We went to visit the Buddhist Temple that was about 15 minutes away from Wollongong. Yeah, it was so near and we really now regret of not making it there earlier. Better late than never. Its called NianTien Temple and it is supposedly to be the biggest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. The main features are the Great Compassion Hall, the Main Shrine and the Pagoda. Great Compassion Hall is where they have the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kuan Yin), a symbol of great compassion, listening to people's prayers to alleviate suffering for all. In the Main Shrine resides the 5 Buddhas of Confidence, Longevity, Wisdom, Inner Beauty and Peace and 10.000 smaller Buddhas. Truly magnificent sight (cameras not allowed inside).
The Pagoda is an eight storey resting place for the deceased. The whole Temple is surrounded and enclosed in beautiful landscape overlooking the mountains. There is also a lotus pond, museum, dining hall, a tea house and a pilgrim lodge. They also conduct classes like mediation classes, tai chi, weekend mediation retreats, one day retreat, Buddhism study, Vegetarian cooking classes, calligraphy writing classes and so on. As I was standing in the middle of the temple I was just wondering. Its amazing how you can be overwhelmed by the beauty of it all but at the same very moment experience a calmness over your soul. The mediation retreat will do me a lot of good.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Bridging for 110 years
At last after 2 whole months of non-stop work and especially the final 21 days working 7 days and more than 12 hours per day Krish got about a week leave. And this is also the final week before I start uni back again.
I just recovered from cold so we decided to give the snow amiss. Instead we went for a lovely drive to Kangaroo Valley. And coincidentally we were having a warm week in this cold winter. It was about 1 and half hour drive. It is a great drive through enchanting rainforest, over hills, around and down the mountain and through valley. The pastures that my eyes feast upon was so refreshing. Nothing is more beautiful than nature.
We stopped by an old town to have lunch. The place was called Berry. It was a very nice town where everyone seems to know each other and were extremely nice and warm. They had unique shops too selling unique homewares.
We then continued. The steep roads that our car took was astonishing and of course Krish enjoyed that very much (his way of relaxing I guess). We then reached Kangaroo Valley.
This place is very well known for its 110 years old Hampden bridge over the Kangaroo River. It is believed to be the oldest surviving wooden suspension bridge in Australia. It was actually made using mainly local materials in 1898.
In the above pictures on the far left side of the bridge is the footpath. If you are driving you need to stop at start or end of the bridge and give way to any car coming from the opposite direction. If there's none you drive on. I don't think this method will ever work in Singapore.
In the river that runs below the bridge we saw people fishing. You can also have a bbq here located in the park just near the river or you can go canoeing or kayaking in this river. The canoeing really intrigued us. Oh yeah you can also go for horse riding through the mountains and the rainforest of this Kangaroo Valley.
We might go back for some water fun. It was a nice day out. Greedily I shall wish for more.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
New Moon
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bluuuuues
Truthfully I dreaded to come back to my blog. It just looked miserable. So I decided to change the layout. And I found out that I made some souls out there very worried. I didnt realise that my blog is really serving as an outlet for my love ones to check on me. Hmm interesting. Im very very thankful for all the concerned emails, calls and messages. I agree. My last post was pretty bad(now when I look back) but I just wanted to be by myself (more with my negative self actually and figure).
My sister came for about 2 weeks holidays with her husband. It was my study break and instead of studying I was having loads of fun. Of course all good things came to end. And after sending them off I got pretty down. Yeah, people said it will get better. Haha to them.
I have sent off Krishna so many times from Singapore when he was studying in Melbourne. But this is so chokingly different. Airport makes me sick nowdays. I was so close to book a ticket back after my exams. But I only had 3 weeks holidays and I cant imagine how will I be worse when I come back from Singapore.
Oh ya not forgetting in this period of time my poly galfren Sri got married. She was there for me for my many ups and some pretty bad downs and I....couldnt make it to her most important day in her life.
Then another close fren of mine, Ummu gave birth to a baby gal. This just added to the list of many newborns that I have missed!
So naturally I was sooooo upset. With who??? With what??? I don't know. Let me just blame the economy (as that seems the lastest trend) and me not getting one damn job, the winter blues, reaching 30s crisis, blah blah blah. But deep down I know its just me. I am fine. Besides I got the the most powerful pillar of strength, Krish who also got the most admirable patience to withstand all my whinings (poor fellow).
So what Im doing in this holidays. Well I went and signed up for gym and haha on my 2nd week of gym ( last fri) I fell sick, flu and fever and I am still sick! So much for trying to get fit. And while Im sick the Twilight book series have been keeping me accompanied. Im onto the last book now already. Love it.
Among all this mayhem I got one consolation. I passed my very first module of Psychology. Its a tiny light in a darkest hour on a long journey but Im still thankful. And thanks again dear ones for letting me know that you are there.
Oh ya how can I forget. Happy birthday Omaru!!!! Hope it is a joyful one for you!
