Bangkok 3

hello everyone,

Well, Nok and Steve finally got some sleep and we got a reasonably early start via Taxi for Wat Pho. Wat Pho is one of the more famous Wat's (Buddhist Temple/Hermitage) in Thailand for at least 2 reasons that I know of. It has the Laying Buddha that is . . . . I am guessing about 20 meters long and about 10 high. And it is the storage place of over a 1000 Buddhist Statues. And of these thousand I am not talking little bitty things that are an inch tall. Most that I saw were in the region of 5-6 feet tall and most are reported to be solid GOLD.

Entry was 100 Baht for Farrang's (Westerners). I just went to Wikpidia for verifications and found that my idea of the size was incorrect. 46 meters long and 15 tall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Pho There is a video that you can watch that does a bit of a walkabout.

The place is 80,000 sq meters. It is BIG. Do the video.

After we left Wat Pho, we were all hungry. So, we headed to the street vendors for some . . . what ever ones tastes allow. It is all available on the streets of Thailand. From eggs, fish, meat, vegies, fruit and many things that I didn't know what they were.

I did spy a vendor selling Coconuts for juice. I asked Steve if he had ever had fresh Coconut juice. His immediate Farrang statement was, "I don't like coconut.", I laughed and said we are not talking about eating dry old plastic packaged coconut here. We are talking about the vendor chopping off the top sticking in a straw and we get to drink the juice of the coconut that has not yet become milk. Then the best part is spooning out the innards. If the coconut is young enough this is a slimy opaque looking too much like runny snot that tastes absolutely awesome. My first taste was with Jenny in Honduras at the property that she owned there. I did get steve to try it. He was not duly impressed, however, he did try and that is really something for most Yanks to try something different.

Next was a noodle bar. I had had 2 coconuts and some fruit and am not impressed with the noodle bars. Steaming water, spices, a few vegies thrown in and meat that has been laying around a bit too long for my taste. Let alone that I had become vegetarian about 3 months ago. After we were all satisfied we had a long walk to the front entrance of the King's Palace. We had come out of Wat Pho at the back side of the Palace and needed to walk all the way around to the other side.

The King of Thailand is probably almost more revered that the Buddha. He has reigned for over 50 years. He has done well and the people of Thailand greatly love him and his wife. Nok said if the King declared that the following Tuesday everyone was to wear Yellow. Everyone would, in the entire country. Again go to the Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej

Here we saw the Emerald Buddha. It may have been highly revered, however for me it was atop a huge dias and almost invisible to my naked jaded eye, ha ha ha. The building and the dias were greatly impressive. The buildings, temples within, many statues were all impressive.

For me the best part of the day was to be with my nephew, friend, brother Steve and his lovely wife Nok. Steve had once upon a time lived with me for a summer. at 19 he was a pain in my butt. 21 years on he is a lovely man, comfortable with who he is and his decision to marry into a different culture. We had many great conversations. Nok has considerable English picked up along the passage of her life. Sure there is the odd word that she needs to look up of figure out. Yet, Nok was very capable during a long disscussion that she and I had about Buddhist Monks in Thailand to get her point well and completely across to me. And to understand where I was coming from about Buddhist monks in Australia and hopefully the Forest Monks from Ajhan Mun's and Ajhan Cha's Forest Monastery traditions.

All of you that will read this as far as I know live in the Western 1st level countries, like Australia and USA. These countries have incredible support systems in place for those that choose to give their life over to meditation. The hospital system is in place to give them help when it is needed. Ambulances to carry them, safe conditions etc. In Thailand as far as I know there is no bottom line of support for the needy. Steve said that there were NO Ambulances. I saw a few very very few however.

So, in Thailand the Monks will accept money, cash, checks, gold, what ever for the Monastery and keep a cut for themselves. I felt pretty bad about this initially until I understood that there is no guarantee of any support from the public, the hospital system, the courts anything for that person that has chosen to become a monk. So, He/She needs to create some form of back up. I have yet to discuss this with Ajhan Bramvamso here in Perth and when I do I will pass on his thoughts and comments.

Until then. Gotta go to bed.

Next will be about Traditional Thai Massage

peace

gene

may you be well and happy