Motorbike Men is the topic of the day - whilst waiting for the local bus adjacent to the local market I am always tempted to take a motorbike to where I want to go. Would I suggest doing it?
Well I have done it more than once and it is certainly nor for everybody.
There is certainly a lot of camaraderie within them.
But today is about the 'motorbike men' who seem to be sitting there for a long time waiting for someone who wants a ride...
There are motorbike 'pick up points' scattered all over Phuket and they usually charge a reasonable price (but not for everyone). So if you do not want to hire a car this is an alternative, but there are more.
What do all these things mean in the Buddhist Temple?
Description
Buddhist Tools
This program will virtually give you information on buddhism and the traditions involving it, also you may practice some religous customs on your cellphone. On our beta version prayer wheels would turn, and on our pro version all tools would be available. Since it is our first program there might be some shortcomings and mistakes.
There are 10 items in the Buddhist Wat that this App chose to describe...
Look at the top wheel to see which ones.
This was wonderful - you were able to investigate what each was able article in turn! Then I found that I was able to count the Prayer beads - it made me want to look at it more.
Then there were the Incense sticks - I wonder when there will be 'smell O vision'?
A great introduction to Buddhism.
Cost:Free
Ease of use:click on the pictures
Comment:a great idea but think the colouring for the writing is too much
Well I guess I do not know enough about Bangkok and Thailand yet because not a lot of this makes any sense... yet! So I guess I have to look at where to visit next...
But then I read that it was based on this map! Asia according to the Americans... wow...
Buddha's footprint is something that you see in a number of Buddhist Temples - this one was actually on a trip to Ayutthaya so I am not sure where you are able to find one in Phuket.
The footprints of the Buddha (Buddhapada) are one of the early representations of the Buddha in the anticonic (no statues) stage of Buddhist art. The Buddhapada are highly revered in all Buddhist countries, especially in Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Symbolizing the grounding of the transcendent, feet have been objects of respect in India long before Buddhism. According to Buddhist legend, after the Buddha attained enlightenment, his feet made an imprint in the stone where he stepped.
In another tradition, the infant Buddha took seven steps after his birth to symbolize his spiritual domination of the universe.
The footprints of the Buddha symbolize the Buddha's presence, as they are believed to be the imprints where the Buddha actually touched the ground. At the same time, the Buddhapada signify the Buddha's absence now that he has entered nirvana, and thus are a reminder of the Buddhist ideal of nonattachment.
The footprint is venerated further if it is found in the countryside - in face these are protected by Royal Patronage and are believed to be an actual footprint - the most famous of them being Phra Puddhabat temple in Saraburi Province.
Please remember to respect Buddhism when you enter the temple by being appropriately dressed and removing your shoes.
Monks and Thailand are a very common link and one of the most beautiful things that I have been part of is walking with the monks in the early morning.
According to the latest figures Thailand is still 90% but this is more than Phuket which what I read is mostly Buddhist.
What I enjoy to do is to take photographs of the monks as they walk along the roads.
The monks get up very early in and many are met by people waiting on the side of the road with gifts of food for the monks - called alms giving and is popular in a number of cultures.
From approximately 7am monks will walk along the roads bear feet with their alms bowls, the senior monk will always walk in the front.
Devotees, whose houses are along the alms-round circuit, wait in front of their homes. Others, go to a spot along the road where the monks pass.
To indicate that you would like to offer food, remove your shoes, lower your upper body and put your palms together in front of your chest. In Thai, we call this hand gesture wai.
If the alms bowl is not full, the monks open the lid for you.
First we offer rice, followed by food, desserts, fruits and water or other drinks. If the bowl is full on the other hand, we put the offerings on the lid instead.
Some people also give a bouquet of flowers to put in front of the Buddha image at the temple.
Finally, we wai the monks, who often give a short blessing. I found the best description from Thailand Breeze.
