Guest Post: Dave`s long awaited and greatly anticipated blogging debut!
Chua Huong, Vietnam – Day 17 (3/1/12)
We set out this morning with the rising sun for the
beautiful Perfume Pagodas located about
two hours south of Hanoi. We were picked up at our hostel by Huong, our very
friendly and knowledgeable personal guide for the day. As the driver wove his
way through the streets of Hanoi, Huong told us about his life. His older
sister was born during the Vietnam war in between their father’s first and
second tours of duty and he is now raising his own family, two daughters, with
his wife in the same village that goes back many many generations.
We arrived at a small village on the river and quickly
boarded a small fishing boat, solely rowed by a young Vietnamese woman who
powered through the one hour journey upstream to a sacred group of temples
collectively known as the perfume pagodas.
Huong is a devote follower and was
able to provide us an insightful look into Buddhism. We have been to numerous pagodas
and temples throughout our trip in Asia without really knowing how and what the
people worshipped or what the buildings represented so it was enlightening to
learn the history and meanings behind Buddhist culture. It is definitely a lot
more than just gorgeous buildings and a jolly old fat bald man!
After visiting the main pagoda and temple where monks come
to study, we made the 1.5 km hike up an ancient staircase carved into the
mountain to the fairy caves. The original building at the top lost its roof
from an American bomb, but the rest of the structure was still standing. He told us of the intricate tunnel systems that the Vietnamese soldiers dug during war times and of the levels of underground structures that were built for entire communities to escape the war. The tunnels were built so tiny that it was physically impossible for a man of ` American stature` to get through them. We entered
into a spacious cave which had once served as a hospital during the war and is
now a sacred place of worship. Only once a year a monks servant comes to clean
the many statues of Buddha, and we happened to be the only other people there
at the time. The villagers believe that the
Buddha’s heart is in this cave and rub a large smooth quartz rock in the side
wall of the cave to touch his heart.
On the journey back to the first village we were invited to
hitch a ride on a motorized longboat with some elderly Vietnamese men. This had
Huong smiling from ear to ear and giddy as a school girl because he had told
us earlier on the paddle out that only monks and important people take the
motor boats ... so I guess a couple of Canadian kids made the short list as
well! He has been coming here his whole life and has only ever rowed in and
out. I think Buddha was smiling on us.
Peace,
Dave
3 comments:
Not a bad blogging debut there Dave. Although I think Tegs has got you beat!! Must be all the practice she has.
Sounds like a pretty interesting place. Glad to hear that you are finally getting some heat during your vaca. Hope all is well!
cheers buddy! but I definitely agree that Tegs has got me beat so I better practice up!! :)
Well Mr. Blogger I am impressed...thanks for sharing...looks like it was all you were hoping for!
xo
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