Category: Travel

  • Vaishali and Kesariya

    I went to Vaishali and Kesariya by taxi yesterday (Thursday, 17 December 2009). It was a long day with some minor hassle at the end when the driver tried to cheat me by claiming I’d given a 500 rupee note when in fact I gave a 1000 rupee note. He didn’t get away with it…

  • Shravasti (Saavati) and Patna Museum

    8:30 AM, Monday morning (14 December 2009) my new driver (Mr Abbas Ahmad) with a classic white Hindustani Motors Ambassador car picked me up at the Shivoy Hotel. We drove north for a while and then generally westwards stopping for a cup of chai and other necessaries before reaching Shravasti around 1:30 PM. ABOVE:  Mr…

  • Lumbini

    At 6:30 am Sunday morning (13 Dec), Mr Paras Maurya my driver picked me up from the Shivoy Hotel and we drove northwards towards Nepal. I found out along the way that this was Mr Paras’ first trip to Lumbini. The roads and towns along the way were similar to other roads and towns and…

  • Sarnath, Varanasi, Gorakphur, Kushinagar

    I’m currently in Gorakhpur, another dusty, smoky, dirty north Indian city. I lashed out and decided to stay in the moderately luxurious Shivoy Totel in a “Maharaja” room. It has a dining table, lounge chairs for 5 people etc, ensuite and a king size bed, all for 2300 Indian rupees (about A$55) per night. This includes…

  • India, Kolkata, Bodhgaya, Gaya, Rajgir

    I arrived safe and well in Kolkata, India on Thursday, 3 December 2009. I stayed my first night at a reasonably good hotel – Dee Empresa Hotel. http://www.deeempresa.com/ The room rate was about US$50 per night including breakfast. It was relatively expensive for my usual budget but I felt it was necessary to help me…

  • Wat Pa Nanachat – International Forest Monastery

    I came to Ubon Ratchathani for a short visit to the International Forest Monastery (Wat Pa Nanachat). Despite 27 years visiting Thailand this is the first time I’ve been to this famous monastery. I am glad to have finally made it.   The community at the monastery is preparing for an important meeting of senior…

  • Wat Pa Nanachat – International Forest Monastery

    I came to Ubon Ratchathani for a short visit to the International Forest Monastery (Wat Pa Nanachat). Despite 27 years visiting Thailand this is the first time I’ve been to this famous monastery. I am glad to have finally made it.   The community at the monastery is preparing for an important meeting of senior…

  • Photos in Yangon 2009

    1.  I am squatting in front of a row of Theravada Buddhist monks from three different countries (China, Thailand and Laos). We were visiting the International Buddhist Missionary University in Yangon. Behind us in the photo is the main administration building. I am wearing a longyi, the traditional sarong of Myanmar. 2. Sri Lankan yogi…

  • Eight Week Retreat Over

    On Tuesday, 3 Nov. this week, I finished an eight week retreat that began when I returned from the visa run to Laos. Eight Week RetreatPeople have asked me what I gained from the vipassana retreat or what did I learn or what seems different now and so on. The changes seem subtle though generally…

  • Vientiane Visa Run

    I’m at Vientiane. I am very comfortable and well. Thai VisaI was doing a vipassana meditation retreat at Section 5, Wat Mahadhatu and the date for my Thai visa came up (after 30 days). I didn’t plan much beforehand so on Thursday, 3 Sept, I did some research by Internet and took a taxi to…