John, Paul, George, and ... Carly

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More temples were visited today, including the Bhutanese (another masterpiece of colour and life). We also popped in to the minuscule Archaeological Museum, which appeared to be doubling as a mosquito zoo.

After lunch we made the journey across the (dry) river (bed) to visit the Sujata Temple, Sujata being the lady who had fed Buddha when he became thin from too much thinking and not enough eating. As is the custom in these parts, as soon as our rickshaw hove into view of the neighbouring village, we were spotted by 2 boys who then accompanied us to the temple, providing information about the Buddha story that we already knew. The walk to the temple was on raised narrow earthen paths between fields that were sown with potatoes, cauliflowers, spring onions, and umpteen other vegetables. With people working the crops, and barely a building to be seen, it seemed a world away from the town. Adjacent to the temple was a tiny school that was apparently attempting to educate about 80 children from nearby villages.

After the visit, our uninvited guides asked for money and seemed quite miffed when we pointed out that i) we hadn't asked them along, ii) they hadn't told us anything we didn't already know, and iii) we'd given them the chance to practise their English so arguably we were the ones requiring payment. I think this definitely fell into the category of people on the make.

A quick circumambulation of the Mahabodhi Temple was the perfect preparation for dinner, and on the way to our dining venue of choice (Fujya Green - supposedly also in possession of beer) we encountered an American lady called Carly who was debating where to get some food herself, so we invited her to join us. She had actually attended the Kalachakra and seemed to have suffered something of a brain overload in the process. I was interested to find that she was some sort of botanist in Arches National Park, and lived in Moab, both of which I had visited in 2004 and loved, but my attempt to start a discussion about Utah microbrews foundered when she said she was off alcohol for a year.

After dinner, which was distinguished by great food but extremely spotty service, we went for a post-prandial chai, on the way meeting a fellow Kalachakra attendee called Paul. It was the clear that the two of them had plenty to talk about so, after our chais were drained, we headed back to the hotel.

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Photos

Bhutanese temple
Interior

Bhutanese temple
Exterior detail

Bhutanese temple
Ceiling mandala

Bhutanese temple
Interior

Bhutanese temple
Exterior

Bhutanese temple
Gate

Comments

[anonymous]

thank u so much for clicking such beautiful pictures ofthe place m longing to go back to..my home!!