I spent a few enjoyable days in Bangkok and considered going off to see some of the countryside, but I realized that would be starting another phase and I would probably be a month or two in Thailand. Perhaps another trip some day could include Thailand and Burma... or Lao or Cambodia. So, many options. I've had RideAbout 2003, RideAbout 2009 and WanderAbout 2010; I think WanderAbout 2015 should be just about right!
But for now I will take up a normal life. May 30th: back in California.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Geek Heaven
This very cool indoor high tech mall is six floors of many, many computer and high-tech stores. The pictures of the central area where you can see all the individual floors don't represent
Six floors of high-tech shops. Each floor is much, much larger than indicated by the central area where you can see all six floors. Also, there are only a couple large stores; almost the entire space is filled with independent stores and service shops, medium to small to very small. In the states, we tend to have big stores that have a good product line, but their products can be limited to major lines they want to work with. Here, there must be hundreds of independent stores in this mall and while they carry all the major brands, they also a lot of odd little items from non-name brands. Overall, prices seem to be about the same as in the States.
Oh, and there's a couple coffee and juice stands, plenty of ATM's, and even common areas with tables where customers and sales people can work, demo, or just socialize, but no food courts. This is all straight geeking. It was a very fun way to spend a couple hours.
Six floors of high-tech shops. Each floor is much, much larger than indicated by the central area where you can see all six floors. Also, there are only a couple large stores; almost the entire space is filled with independent stores and service shops, medium to small to very small. In the states, we tend to have big stores that have a good product line, but their products can be limited to major lines they want to work with. Here, there must be hundreds of independent stores in this mall and while they carry all the major brands, they also a lot of odd little items from non-name brands. Overall, prices seem to be about the same as in the States.
Oh, and there's a couple coffee and juice stands, plenty of ATM's, and even common areas with tables where customers and sales people can work, demo, or just socialize, but no food courts. This is all straight geeking. It was a very fun way to spend a couple hours.
Bangkok boat ride
Bangkok has significant inland waterways and a nice boat ride through some of them provided some nice views of the city.
Since the waterways are transportation routes, it makes sense that some parts have street lights and telephone lines, but it is still a little curious.
The waterways are also places of business. Here, the boats are the kitchens serving fresh meals to diners at tables on docks which seem to serve no other purpose than being a sprawling dining area.
I really like these trees; in person, the color is really beautiful.
There's not much sign left of the riverbank that was; although you can see it exposed in some places and in others, where the houses are built on stilts, you can see it as a muddy remnant under the houses.
In some areas water hyacinth (I think that's what my guide called it) grows naturally in the rivers.
Since the waterways are transportation routes, it makes sense that some parts have street lights and telephone lines, but it is still a little curious.
The waterways are also places of business. Here, the boats are the kitchens serving fresh meals to diners at tables on docks which seem to serve no other purpose than being a sprawling dining area.
I really like these trees; in person, the color is really beautiful.
There's not much sign left of the riverbank that was; although you can see it exposed in some places and in others, where the houses are built on stilts, you can see it as a muddy remnant under the houses.
In some areas water hyacinth (I think that's what my guide called it) grows naturally in the rivers.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Buddhism in Thailand
Thailand has a population of about 65 million with 95% Theravada Buddhist. There are reportedly some 35,000 monasteries and temples in the country and 400 just in Bangkok. Of course, with a population of 12 million, Bangkok should have a lot of monasteries.
I got to spend half a day touring a few of the temples in Bangkok. Apparently an early architect of Buddhist structures in Thailand made a trip to China and really liked some of their fancy architecture. He brought it back to Thailand and incorporated it in early Buddhist temples and that sort of set the standard and explains the familiar style of Thai Buddhist architecture and the many Chinese statuary at Thai temples.
Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawiharn is quite a mouthful, so it is commonly known simply as Wat Pho.
These large stupas at Wat Pho hold the ashes of important Thai kings. As in Sri Lanka, there is a pretty close relationship between the monarchy and the Buddhist organizations in Thailand. At one monastery I saw a picture of the current king in monks robes when he was young and following the Thai tradition of young men taking temporary ordination - typically for 3 months. From my Thai guide it is clear there is great respect for the King and for his following Buddhist tradition.
Thai statues of the Buddha also tend to be pretty ornate, often making a lot of use of gold and a lot of color in dressing like the pedestal.
Wat-Tri Mit Wit Thayaram has a fine example of using perhaps a bit too much gold. At about 5 tons, this Buddha is the largest solid gold statue of the Buddha in the world. For
A nice feature of Wat Benchamabophit was this central marble courtyard ringed with statues of the Buddha from various periods and areas for lay people to interact with monks, either preparing their daily meal or chanting with them.
I got to spend half a day touring a few of the temples in Bangkok. Apparently an early architect of Buddhist structures in Thailand made a trip to China and really liked some of their fancy architecture. He brought it back to Thailand and incorporated it in early Buddhist temples and that sort of set the standard and explains the familiar style of Thai Buddhist architecture and the many Chinese statuary at Thai temples.
Wat Phrachetuphon Wimonmangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawiharn is quite a mouthful, so it is commonly known simply as Wat Pho.
These large stupas at Wat Pho hold the ashes of important Thai kings. As in Sri Lanka, there is a pretty close relationship between the monarchy and the Buddhist organizations in Thailand. At one monastery I saw a picture of the current king in monks robes when he was young and following the Thai tradition of young men taking temporary ordination - typically for 3 months. From my Thai guide it is clear there is great respect for the King and for his following Buddhist tradition.
Thai statues of the Buddha also tend to be pretty ornate, often making a lot of use of gold and a lot of color in dressing like the pedestal.
Wat-Tri Mit Wit Thayaram has a fine example of using perhaps a bit too much gold. At about 5 tons, this Buddha is the largest solid gold statue of the Buddha in the world. For
A nice feature of Wat Benchamabophit was this central marble courtyard ringed with statues of the Buddha from various periods and areas for lay people to interact with monks, either preparing their daily meal or chanting with them.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Bangkok
Arrived in Bangkok today and it seems very peaceful and safe; although, it is a pretty large city and I've only seen a tiny bit. As part of rebuilding tourism the Thai government is giving away tours so tomorrow morning I get four free hours with a car, driver and guide to tour a few Buddhist temples. Sort of like wining a door prize, I guess. Anyway, I should get a good status report from the guide. It's a little warm here and I'm real tired. To catch a 7:20 am flight I had to get up at 2:30 for the hour drive and they make you check in three hours before the flight - ugh! Oh, well, I should sleep well tonight.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
I'm back in Colombo and after a couple days here it will be time for me to leave Sri Lanka. What to do next? I still have a desire to go to Thailand as there are several good meditation monasteries there, and things seem to have settled down enough in Thailand. Plus, oddly enough, of all the things I have seen and done in Asia, I haven't spent good, focused meditation time in a refuge or center. Hmmm...
On the other hand, between my travels in North America and now in Asia I have been on the road a long time and the sense that I need to settle down in one spot for a while grows.
What to do, what to do? The difficult decisions of life without the mundane duties of life. Woe is me. ;)
On the other hand, between my travels in North America and now in Asia I have been on the road a long time and the sense that I need to settle down in one spot for a while grows.
What to do, what to do? The difficult decisions of life without the mundane duties of life. Woe is me. ;)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Arankele
Arankele is a meditation monastery. A new monastery to the front of the site has about 30 monks. This ancient cave shrine is still in use.
The walkway from the cave shrine runs about 300 meters to the main monastic complex. A great place for walking meditation.
The large tank which once supplied bathing and drinking water for the monastics is still full of water, but is now full of water grass and purple lotus.
Something I haven't seen in other temple ruins, this building had a long narrow runway in the middle of it which made me think of walking meditation.
The walkway from the cave shrine runs about 300 meters to the main monastic complex. A great place for walking meditation.
The large tank which once supplied bathing and drinking water for the monastics is still full of water, but is now full of water grass and purple lotus.
Something I haven't seen in other temple ruins, this building had a long narrow runway in the middle of it which made me think of walking meditation.
Yapahuwa
A sign at the bottom of these steps says something like "WARNING! You have hereby been warned that these stairs are dangerous." They are both very step and very shallow, making them quite difficult to descend. But, the view from the top is nice.
Hatthikucchi
I particularly like Hatthikucchi for its peaceful forest setting, the very few visitors and for this rock hill in the middle with nothing on top but a wonderful place to sit down and meditate.
This is the only structure I've seen that is oval shaped.
This is the only structure I've seen that is oval shaped.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tanthirimale
Tanthirimale monastery is spread out in an area of low rolling granite hills.
The reclining Buddha is unique in that the legs are not straight, but slightly bent at the knees.
Both sides of this narrow path are small lakes of murky water. As I approached the path, there was something large on it at the other end that sort of resembled a decaying cow carcass. As I stepped onto the path it moved - and a very large crocodile slithered into the water. Step, mamo buddhaya, step, namo dhammaya, step, namo sanghaya, ignore the water...
The reclining Buddha is unique in that the legs are not straight, but slightly bent at the knees.
Both sides of this narrow path are small lakes of murky water. As I approached the path, there was something large on it at the other end that sort of resembled a decaying cow carcass. As I stepped onto the path it moved - and a very large crocodile slithered into the water. Step, mamo buddhaya, step, namo dhammaya, step, namo sanghaya, ignore the water...
Temple of 500 Buddhas
I don't recall the name of this monastery we passed on the drive from Anaradhapura to Tanthirimale. They are constructing a unique pathway lined with about 500 statues of the Buddha. I guess it will be a reflection walkway instead of designed for meditation because it ultimately leads up to some kind of temple building too early in construction to be identified. Well, I guess the modern attempts at devotional expression deserve some honorable mention.
Anuradhapura
Like Polannuruwa, Anuradhapura is actually a city with ruins of many monasteries and temples from the days when it was the capital of Sri Lanka. I started at Isurumuni Raja Maha Viharaya and the nearby pleasure park.
I guess the king's pleasure park was nearby so he could easily follow a bit of debauchery with some humble abiding.
The model of the Thuparama Vatadage is interesting. I would never have guessed that some of these massive stupas were once enclosed in a building. The model is a bit of a ruin itself.
Scaffolding for real men. As you can tell from the ladder in the left foreground, the ladders up The Great Stupa are made of bamboo with the rungs tied in place. The scaffolding at the top is also bamboo and reminds one of that game with a stack of sticks that you try to not knock down.
The Sri Maha Bodhi at Anaradhapura was grown from a shoot taken from the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India under which the Buddha sat and became enlightened. The tree in India was later destroyed by the wife of King Asok when she became jealous over the kings attention to Buddhism. The tree at Bodh Gaya today is from a shoot off the tree at Anaradhapura; thus, while it is a genuine descendant of the original tree, it is actually the tree at Anaradhapura that is the closest to the original tree. Today, there are actually multiple trees here. The branch to the left being supported by golden posts is part of the original tree.
The steps up to a temple building are typically flanked by balustrades and guard stones and at the base of the steps will have a moon stone, a half circle stone with meaningful images on them. These are showcase examples.
The Abhayagiri stupa being restored. If you look closely, you will see a chain-gang of soldiers passing bricks up the side of the stupa to a team at the base of the rectangular part just below the crown.
I guess the king's pleasure park was nearby so he could easily follow a bit of debauchery with some humble abiding.
The model of the Thuparama Vatadage is interesting. I would never have guessed that some of these massive stupas were once enclosed in a building. The model is a bit of a ruin itself.
Scaffolding for real men. As you can tell from the ladder in the left foreground, the ladders up The Great Stupa are made of bamboo with the rungs tied in place. The scaffolding at the top is also bamboo and reminds one of that game with a stack of sticks that you try to not knock down.
The Sri Maha Bodhi at Anaradhapura was grown from a shoot taken from the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India under which the Buddha sat and became enlightened. The tree in India was later destroyed by the wife of King Asok when she became jealous over the kings attention to Buddhism. The tree at Bodh Gaya today is from a shoot off the tree at Anaradhapura; thus, while it is a genuine descendant of the original tree, it is actually the tree at Anaradhapura that is the closest to the original tree. Today, there are actually multiple trees here. The branch to the left being supported by golden posts is part of the original tree.
The steps up to a temple building are typically flanked by balustrades and guard stones and at the base of the steps will have a moon stone, a half circle stone with meaningful images on them. These are showcase examples.
The Abhayagiri stupa being restored. If you look closely, you will see a chain-gang of soldiers passing bricks up the side of the stupa to a team at the base of the rectangular part just below the crown.
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