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| Adorable children |
We then went to a temple – one of about 20 in the area.
The temple grounds were huge, the gardens were lush, and the
statues were impressive. Originally
built in the 13th century, the pagoda had fallen into disrepair and
has been rebuilt in the last 20 years.
Some buildings only completed in the last four months. While there an 80 year old monk demonstrated
how to mediate. It took him about 10
minutes to explain and demonstrate, then he left. I can only assume it was a cliffs notes
version, as no one specifically said it was speed meditating. I will try it
someday, but don’t plan on wearing the mustard colored robes.
While at the temple there were many other visitors, one of
which took particular interest in the taller women of our group – I am sure you
are on pins and needles about who garnered the interest of the local
populace. This lady was, to put it
mildly, unconcerned with niceties, and flat out asked, through our tour guide,
how old mommy was. The answer was
whispered to the tour guide who in turn whispered it to the questioner. The
lady then told us she is 80 years old, we all smiled and we all went on our
way.
Of note also was the large granite ball at the entrance to
the temple. It is a Ball of Happiness;
it is Vietnam’s largest Ball of Happiness.
On special occasions it is showered with water which makes it turn/roll
in place. Yes, seems the bigger the ball
the more happiness. I refuse to write
more on this subject, my sophomoric sense of humor gets away from me and I am
sure to insult some of our gentle readers.
We were told the government encourages the practice of
Buddhism, but does not contribute any funds; the entire complex is privately financially
supported. Of note is the fact that the
tallest statue on the grounds is a female Buddha. She looked graceful and serene, and is
apparently the Buddha that is credited with the care of all seafaring
believers.
The farmer and his
wife have a humble home, and they seem happy.
They welcomed us with green tea and boiled sweet potatoes. As evidenced by our presence on their
property exploitation is alive and well and living in Vietnam. Mommy asked if we could have our picture
taken with the lady – she was very gracious and allowed us to do so.
We saw tons of rice paddies, water buffalo, pineapple for
sale, and every bit of bric a brac possible.
From our bus we saw lots of folks on mopeds, dogs, kinds, mud, and a
seeming endless number of hotels for the tourist season, which is in the summer,
i.e. not now. Seems everyone (but us)
knows the weather is foggy and not good this time of year, we should have
called ahead.
The tour guide was a cheerfully brain washed girl who was
happy to speak to the 1964 ‘liberation of North Vietnam’ which was followed in
1975 with the ‘liberation’ of South Vietnam.
She was just as happy to speak of Ho Chi Minh as the father of Vietnam,
whom they all adore/worship; nothing like revisionist history. Most of the people in Vietnam were too young
or were not alive 40 years ago, so what they know is what they have been told,
and what they have been told is that there was a liberation.
Once we completed the tour we returned to the ship where we
had lunch and started editing photographs.
Before we knew it we were off to play trivia (a shipboard version of
Trivial Pursuit) and then watched the boat prepare for departure from Ha Long
bay. We are now underway to the next
stop, where we are scheduled to arrive tomorrow midday. Daddy and I will go to Marble Beach and Da
Nang, while mommy goes to another place, name of which currently escapes me.
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