Banana Goes West: October 2013

The photos that I have used in this blog are taken from My Hanh, Teresa, Thanh, Diane and Fong. Thanks for their photos to make my blog more interesting.

Day 26 – 04/12/2012 Tuesday – Home

Breakfast on the plane was nothing special. At around 8am we landed. We went straight through the immigration and custom without any problem. Fong rang Minh to come and fetch us. We saw Teresa got out as well. Fong and I went out to look for Minh and forgot to say good bye to Thay TC. So we went back inside at the arrival and waited for Thay. Once we saw him we said good bye. Fong rang Minh again. We got home safely.

In here please allow me to share the merit for this pilgrimage trip that I have earned (if I have any) to all beings. May all be happy and at peace; may all have compassion and wisdom; may all reach the ultimate nirvana.

Day 25 – 03/12/2012 Monday – Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up call was at 6:30am; Breakfast at 7:00am. We went to Hospital Bienh Vien An Binh to see a group of people waiting for cataract operation. They were joyful people. While we were waiting our bus outside the hospital, Hue Dung told me he is an admirer of Fred Hollows and that was why he named a street “Fred Hollows Court” at Pennington, his development site years ago. I told him I am also an admirer of Fred Hollows. I told him I am a miracle club member.

We went to have lunch then went to a shopping mall to have coffee. Fong and I bought some last gifts – a set of nail cutter for $10. We thought this was a bargain but when I arrived back home, my father told me, he can get it for $5.

We went to the airport early. It was a chaotic at the airport. People in the group kept buying stuff and for sure their luggages were overweight. No one dare to ask Fong and me for join checkin. Poor Teresa was targeted by the people who had overweight luggage. Thay TC’s group had 20 kg overweight and they were lucky because the attendance let the group go for free.

Fong did her last minute airport shopping. She left me with the entire luggage and disappeared. I thought she was having toilet problem. All people went to the gate and I was waiting for her alone at the entrance. I went to look for her after more than 10 minutes and found her at a cosmetic counter. When we got to the gate, she went for more shopping. It was incredible to see people shopping like mad. Diane was another one but they were happy, that was the main thing that brought them happiness.

We safely got into the plane and I watched a very interesting movie called “Dai Wu Dang” and halfway I got cut off for landing. I was hoping I could catch up with the next half of the movie for my next leg, unfortunately from KL to Adelaide they didn’t show that movie.

During few hours at KL, Fong and Diane went for more shopping. Sighed…. They actually bought something and I couldn’t see my sister being sick or tired. This was truly amazing! I was tired and had a chat with Teresa at the airport.

Day 24 – 02/12/2012 Sunday – Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up call was at 6:30am and breakfast at 7:00am. Today Fong had breakfast with us. I was glad. After Breakfast we went to do more shopping at a big shopping mall close to our hotel. Fong bought 3 pairs of shoes. I bought a pair of white Vans for Nicholas for 700,000 dong. It was really cheap. Fong bought some t-shirts and other stuff. Teresa bought a pair of Vans for Sherman.

The group went to have lunch at Chua Vinh Nghiem. We saw a monk who smoked and shook his legs like mad. After lunch we went to buy some Buddhist stuff. I bought a hand bell. After lunch Thay TC suggested to have coffee at the shopping mall close to our hotel. We caught 3 taxis among 16 people. Co Tu Minh, Ba Nam and her niece got on a taxi and got lost. They went back to the hotel. Thay TC and Hue Dung’s taxis got to the shopping mall. We had coffee and went around the shopping to buy more junk. Some group members bought induction portable stove. I have written a story about this event which I have included in the appendix.

After we left the shopping mall, Thay TC took us to a Buddhist shopping area to buy some Buddhist stuff. We bought some monk bags. Co The Danh wanted to leave early and she told Thay TC that Fong needed to leave early. I told Thay TC that we were not in a hurry. We went back to the hotel together. Diane went alone to do more shopping.

Dr Le Cong Phuoc’s school mate

When we got back to the hotel, I went with Fong to visit the old doctor for one more shot. Luckily, Fong had her mobile so she could call the doctor. While the doctor was treating Fong, I questioned him for injection. I said, “Now a day, there aren’t many doctors who will give people injections”. He explained to me that this was because he is from the olden French time. I told him in Adelaide, there is a doctor also from the olden French time that still offers people injections. He is Doctor Le Cong Phuoc. What a surprise! This doctor was Dr Le Cong’s classmate. They were good friends before. I took a picture of him and a business card. I told him I would pass this to Dr Le Cong. This was such a small world.

We went to dinner with the group when we got back to the hotel. We went to eat bun xieo. This was really nice. Fong and I had 2 bun xieos and some rice cakes. I hoped Fong’s tummy was okay with the food.

She had diarrhoea again and took a Lomotil to fix her problem. We went to Cho Ben Thanh for more shopping. Fong bought some undies. I bought a handbag and more little pencil cases for people. Teresa bought a pair of shoes for Paul.

Day 23 – 01/12/2012 Saturday – Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up call was at 6:30am and breakfast at 7:00am. We had bread and vegetarian tomatoes beef. I took the bread for Fong. Today’s plan was to go to various charities. Diane, Teresa and I opted out for this morning’s activities. I needed to look after Fong.

After breakfast the group left, Teresa and I went to Cho Ben Thanh to get some pans. When I got back and showed Fong. She asked me to get some for her and a t-shirt for her husband. I went to Cho Ben Thanh again and bumped into Diane. We went together. I bought more masks, pans and t-shirts. Diane bought her son a work shirt and more. Teresa came along and we went back to the hotel together. We put our stuff in our room. I forced Fong to drink some water and she fell back to sleep. She had a fever. I told her that I was going to have lunch and do more shopping.

Teresa, Diane and I had lunch at a non-vegetarian restaurant. The food was okay. We had a problem with the Vietnamese dong when we paid for our lunch. After lunch we went shopping. I bought a pair of converse for Nicholas for 990,000 dong. Teresa and Diane bought something.

Co Tu Minh ordered some plain rice porridge for Fong. Thay TC asked whether Fong wanted to go to see a doctor. I asked Fong and she said yes. Thay TC rang Chu Tam Can for the local doctor. Chu Tam Can took Co Tu Minh, Fong and I to a surgery. The doctor looked very old. He gave Fong some tablets and a shot on her bum. He asked Fong to come back tomorrow between 4pm-8pm.

I didn’t go to have dinner with them as I wanted to look after Fong. Co Tu Minh bought some dinner for me. My Hanh got some retreat clothes for us and 5 rice cakes for me.

When they finished their dinner, Diana, Teresa and I went to do more shopping - shopping madness!

Day 22 – 30/11/2012 Friday – Ho Chi Minh City

Wake up call was at 5:00am. We had lunch at a beach site. It was a beautiful place and the noodles were nice. My noodles came last as they ran out of the yellow noodles. Fong had her coffee with milk at the restaurant.

On the way to Ben Tre, we stopped at a river side to wait for the ferry boat. People went to buy a lot of junk. Our helper went to get roasted bananas for My Hanh’s family, 2 types of cooked bananas and some lotus seeds. So we started eating all these and Fong’s tummy felt sick.

Chua Phat Minh at Ben Tre

This was such a beautiful lunch but Fong didn’t eat it.

We went to Chua Phat Minh at Ben Tre. The nun in that temple went extreme to welcome us. She had carts to fetch us; drums to welcome us; her talk to welcome us and a group of young children to sing for us and last but not least, prepared us a huge lunch. The group donated some money to the temple. Fong and I each donated separately from the group.

Fong felt sick and hadn’t eaten any lunch. During lunch she told me she had a stomach ache and needed to go to the toilet. She went and after lunch she said she felt light-headed. I went outside with her and she said she needed to go to the toilet again. I went inside the toilet with her and she fainted. She hanged on me and I tried not to let her fall. I yelled out loud for help and finally Co Phuoc Son and Co Tam Phuoc heard. They came to help, lifting Fong up. I cleaned her and they took her away to the abbot’s room. Co Tam Phuoc did a scratchy thing for her. Fong was feeling ill. After all these traumas we went back to the bus and headed for Ho Chi Minh City.

We didn’t have dinner tonight. I checked my email and went to bed.

Day 21 – 29/11/2012 Thursday – Rạch Giá

Wake up call was at 5:00am and we went to have a boat ride. Dao To Ha organised breakfast for us. We had breakfast on the boat. We passed the floating market and someone bought some fruits called milk-fruit. We saw people selling coffee and all sorts of fruit and veggies. We went up to a street market and said farewell to Dao To Ha. He would stay back for a couple of more weeks in Canh Tho.

Fong bought three masks for Co Tu Minh and I while we walked through the market. The masks which Fong bought were colourful.

We went to an orphanage called Huong Duong Nha Nuoi Tre. We saw lots of children and this centre was reasonably clean. We donated some money to the centre and left. We went to a temple named Ngo Long Cuu

We got onto the bus and headed for Rach Gia. It was a long ride from Canh Tho to Rach Gia.

When we arrived at Rach Gia, we went to the Tinh Xa Ngoc Hoa temple for lunch. We then went to Thanh’s house to get something for the ceremony at the cemetery. We went on two boats to reach the cemetery. I was amazed when I got there. The cemetery was only for the Chinese. I read all the grave stones that I walk passed. They were all written in Chinese. The minute I stepped inside this cemetery, I chanted and transferred my merit to all these deceased people. I wished all of them could attain the ultimate happiness – nirvana. Thay TC led the group to chant at My Hanh’s father and mother’s graves.

After the ceremonies, we went to the hotel. My Hanh’s family paid for tonight’s accommodation which we were all reluctant for this. Bac Num said we didn’t want to owe anyone anything on the trip of pilgrimage. Co Tu Minh said we accepted the offer and we would pay the next day’s bus fare for My Hanh’s family.

Next door to the hotel was a big shopping centre. This was a wholesale shopping centre that people need to have membership to buy things. Our trip helper had the membership. She helped us to buy lots of facial creams and nose stripes. She also lent her money to us. I was thrilled when I saw the facial creams that Hing asked me to get for her. I told Fong that Hing asked me to buy all the cream on the shell if I could. Fong laughed.

Day 20 – 28/11/2012 Wednesday – Can Tho

Wake up call was at 4:30am and we departed at 5am. We went to Chua Tu An for breakfast – Com Tam (rice combination). I loved all the Vietnamese breakfast, there are so tasty! We then went to Thien Vien Chanh Giac. The head monk organised the charity event for the group. After lunch we waited for the villagers to come, Hue Dung, Fong and I had a talk with two local girls. Once the villagers arrived, Thay gave a brief talk then we handed out a bag of rice, a bottle of soy sauce, a box of noodles and some money for each family.

Thien Vien Chanh Giac

Charity – 1 bag of rice, 1 bottle of soy sauce, 1 box of noodles + money

Everyone in the group felt content and moved on to Thien Vien Son THang for dinner. We stayed at a cheap hotel at Can Tho where uncle Dau To Ha recommended. The room was hot and sticky, but we couldn’t complain because it was cheap.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Day 19 – 27/11/2012 Tuesday – Long Hai

After breakfast we went to an orphanage – Co Nhi Thien Binh. We offered some lollies, milk and biscuits to the children and senior people in the centre. They loved to receive gifts from people. Thay praised the children who did well in school this year. Within this orphanage there is a girl who captured my heart back in 2009. She was not doing well at school. As I looked at her face all I could see was disappointment. I asked Fong to give me one Vietnamese Dong note. I called her over and handed it to her. This note had brightened her face and I gave her a hug. I wish I could take her back home.

Thien Vien Thuong Chieu

This pagoda will be HT Thich Thanh Tu’s ashes bury place

After a sad farewell, we had lunch at Thien Vien Thuong Chieu. It was a nice lunch. I wondered what the children had for their lunch. After lunch we went to visit the leprosy village. Thay led the group in and the head of the villager rang the bell to gather the villagers to receive gifts from us. We also visited Thien Vien Chan Khong and had dinner at Truc Lam Chan Nguyen. We stayed at a beach resort – Sao Mai (Boutique Villas). Each room has its unique name, our room was Mimosa. Inside the room it had a plate of exotic fruits.

Thien Vien Chan Khong (HT Thich Thanh Tu used to sit on this stone)

Thien Vien Chan Khong

Sao Mai (Boutique Villas)

Truc Lam Chan Nguyen

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Day 18 – 26/11/2012 Monday – Ho Chi Minh City

We arrived at Ho Chi Minh City after 10am. Chu Tam Can and the hotel people were outside waiting for us. We went to Chua Vinh Nghiem for lunch. The lunch was beautiful. Thay TC ordered too much food and the group couldn’t finish it. We checked into the hotel and we were free after that.

Fong and I went to visit aunty Hou. My father asked us to visit her and gave her some money. We gave her all our medication. We went to An Dong shopping centre by taxi. Fong and I bought lots of undies. It was extremely hot inside the centre. We had fresh coconut. The seller asked me whether I am a Bo Doi? I said no. (Note: Bo Doi means local police)

Thay TC once again ordered too much food and we couldn’t finish it. We went to shop with Fai Jie, Ba Nam and her niece – Thuy. Thuy didn’t know how to bargain. She made us pay for the high price.

Banana Goes West

Monday, October 28, 2013

Appendix --- Charity list

Korean Buddhist Temple Sravasti

Maha Pajapati Nunery, Vaishali

Surya Bharti School, Bodhgaya

Chua Tu An (Su Co Thich Nu Minh Hai)

Chua Phat Minh (Su Co Thich Nu Ngoc Mai)

Tinh Xa Ngoc Hoa

Huong Duong Nha Nuoi Tre

Trung Tam Noui Tre Mo Coi & Nhem Chat Doc Doxin

Thien Vien Chanh Giac

Appendix ---- Hotel list

09/11/2012 – New Delhi – 1589 City Mark Hotel

10/11/2012 – Lucknow – Tulip Inn

11/11/2012 – Sravasti – Lotus Nikko Hotel

12/11/2012 – Lumbini – Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel

13/11/2012 – Kushinagar – The Imperial

14/11/2012 – 15/11/2012 – Vaishali – The Vaishali Residency

16/11/2012 – Rajgir – The Rajgir Residency

17/11/2012 – 20/11/2012 – Bodhgaya – Hotel Tathagat International

21/11/2012 – 22/11/2012 – New Delhi – India Hotel

23/11/2012 – 24/11/2012 – Aura de Asia

26/11/2012, 30/11/2012-02/12/2012 – Kim Huong Hotel

27/11/2012 – Sao Mai (Boutique Villas)

28/11/2012 – Hotel 31B

29/11/2012 - Kim Son

Acknowledgement