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[Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya - India]
Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India, is the most sacred of all Buddhist pilgrimage sites. A descendant of the original Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha gained enlightenment is next to this temple.
Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya – India
Seeking Nirvana in Bodhgaya – Where the Buddha attained enlightenment
India has three of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world, with the fourth being in Nepal. That is an impressive heritage for a country that counts less than one percent of its population as Buddhist (though ask any business man and most would take 1% of billion any time). Out of those four sites, Bodhgaya is the most important. This is the place where Buddha attained Enlightenment.
The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya marks the place where Siddhārtha Gautama sat under a Bodhi tree for 49 days of meditation. Not content with having just attained enlightenment, the Buddha then spent a week in front of the tree, gazing with unblinking eyes in gratitude.
[Mahabodhi Temple]
Behind the main temple is Bodhi tree where Buddha sat. Actually it is not the original tree but a descendent of. The original was cut down, but not before a seed was taken to Sri Lanka, which was then able to later supply a replacement tree.
For some reason I had visions of an open garden and the tree just there for all to enjoy. I envisaged that I was going to give the tree a big hug and have some of that nirvana rub off upon me. Of course the reality was different, and the tree is behind a high enclosure. Fair enough. With approximately 350 million Buddhists worldwide, imagine if they all came and gave the tree a hug – it would be worn out in no time.
And don’t even think of trying to take a leaf as a souvenir. All the branches are well above reaching/jumping level . While I didn’t count, I’m sure there was less than 350 million leaves on the tree (though there were some hawkers out the front who will try and sell you a leaf from a Bodhi tree, perhaps the original one 
). Anyway, there is no such thing as instant enlightenment. I knew that.
[Bodhi Tree at Mahabodhi Temple]
It is pretty impressive to stand by this tree and think of the history. Over 2500 years ago a man sat under this tree as a Prince, and left as the Supreme Buddha.
Bodhgaya is a small city of around 30000 people. Around the city there are Buddhist temples and monasteries representing all the major Buddhist countries of the world. I was happy to see the unmistakable architectural style of a Thai Buddhist Wat.
[Thai Monastery - Bodhgaya]
While Bodhgaya is a small city, it has an airport with services to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, which are mostly seasonal for pilgrimage travel. The easiest way to get there is to get the train to the nearby Gaya, which is on the Dehli to Kolkata line.
52 inspiring Buddhist quotes and sayings on life
Wat Phra Singh in Chiang Mai is one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the city. It houses the Phra Buddha Sihing, an important Buddha statue.
In the Wat compound there are famous buddhist quotes and sayings attached to trees throughout the garden, which makes for an enlightened walk around the Wat.
[If everything is gotten dreamily, it will go away dreamily too.]
[Dhamma is systematic practice for a man at every stage of his life.]
[Flattering words are but honey-coated poison.]
[Light dispels darkness. Wisdom dispels ignorance.]
[With Dhamma established in the mind, even bare rice is delicious enough.]
[Those with good eye are inclined to fall into deep well.]
[As you sow so you reap.]
[Until death there is nothing enough.]
[There is no glory for a lazy person however good looking.]
[Without recognition of death, how can there be any knowledge of it.]
[Mans death is the least of all things material. What is left to the world is virtues and vices.]
[The simplicity of the good man is hard to follow. The simplicity of the evil man is easy to follow.]
[Physical charms attract the eyes, goodness attracts the mind.]
[Failure teaches a man how to succeed.]
[Poverty with dignity is better than wealth based on shame.]
[Never is there any effect like that of merit.]
[Without a beginning, there is nothing to worry about the end.]
[The most valuable service is one rendered to our fellow humans.]
[Do not neglect recollection of death.]
[Don't escape when you have a problem because there always is a way to solve it.]
[Ignorance is the real evil.]
[If there nothing that you like, you must like the things that you have.]
[Better is to speak unpleasant truth than to tell lies.]
[It is easy to know man's face, but it is difficult to know his thought.]
[Peace is the highest bliss.]
[Eat to live but (don't) live to eat.]
[In time of suffering, only dhamma is real friend of the mind.]
[Merit making calculated to impress is not real merit.]
[Do try to do good but not to be great, otherwise you will be in danger.]
[Everyone may be a fool but nobody is a fool forever.]
[No other foes are greater than birth and death. No other friends are greater than merits.]
[With mindfulness, a person always prospers.]
[There is no saturating the fire with fuel.]
[The skilled man does not show off, but the man without knowledge usually show off.]
[Crying with the wise is better than laughing with the fool.]
[Anxiety shortens life.]
[Not only to be receiver, but also to be provider.]
[Time and tide wait for no man.]
[Living without hope is like burying oneself.]
[Education is a guide, knowledge is a key.]
[Selfishness is the father of all evil.]
[To defeat others is the starting point of hatred and vengeance.]
[Constant dripping wears away the stone.]
[Every honest work is honourable work.]
[Clean, clear, calm; these are characteristics of a noble person.]
[Good to forgive, the best to forget.]
[It is flooded water that makes mud; it is clean water that wipes away mud.]
Merit is to accumulated, evil is to be abandoned.
Selfishness is the real enemy of peace
[Today is better than two tomorrows.]
[To do good and evil unseen by others are always seen by oneself.]
[A man who will be the public leader, must know how to be the public follower.]
Rotterdam Santa Claus
The Netherlands is famous for being a liberal country, but this public art in Rotterdam could be the most offensive in Europe.
Santa Claus - Rotterdam
The statue is of a giant Santa Claus holding a butt plug. It was created by the American installation-artist Paul McCarthy and it represents a symbol of modern consumerism.
Walking with your food
Tuk Tuk is a tourist service town with a rural flavour. A short stroll away and you will be walking past rice paddies and water buffalo, and chickens can be seen everywhere.
Chicken crossing
The Lake Toba region is home to the Batak people, who make up one of the largest Christian populations in Indonesia. This means that pork is available on the menu here.
Pig and chickens
Balinese Beach Offerings
Hindu Offerings at Kuta Beach - Bali
Hindu offering baskets (canang sari) on Kuta beach, Bali. These baskets are a common site on the footpaths here.
Erawan Shrine – Bangkok
The Erawan Shrine in Bangkok is dedicated to the four headed deity Brahma (Phra Phrom), the Hindu God of creation. It has a reputation for granting wishes, thus it is very popular.
[Erawan Shrine]
The shrine is in front of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, on a busy intersection in the shadow of two sky train lines near Siam Square.
[Erawan Shrine and Sky Train]
Those who have had a wish granted may then return to commission dancers and musicians at the shrine.
[Erawan Shrine Dancers]
[Erawan Shrine Dance Rates]
Arrow to Mecca in hotels rooms
My hotel room in Dubai has a black arrow on the ceiling pointing in the direction to Mecca, a common feature of hotels in Islamic countries.
[Black arrow on the hotel ceiling indicating the direction to Mecca.]
Synagogue and Swastikas
Only in Asia could you see a Synagogue and Swastika’s side by side. Fort Cochi in Kerala was once a prosperous trading port. It has been a Portuguese, Dutch and British outpost, and there has been a Jewish presence throughout. The synagogue in Jew Town was built in 1568.
[Synagogue and Swastikas]
