He he he!! I am in INDIA! Am waiting for my 10.45pm train to
Varanasi, and happily digesting an awesome veg-thali dinner. After months of dahl baht, this food is seriously GOOD (no offence to the Nepalis... I mean, dahl baht is good, but it's really only dahl, and rice, and vegetables... Thali includs all that, but THREE different kinds of veg curry, there was paneer, two different veg curries, masses of chappati, AND gulab jamun (sweet dessert)). I just hope the belly copes with all the new families of bacteria!
This morning, having slept (or attempted sleep) in the little town of Bairwara, I set out on motorbike to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. My guide took me straight to the actual birthplace; there is a building (the Maha Devi temple) that houses the ruins of an older building (2nd and 7th century BC) and in the centre there is a stone that marks the Buddha's birthplace. I was filled with gratitude and awe to be there, all the stories of the Buddha's life flooding into my mind. I saw two little white rats who've found a home right next to the stone... enlightened rats they were!
All around the Maha Devi temple are pagodas and temples representing the Buddhist traditions from around the world. The German temple was beautiful and in the Tibetan style... my guide and I ran cirlces, turning the massive Mani wheels and chanting Om Mani Peme Hung! We also visited the Japanese Peace Pagoda, Royal Thai temple, Indian temple and Burmese pagoda. Amazing!
Feels good to be on the road again... will try to keep the blog relatively up-to-date!
Varanasi, and happily digesting an awesome veg-thali dinner. After months of dahl baht, this food is seriously GOOD (no offence to the Nepalis... I mean, dahl baht is good, but it's really only dahl, and rice, and vegetables... Thali includs all that, but THREE different kinds of veg curry, there was paneer, two different veg curries, masses of chappati, AND gulab jamun (sweet dessert)). I just hope the belly copes with all the new families of bacteria!
This morning, having slept (or attempted sleep) in the little town of Bairwara, I set out on motorbike to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. My guide took me straight to the actual birthplace; there is a building (the Maha Devi temple) that houses the ruins of an older building (2nd and 7th century BC) and in the centre there is a stone that marks the Buddha's birthplace. I was filled with gratitude and awe to be there, all the stories of the Buddha's life flooding into my mind. I saw two little white rats who've found a home right next to the stone... enlightened rats they were!
All around the Maha Devi temple are pagodas and temples representing the Buddhist traditions from around the world. The German temple was beautiful and in the Tibetan style... my guide and I ran cirlces, turning the massive Mani wheels and chanting Om Mani Peme Hung! We also visited the Japanese Peace Pagoda, Royal Thai temple, Indian temple and Burmese pagoda. Amazing!
Feels good to be on the road again... will try to keep the blog relatively up-to-date!
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