Tag: travel

  • Colombo – shopping, visa extension and other chores

    Out of retreat for a week I came out from Na Uyana on Monday, 22 March, this week, went to Kandy for a day to shop at the Buddhist Publication Society. On Tuesday, 23 March I took an early train to Colombo, extended my Sri Lanka visa for another 3 months until 30 June and…

  • Na Uyana Retreat

    Thursday, 7 January 2010: I shall be out of contact with everyone for around two months while I do a meditation retreat at Na Uyana Monastery.

  • Colombo, Buddhist books galore

    On my way from Chennai, India to Colombo, Sri Lanka, I had an auspicious start by having my Jet Airways ticket upgraded to Business class while I was about to board the plane. I had already eaten a sumptuous breakfast a Saravana Bhavan in Chennai and had another good Indian vegetarian meal on board the flight.…

  • Delhi, Chennai, museums, book shops

    On 26 December, 2009, I rode a Bihar Tourism Development Corporation bus from Bodhgaya to Patna. It took about 6 hours to cover 110 km along very narrow bumpy roads through many crowded smoky dusty towns. We stopped frequently and once we stopped for 30 minutes.  In retrospect, I recommend doing this journey by train.…

  • Gaya, second time

    On Thursday, 24 December 2009, I accepted an invitation from Mr Jagbinder for a day-trip to Gaya to fly a kite from the roof of his home. He came to Bodhgaya around 9:30AM to pick me up on a motorcycle.  I sat pillion passenger without a helmet or glasses. It was still cool at that…

  • Gurpa – Kukkutagiri – Peacock’s Foot Mountain

    Tuesday, 22 December 2009, I hired Mr Jagbinder Singh and his car to go to the Gurpa mountains where Mahaakassapa is reported to have attained Parinibbana. According to Mahayana tradition, Mahaakassapa did not die but remains alive in a deep meditation state inside the mountain, waiting for the enlightenment of the next Sammaasambuddha – Metteyya…

  • Nalanda, Jethian, Bodhgaya

    On Sunday, I phoned Mr Jagbinder Singh from Gaya who had earlier driven me to Rajgir and back to Bodhgaya to see how much he would charge for driving from Gaya to Rajgir pick me up take me to Nalanda and Jethian and then to Bodhgaya (the other side of Gaya coming from Rajgir). He…

  • Rajgir: Isigili, Sonbhandar Caves

    On Friday, 18 December 2009, as I was walking along Fraser Road, Patna from the Internet cafe back to Hotel President after my last posting, I stopped by a small shop to buy razors, batteries and biscuits. While in the shop a 31 year old Indian man asked me about my background and what I…

  • Ananda Stupa – Ramchaura Mandir

    On Friday, 18 December 2009, I ate breakfast and then headed to Patna Junction train station to possibly buy some train tickets for future journeys. I got some help from an official at the Bihar Tourist office located in the train station to hire an auto rickshaw to visit a stupa reputed to be one…

  • 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…