Trip

The Monks Place (I can't spell the town), Thailand Phillip

So I've definitely decided that meeting the Monk and getting to stay with him has been the highlight of my trip so far. The days go pretty slow and peacefully but basically they break down like this. We wake up somewhere between 4 and 6am (depends on whether our teacher is here). It's pretty cold in the morning so we keep our blankets wrapped around us while we meditate. At 6:45am we go with the Monk to the local village to beg for food. Buddhists believe that they get a blessing (good karma for the next life) if they help others, but it's especially true for helping Monks. We go to the same houses everyday and I think the locals are getting pretty used to us. Anyway, the kids in the house and sometimes parents will come running out with rice and other foods to give to the Monk. Then they all squat down and the Monk gives them a blessing. The walk is totally silent but you need to be careful not to step on any ants or insects (that ant could be your brother!).

Once we get back Eve and I have breakfast (in front of me now I have a lovely bowl of seaweed and mushroom porridge) and meditate some more. Around 11am or so a local lady "A" shows up with our lunch. Also the Monk gets to eat his one meal of the day and there's a wee ceremony where he gives some of his food to us.

After lunch, you guessed it, we meditate some more. However, for the past two days Eve and I have left after lunch on motorbikes (loaned to us) and we go do stuff. When we get back we read and relax (generally I nap). About 6pm we get dinner brought to us and finally we chat to the Monk (my favorite bit) for a couple of hours. I get to ask him tons of questions and the Monk patiently answers them. Okay, so what question would you ask a Monk, I'm thinking, "What is the meaning of life?" Yup, I know the answer, I already asked. His answer was that the meaning of life is to "Separate the mind from the body". Did I already mention that the Monk says that I've met him in a past life and that meeting him in Kanchanaburi wasn't a coincidence? Well, he did, he said that when I went to the forest with him that I was there with a purpose. He wouldn't tell me too much then, but I did manage to weasel some more info out of him. Basically, he said that in my past life I was a European who came to Thailand and worked with the armies and kings. I'm thinking quite swish, I must've been someone important. Well, last night when I'm prying info from him (he says I need to meditate and get the answers myself) he lets go that I was actually an arms dealer.... bringing guns from Europe. yeah, here I am thinking I might be a king or a general, but no, a bloody arms dealer... anyway, had to go to the forest to rectify this because the armies I affected marched along the same road we drove along.

I'm still not planning on becoming Buddhist, (maybe I like stepping on ants too much? :), but I have to tell you I'm impressed to no end with them. Every religion seems to say basically the same thing but this is the first one I've seen to actually practice what they preach. The people are, by far, the nicest I've ever met. Most of them are very poor but always welcome you with a smile and try to make you happy. I really think the people here live like we all should.

Anyway, on a more fun topic, yesterday was the last (of 7) and biggest day of Thai New Year. Thai's celebrate it by throwing water around and we were invited to the local celebrations. Apart from just throwing water at anything that moves they wash the old people and the Monks in a ceremony. Eve, myself, and two Germans all got to take part in the fun. We got totally soaked and covered in talcum powder in the process. Tons of fun though, some drunk local took me under his wing and made sure I was always in the midst of the action. I kind of felt like a crutch (literally) with this guy leaning on me so much. The two German guys were cool (can't remember their names!) but they were working in Bangkok for BMW and had the NY holiday to travel. So they rented a motorbike and a tent and set out. Pretty cool, but they gave me tons of great information on how to travel across Europe very very cheaply (not transporting drugs, don't worry).

Tomorrow we hitch and bus our way back to Bangkok. My current plans is to stay for a few days and then head up to Laos, spend 2/3 weeks there then down to cambodia before bussing it over to Vietnam. The route follows the Mekong River and the Ho Chi Minh trail so maybe transport will be available.