple. Well ! The temple compound is big. Somehow, for me...it's looked like the combination of Buddhism and Hinduism temple..yet...a bit of local culture of temple.... If you are expected more tradisional Buddhist temple....then you have to search for others !! ..........Many of our Malaysian Indian friends went there too.

Below is the temple, and you can see in the aquarium, there were a two cow's heads. Actually from the history was, these two heads cow was born near to the village. The owner presented them to this temple right after the cow dead. Some who prayed for this cow and have luck one, won the 4 digits and of course won for the money.......so this temple became famous for the people who wants some luck for money..........................

The main shrine....

The others deities statues in this temple.........some still in the construction

Then we went to have lunch nearby. Well ! very good business...we even have to wait....

Then we proceed to buy local products at Nora Plaza, some went to take the bird nest soup, buy bags...etc.... Anyway I just bought the ice-cream....I like this type of ice-cream..30 baths for one cup.

Then we went to the Chai Shen Ye Chinese temple (God of wealth). Below is the on coming Chinese New Year 2010 praying ceremony.

The compound of this temple also big...some of the deities status...

We checked in the Cholatarn Hotel afternoon. We just rest in the hotel because later 5.30 pm we went to floating market.....

It's getting dark when we left the floating market. Then the bus dropped us at town area. We started to walk street by street to search for the delicious foods and also did some shopping on clothes.

On the way back to hotel, met the elephant on the road.. mom feed the elephant...then we went back to the hotel for a rest.

2nd DIY Grapes Enzyme

2009-11-21T22:37:00.008+08:00

This time was the tasty one, and everyone of my family members said.. OK.....successful.......

The ingredients : one kilogram of Grapes, 2 lemons and 2 bars of brown candy.

Steps:

1. As usual prepared the clean and dried utensil.

2. Selected the good grapes and I peeled off the grapes skin.

3. Sliced the lemons.

4. I put about one and a half inches of grapes flesh, a few slices of lemon then I crashed one bar of brown candy and cover up this level....then repeated for another portion....

5. Covered up the bottle.

Fermentation was going on very well.............

After I came back from sightseeing in East China....

About 6 weeks....the enzyme in the container still looked well.

It's time for harvesting...............

The result was good...mmm......tasty too !! mild sweet !!

1st DIY Green Apple Enzyme

2009-11-21T21:34:00.005+08:00

This was the 1st DIY Green Apple Enzyme that I made.........Sorry to said that : FAILURE !!!

Ingredients :
10 green apples & 2 lemons & 2 packets of brown sugar...

1. No wrong with the utensil that I used...I did make sure....clean cutting board, clean knife, clean bottle.....(air dried)
2. The qulity of green apples and lemons were ok....(air dried)
3. Fermentation was good in conditaion.....

However

1. I put in too much sugar...too sweet ( I tasted it when I decided to let it go...very sad)

2. Put in the apples with skin ( Maybe some chemical still left on the apple skin)

3. Never peel off the lemons skin ( It will be having bitter taste later)

Before the harvest time, I had to let go of it...because will not be a healthy enzyme DIY...and the taste will not be good.....At last I put this failure one to our dragon fruit tree...hopefully...our dragon fruit tree grows well....

Will very soon start with my 2nd enzyme DIY....

Day 1 (OCT 30, 2009) from Kuala Lumpur to Shanghai

2009-11-10T13:43:00.008+08:00

This time my fifth uncle invited my parents to travel together. The tour trip was quite cheap RM1600, insurance RM4 and it was a (9 days and 7 nights trip). I took the annual leaves and travel with them.

Quite lucky ! My youngest brother already send our luggages to his house earlier when he came to North for the business trip. We started our journey south to stay one night in his house first.

On OCT 30,2009 We gathered at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 10.30pm. We took the Malaysia airline (MAS) at about 1.30am.

In the flight, we started to have some drinks. Unfortunately my first uncle (father's elder brother), 70 + of aged, suddenly fell on the way to the toilet...he couldn't get up..so air hostess helped him...and we started to care for him....He was dizzy, vomitted and also urinated on the long pants. He didn't bring the extra pair of clothing in his hand carried bag. His face was pale...pity him....

One point lesson : We need to bring extra pair of clothing....'We cannot detect the accident earlier', prepared any bag (take out the bag from the pocket of the seat for the dizzy people, maybe he/she will vomit later) Better prepare earlier, especially for the old aged people.

We found out....he drank a can of beer. Maybe he was not comfortable to drink the alcoholic drink in the air...

OK..then everything went back to normal for our group...I also fall in sleep..until about 6 something in the morning....Wow ! The sunlight so bright.....very beautiful.....in the bottom of the heart just think of " I want to have a beautiful trip........Hooray !"

(Day 13) Completed the Pilgrimage trip to India

2009-09-21T15:52:00.006+08:00

We reached Bangkok very late at night, and we checked in Amari Hotel. We woke up late in the next day, then we went to take our lunch in hotel restaurant.

After the lunch, I took some photos in the hotel. The Christmas cake was so beautiful.............

All the places was in the Christmas festival mood........very warming...and beautiful.....

After the lunch, we went back to our room, I took the photo from our room.

We went back to the Bangkok International Airport in the evening.

We reached Penang International Airport late at night.

(Day 12) Reached Howrah/Calcutta

2009-09-15T15:03:00.012+08:00

We reached Calcutta the next morning. Some photos in and out from the railway station. Luckly we had the potters to help us to take the luggages.

When we reached Calcutta, we took another bus to the rastaurant to have the lunch. On the way I took some photos in the bus. The city life of calcutta is quite busy. We went to Calcutta musuem too. There we had the chance to see the Buddha relics again. Then we moved around to do shopping. There were many people on the road. The sky getting darker and we started to see the businessman on the road side light up the lamp. For me...it's a bit dark..........

After everyone gathered, we went to famous actor's restaurant to take dinner.

Then we rushed to the airport to take the flight back to Bamgkok. We reached Bangkok late at night.

(Day 11) Sarnath

2009-09-07T20:28:00.032+08:00

We really had a nice memory for the boat-riding along the Ghats river Ganges. Then we walked back to the bus. Well ! passed by so many streets.....We saw the morning life at Varanasi...it's beautiful....olden taste........I like that.....Then we went back hotel to take breakfast. After that we got up the bus and went to Sarnath. It's about 10 km from Varanasi.

When we reached there, we went to the museum first. I love it, so many valueable items to see and to understand. We could see the four headed iron pillars in this archeological museum. It's was the King Ashoka Pillar. Then we visited to the deer park and inside have the Dharmarajika stupa, Dhamek stupa, etc...Here was the place where Buddha preached his first sermon to the five erstwhile companions.

Then we visited to the nearest buddhist society, there we could see many historical events photos.

We did visited to the silk shop and outside the shop we saw the male and female monkey made the performance. The owner trained them well !

We went back to the hotel to have some light foods and prepared for the luggages. Then we moved to railway station.

Wow! not so easy to reach therailway station, need to walk a long way. Luckly we had the potter to help us carried the heavy luggages...not so convenient for the old people. Some photos in railway station, on the train and we took our dinner in the train. Our train travelled from Varanasi to Calcutta.

(Day 11) Visit to the beautiful Varanasi river

2009-08-31T22:08:00.015+08:00

Early in the morning, still in the dark. We took the bus and went to the river bank. Extremely cold in the morning. We could see a lot of people took the pale to the river to take bath and also you could see some children selling flowers and candles there. We saw the sun slowly risen and the bird finding theirs' breakfast. It's a beautiful scenery. The cold wind slowly blowed to our face, so enjoyable..........really beautiful.........

After had the river boat ride.............we walked through a few the street, well ! still need to look on our steps...the dirts.....On the way to take the bus, I took some photos.

(Day 10) Visited to The Great Buddha statue

2009-08-31T21:59:00.008+08:00

After visited to Sujata village, we proceeded to visit to The Great Buddha statue and it was built by Japanese Daijokyo Buddhist Sect.

Then we were on our way to Raddison Hotel. On the way I took some photos.

We took dinner at Radisson Hotel...a very nice hotel to stay........We really had a nice slept on that day.

(Day 10) Niranjana River and Sujata Village

2009-08-27T14:01:00.019+08:00

Buddha bathed several times in this river. It was a big river before, now we just could see the dry river bed. Some local people walked on the river bed, house built in and the trace of vehicle passed by and the animals ground. It's impermenant ! A big and nice river was disapeared in our time, remained the evidance of dry bed river in this place. Below photos were showing all the long way to Sujata stupa (the residency of Sujata) and Sujata temple. Sujata was the person who offered milk rice to Buddha.

(Day 9) Other activities in Bodh Gaya

2009-08-26T19:10:00.024+08:00

After lunch at Hotel Sujata, we went to Children school to do some donation and gave them some gifts. The school was being rebuild, and we met the school principal (husband is from India and his wife is a Japanese). They took care children and the teachers. Wish the children appreciated what have been done for them. Wish them have a happy schooling life........

Then we went to Great Holyland Monastery. It's a Myanmar temple. We did some offerings there.

We had better understanding about life here, in a few places of villages and small town area. Most of them had a simple and country life.

It was really a good experience to visit the India school and know about the children schooling life. Then we went to International Meditation Centre. There we did offerings to monks.

Some photos of local life and also the local transportation.

We straight went to Maha Bodhi Society in India.

It was getting darker, we still could see a lot people on the road. Some did shopping in the dark, or just buying things under weakened bulbs or candles light. There were a lot of shop houses too.

After had the night life experienced in Bodh Gaya, we went back to Hotel Sujata to have a nice sleep.

(Day 9) Bodh Gaya in day time

2009-08-25T11:01:00.049+08:00

After took the breakfast, we quickly go to Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya again. We bought the ticket to enter the place and put our shoes on the shoes house rack. Then we started to visit the sacred place again. The holy spot was more clearer in the day time.

Temple main door...

Inside the temple.

Well ! If you stay sometimes in the temple, you can see the monks changed the robe on Buddha statue.

The Maha Bodhi tree.

The outside of the Maha Bodhi temple.

After the Buddha attained the enlightenment, he spent 7 weeks to meditate and facing these places. There were boards standed there to state the events.

Statues around the temple wall.

Paying respect to the spot that Buddha attained enlightenment.

Small room besides the main temple.

The western monk shared the Buddha's teaching with us.

Besides the main temple. This lotus stone were built to remember Buddha was walking here before.

Another important spot.

Then we walked to this area to have a look ! Beautifully decorated with flowers.

In the Maha Bodhi temple, we could see so many people came from the different places of the world.

The life outside the Maha Bodhi temple.

Then we went back to the hotel, I took these 2 photo from the hotel balcony.

(Day 8) Bodh Gaya in night time

2009-08-24T21:36:00.018+08:00

We took a dinner in the hotel but fast one, because we wanted to rush to Mahabodhi temple.
When we reached there. Wow ! It's great , so many people.

During that time they did celebrated the world peace events. A lot of Tibetian monks over there. This is the holiest spot, where Buddha attained enlightenment.

We quickly requested our shoes at the entrance because the gate going to close. We will be back on tomorrow morning.

The night life outside. Business still on.

Then we went back to the Hotel Sujata. Below were some photos in the lobby.

(Day 8) Gridhakuta Hill

2009-08-24T20:47:00.012+08:00

Completed the visiting to the site of Venuvana monastery, we continue the journey to visit the Gridhakuta Hill. Now it was easy to get up the hill. Down hill, there are local people selling the walking-stick , good for old people. Along the way, you can see many women beggers who covered all the body with cloth, and sometimes brought along her children..

You can also find a lot of monkeys too. You also can see some ruins, it was believed that before there were monastries.

(Day 8) In Venuvana Vihar in Rajgir

2009-08-24T19:08:00.011+08:00

After visited to Nalanda, we had a lunch at The Rajgir Recidency. A good place to have some refreshment.

Then we visited to Venuvana Vihar which was built and offered to Buddha from King Bimbisara. Near to the gate, you can see many bamboo trees. Here you can see a big Karanda tank which Buddha used to bath. Now the water not so clean, you can see duck freelly swimming in the tank.

(Day 8) Nalanda

2009-08-24T13:40:00.024+08:00

We visited to Nalanda University. It was a great Buddhist University built on 5th century CE. This ruins had 3 famous period of Indian history, Mauryans, Guptas and Pala. Some of the places had been destructed by Muslim. There were ruins of temples, a few undamaged statues of Buddha and some bronze and coins.

(Day 8) On the way to Nalanda Scenery

2009-08-24T11:44:00.004+08:00

After took a breakfast in the hotel, we started our journey to Nalanda. On the way I shoot some photos.

See ! How beautiful the toilet is ! Somehow not evey toilet is like that. It's quite clean !

A coffee house.....of course we mostly went to the toilet...

Local people likes to decorate the small tractors, trucks or lorries. It's full the culture taste...

The petrol station.....it has the big compound.

The local buildings......in the simple strutureMost of the places through the travelling could see this kind of dried grass.

(Day 7) Vaishali

2009-08-18T22:32:00.012+08:00

It was in the evening when we reached Vaishali/Vesali. Vaishali is situated in Vaishali district and in Bihar state. In the Buddhist literature, the chief monkeys offered a bowl of honey to the Lord Buddha here. Buddha preached his last sermon here and announced the Buddha going to enter the Nibbhana. Buddha visited here many times and stayed for many rainy seasons. We can see the lion pillar which built by King Asoka. Amazing ! The lion head still sticked on the pillar. There was a tank which called as the Kharauna lakes. It was believed that the monkeys in this area dug it for Lord Buddha. The stupa here also contained Buddha's ashes.

There were still some events happened here: Ambapali, the proud court dancer had been converted ; this was the placed where allowed nun to the sangha organization for the first time.

Then we walked out from this place and saw some village life here. They built the bricks with the dried grass and the dirt from the cow.

Then we visited to Relic Stupa Vaishali.

Then we visited to this Sri Lankan Ramaya temple. We did some donation and offered something there. Suddenly a lot of children came to us from the big field. Anyway, we did gave them something but because of some children cut quee. I guessed the big brother was arranging for the local children to quee up properly. Ha...the big brother was.....a bit fierce.

It was dark already when we reached the Hotel Patliputra Ashok. We had dinner there. However my room was with dust on the carpet. Well ! need some improvements.........Too tired, Mom and I slept .......

(Day 7) Scenary along the way from Kushinagar en-routed Kesariya

2009-08-18T20:22:00.010+08:00

During this time of period, morning was very cold. Mist was covered every where. After the breakfast in the Kushinagar Lotus Nikko, we started our journey to Kesariya.
All these photos were taken on the way to Kesariya. You can see the village life and business life.

We stopped by Zen Restaurant to have a lunch.

The scenary near to the Zen restaurant.

Then we proceed to Veshali. Well ! still a long way to go....

(Day 6) Still in Kushinagar

2009-08-18T19:42:00.007+08:00

After visited the Mahaparinirvana Chaitya and Nirvana Chaitya, we went to the Matha Kuar Temple. Unluckly the door already closed when we reached there. So we just managed to look into the window for the Lord Buddha statue which was in the posture of Bhumi sparsh mudra (touching the earth posture)

No choice, so we proceeded to The Ramabhar stupa. It was the sacred place of the Buddha's cremation. The location is on the east of main Nirvana temple.

Then we went back to Kushinagar Lotus Nikko for the dinner and then we did meditation and chanting, because of electricity interruption, we just light up the candles. When the electricity came back we listened to the dhamma talked by our 2 bhantes. Then we went back to the own room to have rest.

2 Days & 1 Night tour to Hat Yai (2)

2009-08-18T12:24:00.018+08:00

The second day (16/8/09), mom and I started to walk to the Niphat-uthit 3 Rd, Hatyai at 7.30 am, very near to our hotel. We could see a lot of monks already taken thiers' seat and some still having thiers' breakfast. Many roads had been closed down for this events. They also put the plastic mat on the road....imagined.......the plastic mat was put for a few streets on road. Corporation always been given where shoes will be take off. At last mom and I found a place to sit.

One thing I found out, Thai people talked very softly at this kind of events...but some Malaysian people, don't care.....they talked quite loud. I think can't help, own personality. However we should tried to learn to understand and to control ourself in this kinds of events, it is more beneficial for us to concerntrate on our good deeds.

The Mahasanghadana started with simple and grand ceremony, then continue with taking 5 precepts, chanting and a few minutes of meditating...merit also had been shared to the Thailand Queen, really very meaningful....her birthday was just passed for a few days.

Then the monks started to walk in the middle of the crowds until the far end of the streets, the offerings started, everyone started to offer thiers' offerings.

Oh ! forget to mention, yesterday the organizers also prepared 5 packets of offerings items for each one of us to offer in this event.

2 days before following this trip, in the house I prepared about 52 packets of offerings to be offer in this Mahasanghadana too.

3 programme annoucers annouced in many languages, Thai, English and Mandarin. Well ! The speaker control station was at the back.

Near to the place we sit, there was a donation centre. Another photo was the Thai woman selling the bird.

After did the offering, many people started to find a place in the coffee shop to have the breakfast.

At last mom and I found a table that a man going to finish his breakfast. We waited for a while, then we called for Wan tan mee (40 Bahts) for myself, noodle soup (40 Bahts) for mom, a plate of yiu tiao (20 Bahts) and 2 cups of coffee (40 Bahts).

Morning scenery in Hatyai town, business started...Mom and I took the Tut-tut drive(taxi) to the market. Well ! Time is limited and we just walked for a while.

Then I took mom to have something in the MacDonalds which is near to the hotel that we stayed. Wow ! Corn and chocolate pie....I cannot get them in Malaysia. It's really good in taste.

We went back to the hotel and have some photo there, this hotel is quite beautiful.

We checked out from the hotel and waited the bus at the lobby at 1.00pm then we were taken to take the lunch. After the lunch, we proceed back to Dannok, Sadao to the passport control post. There we still can but something, but time is limited, everyone wanted to go back home early.

It was crowded at the Bukit Kayu Hitam passport control post, somehow this time quite good, more systematic of queeing in line. Last round, often saw some of the groups cut quee.

The bus went area by area to let the passagers get down at the pick up point. Mom and I reached home about 9.30 pm.

2 Days & 1 Night tour to Hat Yai (1)

2009-08-17T00:37:00.034+08:00

Mom and myself made decision to follow a trip to Hat Yai on 15/8/09 till 16/8/09. The purpose was to participate the great event "International Alms Offering And Mahasanghadana To 10,000 Monks" and we paid for the trip was each one RM160. It was a 2 days and one night trip.

We started our journey as early as 1.30 am on Saturday 8/15/09 from Bukit Mertajam. The bus came on time and picked us. Then the bus kept on picking up others passengers for the trip. Meanwhile on the bus, the organizers were busy in gave each one of us a bottle of mineral water, a packet of biscuit and some coffee candies. Really appreciated for all these.

Mom and myself fell asleep on the coach until nearly reached Changloon, Kedah. The bus stopped at the CTC big coffee shop for us to clean our self, took breakfast and changed money for Thai currency. This time currency changing from Malaysia to Thailand was RM100 to 950 Bahts. Our country currency is low now compared with last time.

Then about 5 something in the morning, we continued our journey to Bukit Kayu Hitam, it is the Malaysia border with South Thailand. A lot of buses had been quee up. A male members went down the bus and when he went up the bus, he told us our bus was 22nd in line at the quee bay. Wow ! Quite sometimes waiting in the bus....slowly we reached the passport control post, we went down and quee up in line...A lot of people but in the smooth way...About 7.30 am after stamped the passport at Bukit Kayu Hitam passport control, we went up the bus and proceeded to Dannok, it is the South Thai border.

When reached the passport contol area...all of us need to bring down all our belongings. No bags would be left on the bus. We quee up for stamping the passport then we scan our bags under the scanner. We needed to walk to the big buses and cars parking area at the back of the Sadao Boundary Post building. When everyone already got up the bus, we proceeded to the nearby coffee shop to take breafast.

Below were the photo of our bus and beside the bus driver upper mirror, there was the notice. The yellow colour tag translation was durian, mangosteen, coconut, ice-cream, rambutan, chewing gums, soft drinks' The red colour tag translation was not allow to take in the bus. Anyway, it is a good reminder, plastic bags were places behind the handler holder.

One of the Dannok street in the morning.

In the coffee shop, mom and I ordered for the Bak Kut Teh (pork rib's soup) as our breakfast. One bowl of Bak Kut Teh, 2 bowls of rice and one bowl of the yiu tiau (very cute and small, compare to Malaysia one). Bak Kut Teh set cost 100 Bahts, it was quite cheap. Then we ordered for 2 cups of coffee, cost 30 Baths.

Our journey in South Thailand started with visiting Wat Khuat, 'glass bottle temple'. It was located at Ban Klong Harn, Tambon Khae, Amphoe Chana. The temple was away from town and in a quiet village. The architecture of the building was really unique, decorated with a few kinds of bottles and sea shells. It was very special one. We went in and had a looked, a bit sheddy there because surrounding was the rubber trees plantation area.

After visited the Wat Khuat, we proceeded to visit another temple. This temple named as Wat Pah Koh Suwanaram. There was a mummy monk in the temple, Ajhan Thong, a late former abbot of this temple. He was placed in the transparent glass. We went there and paid respect to him. I took some of the statues and buildings photo in this area.

Before leaving the temple, we bought a cup of ice-cream at the gate of the temple. It was a nice one...

Then we went to take our lunch in Hat Yai town. After having lunch we had a photo session in the restaurant lobby and outside of lobby.

The tour guide took us to buy the local food products. Malaysian tourists like to buy casual nuts in many flavours, dried squids, sasame biscuits, groundnuts biscuits, crackers, coconut candies and other flavours candies, dried syrmps, dried anchovies, groundnuts in containers, etc...

Then we checked in the Hotel Regency. In the bus the tour guide told us some do and don't in the hotel. Don't smoke in the non-smoking room, you will be fine 2000 Bahts.

Then we had free time to buy things. We quickly went to buy the robes to be taken back to Malaysia.

We paid for another 250 Baths each person to visit to another 2 interesting places in Hat Yai. At 5.00 pm a few of us waited at the lobby for the comfortable van to take us to the first interesting places new 'floating market' in Tambon Khlong Hae, about 10 mins from the Hat Yai town. Below photo were took on the way to the floting market.

This is the new "floating market". I like it very much. It is open from Friday to Sunday and from 3.00pm to 9.00pm. You can have a boat ride on this small river. So many foods and drinks you can buy from the sellers of the small 'sampan' boat. You even can Sushi here. Mostly the food price is from 20 to 50 Bahts.

After walking one round, at last mom and I chose only the corn. Have a look ! When we ordered, the seller start to prepare the corn. The tool they used to send the food or drink to customer is by using a long light wood with the small basket in front to reach the customer. Cusstomer take the food or drink then pay the money in the basket. They took the money from the basket.

When we walked back, we reached the area selling foods, drinks, daily use products. The squid seller on the motorcycle and many food stalls.

The next interesting place is Wat Chedi Thaimongkhon Hadyai. The pagoda was made by the stainless steel. It is situated up the hill at Songkhla province.

Times which had been given was up at the floating market, we went back to the van, however 3 men and one woman were late for half an hour. We just waist our time for them. They didn't even feel shame of thiers' act. Then I knew the van driver started to speed up, it's true.... This is not the thing that I wanted to see. Dangerous ! It's getting darker and darker and raining. Luckly the rain was not heavy then, only a small small drop fell on us. Again bad communication to us by the tour guide. I just could only snapped some photo outside the pagoda. Really not felt satisfied for this portion. Somehow patient......patient.......and patient.......Sadhu....Will visit next time.....

Then we went down the hill, on the road and we looked up the hill. So beautiful for the stainless steel pagoda. The light was so bright. So long, will visit there again. It was considered a screwed up plan...... Never mind, nothing can be done, next visit.

When we reached the hotel, I took mom to the Pizza hut in the Lee Garden Plaza and having our dinner...the thin seafood pizza......Very nice, cause I cannot get this kind of thin pizza in Malaysia. Then we went back to hotel and had a good night sleep...too tired so slept fast for both of us.