Day 2: Still a Tourist

Today was the first day that I really felt homesick. I woke up at 5:15 am and raced to get ready for the 5:20 bells, but I was hungry from only having a power bar for dinner. As I walked into the room for chanting, I instantly regretted not eating another protein bar, even if it would have made me late. I felt so weak that I could not sit up straight or raise my hands in the proper position. After a painfully long morning chant session, everyone began to set up for the visitors from the International Buddhist Conference in Bangkok. At this point, I felt so faint that I said I was sick, got some water, went back to my room, and ate 2 protein bars.
The culture shock hit me and I began to cry. Witnessing the surrounding poverty, watching ants crawl all over my bags, listening to people talk in a language I don't know, and waking up before dawn to chant in that language - it was all too much to handle at once. The no wifi makes matters worse because I can only contact my house line with an international plan. I cannot send emails, check facebook, skype, or IM for communication. I truly feel isolated on the other side of the world. After a pep talk from my mom, I dried my tears and had some breakfast.

It ended up being an exciting day because I got to join the group of visitors. First, Ven. Dhammananda took everyone on a tour of the whole wat. Then we loaded a two-decker bus and went to Pathom Asok, a self-sufficient community of Buddhist monks living in small huts. I knew there was something strange when I saw a monk with some serious muscles. It turns out that they do their own manual labor (farming, building, etc.), so naturally they get fit in the process. I loved the simplicity of their houses, but I don't think I could ever be comfortable living in one.

Example of a house/hut at Pathom Asok

Next, we went to the Golden Pagoda, otherwise known as Phra Pathom Chedi. Venerable Dhammananda was very knowledgeable about the history of the buildings and she gave us a tour. The myth she told regarding this stupa sounded awfully similar to Oedipus - he killed his father and was going to marry his mother. Only in this story, milk came out of his mom's breast, confirming that she was his mom and he killed his guardian instead...

Phra Pathom Chedi

Apparently, they actually redid the building by adding a layer on top of the building that was already there. They had a painting that shows the original white chedi and the new golden layer. I managed to get Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in the picture. She is a leading woman in Buddhism and at one point, she took my arm and asked where I am from. When I said America, she asked why I chose Wat Songdhammakalyani. That sums up the conversation, but it was still exciting.

Painting of the original and new chedis

There was also had a reclining Buddha. It seemed so tiny compared to the one at Wat Pho, but then again that is the largest reclining Buddha in the world.

 Reclining Buddha at Phra Pathom Chedi

At the end of the tour, a woman offered to take my picture in front of Phra Pathom Chedi. I did not expect the offer, but I accepted of course. This may be one of my dorkiest photos from the trip...although I still have 7 weeks left.

Phra Pathom Chedi

So it ended up being a pretty exciting second full day.