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.
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