I will pass on becoming a Buddhist

hello, here again to tell you about my week in Thailand. I am currently still based in the provence of Singburi but travel around by the day and return to the eco house at night. On Monday 24th we visited the city of Ayutthaya, this is a UNESCO world heritage city and used to be the capital of Thailand before it was sacked and the title went to Bangkok. First we saw a young gentleman having his initiation ceremony to become a monk-a very colourful affair! After we then visited the elephant village, but to be honest my heart wasn't in it! After seeing a herd of elephants in Zambezi National Park just roaming around, as opposed to them being used for work purposes there is just no contest.

Tuesday 27th March

i had to get up at 5.30 am to give alms to the local monks, a Thai tradition where the people of the village provide the local monks with food for their daily meal. This consists of rice and fruit. It was actually quite interesting to see. I then went back to bed for a few hours and then watched a film on Buddhism. It appears to be all about taking the middle road and doing things in moderation, but this is just common sense to me. In the afternoon we visited the temple where we are staying tomorrow night.

Wednesdayday 28th March

very hot day today, got up usual time and then made our way to the temple. Once at the temple we had to get changed into all white, i had a long white skirt on and a white long sleeved top, T shirts are not allowed. We had a look around the temple and then were invited by the monks to chant and meditate with them. Interesting experience although i did discover that i have the concentration span of a gnat and only lasted about 3 minutes before my mind started to wonder. However the monks were really good and they lasted about 25 minutes. The meditation included chanting, walking and sitting. The walking one just involves walking slowly and concentrating on the movement. However to me this just just makeswalking difficult , have a go and concentrate on your every move and you feel like you are going to fall over, not to mention sweat alot!

After the chanting/meditation we had some free time so we went up to our room to prepare it for the evening. Quite a nice room, very hot though, we had four fans going at the same time and it was still boiling, i am sure it had something to do with the stone floors absorbing heat. I just used my sleeping bag for padding as it was far too hot to get inside. In the evening we did a bit more meditation, but i was still no better.

Next morning (Thursday 29th march) a very early start. We joined the monks in collecting alms from the local village. A few more volunteers joined us all dressed in white, felt a bit like i had joined some religious sect but all the same interesting to see. I had to put on the same clothes from yesterday and i kept thinking what on earth is that smell-and of course, yes, it was my good self!
After breakfast we planted trees with the monks, Sandra thought that they should leave me there as she said i looked quite at home in my white garments (not that they were white anymore, not only were they sweat coloured but they were also now covered in soil) planting trees. Later on we thanked the monks and gave them pressies. What an interesting experience, although i do not think i will turn to Buddhism myself they even have a website, if anyone is interested i will give you the link!

Friday 30th March

I had about 20 showers post the temple experience, if i felt this dirty after one night of sleeping on the floor and wering the same clothes for 48 hours what am i going to be like after trekking in the same clothes for four days! Today we checked in to a nice resort where you can have spa treatments. The place had a lovely infinity pool. Did not really do much here about from relaxed, swam and took sanctury in the air conditioned room! I even slept with a blanket on the air con cooled it down so much.

Saturday 31st march

After a lazy lie in, we went off to a local pottery store where they hand paint everything they make, it is brilliant, i would have liked to buy something but i am so worried about things like that smashing in my rucksack. Later onwe went to the zoo, they had some reallly big cats, tigers, lions, panthers. Quite good but just not the same as seeing them in the wild!

Today (Sunday 1st April) has been another lazy day, been at the local swimming pool eating ice cream. Tomorrow we begin a four day trek so i will let you know how i get on or how bad i smell at the end of it! Ugh

I have also decided to go to Australia a bit earlier than planned, so now leave on the 16th April, quite excited about going to Auz!

Take care xxx