Sunday, June 18, 2006

Thailand retreat (17-25apr)





Photos : (1) Lotus (2) Mainhall (where an ordination ceremony was happening) (3) Middlehall (where we did afternoon meditation) (4) Monks on alms round, about 7am (5) Breakfast preparations (6) Our guardian dog (7) Makan time (8) Middlehall, sitting pose (9) My kuti room (small hut) (10) Forest path leading to kuti
* Thanks MengHaw for some of these photos!

I had e opportunity to visit a forest monastery, n spent a week in all peacefulness ! well... apart fr e many mozzies n giant geckos !

This was certainly a wonderful chance to observe e way of e forest monks, who practised with e same simplicity of monks during e buddha's time.
Two main things i noticed, e alms rounds, e renouncement of material possessions, & e emphasis on meditation.

Well... meditation for a beginner like me, even e most basic .. just counting the breath was pretty much elusive. The monastery is a very condusive place, plenty of greens and little distractions.
No great meditation insights but noticed my eyes felt so relaxed.

The group was total 5, with 3 experienced meditators. Sophia n i were newbies, a bit lost about what exactly to do, & spent time trying trying.. n also listening to dharma audio cd.

The chief monk was very kind, and obliged us a couple of Q&A sessions, we didnt quite have any high level questions for him ;) . A helpful western monk would help us with translations (since the ajahn spoke thai). This place is most suited for someone who is an already an experienced meditator.

Food & Alms..
A bit more about the alms culture, this tradition is a very mutual arrangement with the surrounding villagers, lay people who find joy & generosity in supporting the monk community. Each day, the monks take their bowl and walk on alms round, and would eat anyfood that is placed inside. One meal a day, for only reason of sustainance.
It was very interesting to see alms round, the simplicity & grace of it.

On the weekends, it is very festive. Many lay people visit with families, bringing lots of home cooked specialties, local thai cuisine. Cars of folks from bangkok and other villagers arrive in the mornings, sometimes to visit their children or relatives who are novices or monks. It is like a huge picnic ground :)
We foreign visitors also got to enjoy the hospitality & generosity of the local thais !

My takeaways, "Annica, Dukkha, Annata".. Samathi, Panna..
The nature of most worldly things, can be observed as such - change, pain, non-self, and it is through awareness & inner wisdom that these phenomena can be truly understood & overcome.
Oh gosh, everything seems painful, but when i see the serene golden faces of buddha & his 2 key disciples in the hall, they are happy and i have hope :)

Thailand Koh Samet (25-29apr)


The two of us, Sophia & I took a couple of days detour to see chantaburi & koh samet.

It was not the right season for chantaburi, so we missed both the waterfalls (dry season, low water) and fruit season.

We spent the 3days in kohsamet instead.
Highlights of the stay :

A tumble from a modified 'kap' motorbike.. that was quite nasty. Luckily 2 travellers came to our rescue, one had a quad-bike & rescued Sophia ;) . She got a safe ride back to e chalet. The accident toll was lots of scraps & cuts on both of us, and a sprained ankle on me. Luckily no broken bones.
The next day, i took the bike out and rode the whole length on e isle, and thought it was quite a blessing we fell on e smaller slope.. there were some even more nasty steep sandy parts of road further down !

There was muay thai lessons (thai boxing) by the beach, i could only look enviously nursing an injured ankle.

That night, we met 2 aussies and had nice dinner at Jeps. They we excited abt fire-twirler down the beach, and seeing e next night's show.. i totally agree it was spectacular !

Koh samet beach, we can't help but notice many 'thai women' soliciting westerners. And so many pacts, and their antics on the beachfront. On the ferry back, there was this woman who kept feeding potato chips and then squeezing the pimple for her client ! Yuks..

All in all, i think a conservative isle on malaysia is a more condusive environment for families & 'no nonsense travellers' to relax.
Haha.. but we would miss the good thai food and affordable beachside massage.. well well.