Kao Pan Sa

Kao Pan Sa is a Buddhist lent that lasts for three months and is also known as rain retreat. It is a very old tradition dated back when Lord Buddha stayed in temples to avoid killing insects and other living organisms. In Buddhism, people welcome the rainy season and call it Wan Kao Pan Sa, while the exit is being called Wan Okk Pan Sa. The word "Kao" means enter and "Okk" means exit.

During this time the monks meditate and teach new monks. They can wander in the day but must return and sleep in the same temple for three straight months, just like what the Lord Buddha did in the old times. It is also the time when people refrain from doing bad things like drinking or smoking. They usually light candles at night and pray, while walking three rounds around the temple.

In Ubon Ratchatanee a province of Thailand near the Cambodian border, they have gigantic candles being showcased to the people during Kao Pansa. Wonderful and amazing designs of candles will fill your eyes. Also, the wax sculpting and candle design contest is a must see there. Visiting Ubon will give you a chance of seeing candles far beyond your imagination. Here's the link to the post i made about the amazing candles. Click HERE

From Rags to Riches!

I was browsing facebook updates yesterday when i came across a post of the "Luckiest Maid in Singapore". The news talks about a Filipina maid who inherited $4 million US from his late employer. Wow! How cool is that?

Here's the article taken from Calgary Herald and here's the link click click!

'Luckiest maid in Singapore inherits $4M from employer

Agence France-Presse July 22, 2010 2:02 AM

A devoted Filipina maid inherited more than $4 million US from her late employer after more than 20 years of service, a report said Wednesday.

"I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money," the 47-year-old single woman told the Straits Times in an interview.

The maid refused to be named in public for fear of possible threats to her life in the impoverished Philippines, where wealthy people have been kidnapped for ransom and some killed by their abductors.

The windfall, including cash and a luxury apartment, came from the estate of her employer Quek Kai Miew, a doctor and philanthropist who died last year at 66.

We have several stories of people who were born from a poor family and became rich because of hardwork. Others just got sooo lucky by winning a lottery, and making them an instant millionaire overnight. These type of stories drive other people to work hard in order to achieve their dreams in life. However, some are becoming lazy expecting that luck will be poured on them too (thanks to lottery!?). Anyway, the story moved me so i decided to make a post of it...

Phra Si Ratana Temple (Wat Yai) - Thailand

The surrounding area of The Phra Si Ratana Temple or Wat Yai was built in 1537 near the bank of Nan River, 390 kilometers from Bangkok. It is known for housing the most beautiful Buddha image in the entire kingdom and is portrayed in the Phitsanulok official seal.

Outside the gates you will see locals and tour buses lining up the road. It causes traffic sometimes because the parking space of the inside is not sufficient enough to accommodate the large number of tourists. There are also times when Wat Yai is way too crowded compare to other temples in the city center combined.

Its cloister is usually the venue of several festivals and events including the famous Phitsanulok Dragon Boat Race. Also, the temple museum located inside is home to the Sukhothai period art collection.

Because of its beauty and historical importance, Bangkok and the province of Rayong have their own copies of Phra Buddha Chinnarat displayed in their temples.

Amazing temple it really is....

Visit Phitsanulok and see for yourself

Patuxai - Laos PDR

Built in the sixties the war monument or better known as Patuxai is a symbol of courage of the Laotian people who fought France for independence. After its completion it became one of the main features of Laos and one of the few structures that dominates the Vientiane skyline.  

The word Patuxai (pronounce Pa-too-sai) is a Laotian word that means "Gate of Triumph" and has a close resemblance to that of Arc de Triomphe in Paris. However upon closer look, you will see that the monument has the touch of Laotian architecture designed with Buddhist figures carved on its walls. 

As Pisanu wrote on his bisean blog...

"Notice the intricate designs of the structure. Kinnari figures all over! Very Laotian, very Southeast Asian! The Kinnari (half-woman, half-bird mythical creature), by the way, is the only iconic figure that connects almost all of Southeast Asia – from Siam to LanXang (Laos), from Khmer Empire (Cambodia) to Surigao (Philippines), from Java to Burma. Our ancient people have Kinnaris in their cultures one way or another."

Photo taken by Phil Roeland

Other than those mentioned above, expect some self appointed parking inspectors who will ask for a fee after you park. Lol But of course, the gardens in the park are beautifully planted and manicured where one can relax and have an ice-cream while watching people come and go. So perhaps a penny to park isn't that bad either.

I guess by now no one will discredit Patuxai not being South East Asian: )

Aceh Tsunami Museum - Indonesia

Tsunami is one of the most devastating natural calamities of the world. In fact, the world saw the havoc it caused in Haiti on January 12, 2010 that claimed thousands of lives and destroyed billions of properties. South East Asia on the other hand is not exempted to this deadly disaster. One such record in particular was the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that hit Indonesia the hardest.

Because of this, Indonesia constructed a building and named it the "Aceh Tsunami Museum", a symbolic reference to the 2004 tsunami disaster. It is also an emergency disaster shelter and an educational center for prevention of future tsunamis, or in case the area is hit by a tsunami again.

Located in Banda Aceh, this 2,500 m2 four-storey building has images of people dancing the symbolic gesture of Acehnese discipline and religious beliefs called Saman dance decorated on its walls. The floor on the other hand was patterned to the Acehnese peoples' houses that can withstand tsunami, while the roof appears to be a tidal wave (cool). 

The museum was designed by Ridwan Kamil, an Indonesian architect who made sure that victims who died and those that are still alive be given a place in one of the walls of the chambers for their names to be inscribed. 

Sweet!

Kaeng Song Waterfall - Phitsanulok, Thailand

Phitsanulok particularly the district of Wangtong is blessed with several waterfalls. One such waterfall is Kaeng Song which is clearly visible from the road along the highway of Kilometer 45. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of the mountain and the waterfall itself. Also, there are couple of restaurants that lined the bank that offer tire tubes for kids and swimming enthusiast. And for those who don't want to get wet, swan boat paddles are also available for a very minimal fee.

Phitsanulok is landlocked and the waterfall is a tributary with several mesmerizing cascades. It is best viewed during the rainy season as the water volume is high. The water is brown and may not be appealing to some, yet the scenery is nice and the local people enjoy it a lot.

The waterfall can be reached from downtown Phitsanulok at roughly 20 minutes by car. Within the neighboring villages, other waterfalls are just waiting for you. So come and visit the Phitsanulok and the entire South East Asian nations.. A lot of beautiful stuff are in store for you!