Wat Burapha (Rot Et)

Wat Klang Ming Muang (Rot Et)

Palan Chai Lake (Rot Et)

Rot Et

If not for the 67.8m standing Buddha that keeps watching me whenever I go in this city, I don’t think I’ll make an effort to visit it. Seriously, I don’t even think there is a chance for this town to get haunted. Rot Et is a breezy town, with a circular lake situated in the middle of the city, the breeze is like a fan that blows your face every single minute. I could easily be in a cover girl commercial (Easy, Breezy Cover Girl) or sleep like a homeless on the street.

Phra That Anon (Yasothon)

The story has it that two brothers from Vientiane, Chettanuwin and Chindachanu, after 30 years of monk hood went on a pilgrimage to Dewadaha, from there, the stupa containing the relics of Ananda was been restored so they asked for a piece of bone to be apportioned. The brothers brought the relics back to Vientiane, where they intend to build a chedi to enshrine the relics. However, they were accused for breach of folk tradition and were expelled from the city. Having spent 3 years with the Khmer people, the build this chedi around 695 AD.

Extra Notes

Ananda - Disciple of Buddha

Ānanda was one of many principal disciples and a devout attendant of the Buddha. Amongst the Buddha's many disciples, Ānanda had the most retentive memory and most of the suttas in the Sutta Pitaka are attributed to his recollection of the Buddha's teachings during the First Buddhist Council. For that, he was known as the Guardian of the Dharma. According to the Buddha every Buddha in the past and to come will have two chief disciples and one attendant during his ministry. In the case of Gautama Buddha the pair of disciples were Sariputta and Mahamoggallana and the attendant Ānanda.The word 'Ānanda' means 'bliss' in Pali, Sanskrit as well as other Indian languages. It is a popular Buddhist and Hindu name.In MN 90, Kannakatthala Sutta, Ananda is identified with the meaning of his name:Then King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One, "Lord, what is the name of this monk?" "His name is Ananda (Joy), great king." "What a joy he is! What a true joy!..." Ānanda was the first cousin of the Buddha by their fathers, and was devoted to him. In the twentieth year of the Buddha's ministry, he became the Buddha's personal attendant, accompanying him on most of his wanderings and taking the part of interlocutor in many of the recorded dialogues. He is the subject of a special panegyric delivered by the Buddha just before the Buddha's Parinibbana (the Mahaparinibbana Sutta (Digha Nikaya 16)); it is a panegyric for a man who is kindly, unselfish, popular, and thoughtful toward others.In the long list of the disciples given in the Anguttara Nikaya (i. xiv.) where each of them is declared to be the chief in some quality, Ānanda is mentioned five times (more often than any other). He was named chief in conduct, in service to others, and in power of memory. The Buddha sometimes asked him to substitute for him as teacher and then later stated that he himself would not have presented the teachings in any other way.

Wat Thon Si Muang (Ubon Ratchathani)

Yasothon

Yasothon has a nostalgic ambience particularly the quest house that I stay overlooks the quite street. I’m a little disappointed as the temple is closed for upgrading but I do get my wishes come true when I finally visited the rare Chedi (Stupa) that houses the relic of Phra Ananda, probably the first disciple of Buddha.

Ubon Ratchathani

The only thing I expected to see is Wat Nong Bua, a breathtaking 56m high replica of the Great Chedi of Buddhagaya in India. (Buddhagaya is one of the holy sites in India where Buddha gains enlightenment under the Boddhi Tree) but what I never anticipated is the invitation from a monk to be a temple boy for one month so as to teach him English. At least, that’s what I negotiated; He was kind of urging me to stay for one month as a temporary monk.

Since it’s too late to visit Wat Nong Bua as the temple usually closes at 6pm, I decided to wander around my guest house neighborhood. I stumbled upon a temple besides the Thung Si Muang Park that looks insignificant until I saw the wooden scripture hall raised by the pier in the centre of a pool and an old Buddha’s footprint bot. It’s Wat Thun Si Muang, built during the reign of Rama the Third.

I did the same old routine by paying my respect to the Buddha. I don’t usually ask for anything except this time with an inexplicable feeling, I ask the Buddha to guide my heart and bestow my mum with good blessing, excellent health and happiness. I’m already happy and suffice to have my needs fulfilled. You can have many “wants” but my needs are adequate.

Just when I’m about to leave the temple, a monk call out on me and with his hand gesturing to sit with him on the bench, I was a bit apprehensive as I’m worried that I might have done something wrong. That’s when he ask me where am I from? So he knows I’m a tourist. It turns out that his name is Phra (monk) Panya, forty-something, and has been a monk in the temple for about a year. He has been learning English for quite sometime and wishes to practice his English with me; I teach him a few words and talk about what’s life in Singapore, my profession and if I’ve a girlfriend. He also asked if I would like to come back on the next day at 6am to partake the daily alms offering, perhaps as a temple boy. So when he asked in doubt, “Surely?” I answer “Absolutely”.

The next day, I turn up punctually for my appointment, the air is fresh and I’m not feeling any tiredness. I’m not too sure is it because I’m excited or just the surrounding of the temple is too enchanting. I was sitting on the same bench waiting for Phra Panya and there came an old monk, asking me where I am from? (Thai people likes to ask “Where you come from?” all the time.) I said I’m from Singapore and he immediately reply that he has been in Singapore once, since I’ve been volunteering as a temple guide for various temple and museum so I ask by any chance if he stay in Wat Ananda, one of the oldest Thai temple in Singapore. He said yes. We chatted for a while before I met Phra Panya again. Little that I know that the old monk I’ve been talking to is the Abott of the temple, Luang Por Siriphattana. I feel so ashamed and ignorance because I fail to give him a proper wai earlier.

The monks begin to line up in order by their seniority before they marched out to the street to receive the offering by the locals. I was told to carry a basket and pick up any overloaded food from the monk’s alms. We cross over a few streets and you can hear the monks chant bestowing their blessing for the locals after offering their food.

Back to the temple, we collected all the food and divided into different portions. Of course the Abbott has the royal feast while the novices have a slightly simple meal. Luang Por Siriphattana offer me the remaining of his royalty feast which includes, Fruits, Chicken drumstick, Porridge, some Thai finger foods and dessert. Oh lastly, a packet of Chocolate Soya Milk. Seriously, the porridge is exceedingly delectable that I can’t even use words to describe except for oohhhh, arrrrrrgh and yummmmmmmmmy! The porridge taste so good that I can eat it on its own without any side dish except for some green lovely garnishes.

After the appetizing breakfast, I get in touch with Phra Panya again. We chatted together with the Abbott. Before I leave, he asked again if I would like to become a monk for one month, maybe tomorrow. I was not prepared but I decline his offer nicely, saying that it’s too sudden even though I’ve plan to do it at the age of 30. I’ve to let my mum knows first. So instead of rejecting his offer, I ask if I could be a temple boy to prepare myself first this November before I come back again to ordain as a monk. He said, yes, of Course. You can live here in the temple and teach English while he can teach me mediation and speak Thai.. He thinks my English is good; maybe because I’m good in articulating English with exaggerated expression.

Then he stood up and brushed off his hand, like: That’s settled. I said, “If you’re serious, your honor, I’m serious.” Thus, I promise I’ll be back this November for a month to be a temple boy to learn mediation and Thai from him in exchange I teach him English. The reason why November is because that is the month I was born and besides I can celebrate Loy Krathong in that period of time.

Now, I’m the kind of person who, when a monk show up from nowhere under the tree ask you to partake the alms offering and invites you to stay in the temple and teach him English, I think I should make every effort to fulfill that incitement. “Surely?” He asked another time, “Absolutely”, I answered.

In here, I would like to express my gratitude to Khun Gon, the temple boy that is ordaining next month, August, the temple housekeeper that used to be a teacher. Phra WouThiKai, who shows me around Wat Nong Phong, Luang Por Siriphattana for sharing his food with me and last but not least Phra PanYa for the best invitation and the beautiful necklace anyone can ever receive. I’m deeply grateful with all your kindness and by then I shall hope to introduce the Buddha, Dharma & Sangha for the sentient beings.

And this, finally, was how my 2008 goals (Mediation & Thai Speaking) that I’ve plan to accomplish began to unravel…

Sakhon Nakhon

After my exhausting Laos trip and disappointing reception from Udon Thani, I decided to splurge into a better guest house, okay, make it a 2 stars hotel which has a swimming pool. It costs around S$15 per night but the free WiFi is what I’m hoping to get extra from the cost.

Sakhon Nakhon has a subtle kind of charm. The town exudes a kind of peace. Thai people as usual are very friendly. I can’t wait for my next destination, Ubon where the Candle festival is a grand affair for them to celebrate in July.

Wat Phra That Choeng Chum (Sakhon Nakhon)

Wat Phra That Choeng Chum is a beautiful Laos-Thai style temple in Sakhon Nakhon. It houses a 24m, Gold and White, Laos style square chedi that builts over the original Khmer prang, which can still be seen through the doors of the chedi. It is a sacred place for people of the province as they believe Buddha once left a footprint. The profound scripture of “Urangkhathad” reveals that the previous incarnations of Buddha and the future Buddha have also and will left their footprints at this exact spot.

Udon Thani

The only thing that attracted me to this city is the close proximity to Ban Chiang (UNESCO, World Heritage Site), the museum that contains the artifacts of 3000 - 1000 BC. Other than that, the tuk tuk culture is disconcerting. My last impression of UT is deeply disturbed as I look like a wanted criminal with rewards of a million dollars when the tuk tuk drivers pestering me every second that I breathe even when I already got a bus ticket to my next destination Sakhon Nakhon.

Body Breakdown

My last day of Laos is incredibly sick! My body finally breaks down from the chilly and moist weather, plus the Laos food is not to my appetite. I know something like this will happen but not to that extend that I've to throw up in a plastic bag in front of everyone inside one of the Luang Prabang French inspired café, JOMA Bakery. To add on my misery, I’ve a 7pm night bus to catch and now it’s only 1pm. Few more hours to go before I can lie down comfortably on the bus, oh! And the 10 hours bumpy ride is not easing my mood either. I can’t bear it any longer so I went straight ahead to the bus station and change my bus timing from 7pm to 4.30pm (Additional 20,000 Kilps, Damm!)

Nonetheless, miraculously, after resting in the long 12 hours bus ride, I was slowly recovered when I reached Nong Khai, Thailand.

Haw Phra Kaew (Vientiane)

Haw Phra Kaew was built between 1565 and 1556, on the orders of King Setthathirath. The temple housed the Emerald Buddha figurine, which Setthathirath had brought from Chiang Mai, then the capital of Lanna, to Luang Prabang. When Vientiane was seized by Siam (now Thailand) in 1778, the figurine was taken to Thonburi. It now resides in Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok.

Wat Si Saket (Vientiane)

Wat Si Saket was built in 1818 on the orders of King Anouvong. It was built in the Siamese style of Buddhist architecture, with a surrounding terrace and an ornate five-tiered roof, rather than in the Lao style, keeping it safe from the armies of Siam which sacked Vientiane in 1827. Wat Si Saket features a cloister wall with more than 2000 ceramic and silver Buddha images.

That Mark Mo (Luang Prabang)

Phou Si Hill (Luang Prabang)