Sunday, August 24, 2014

Travel: Jul 2014 - Phi Phi Islands (Thailand)


I always wanted to visit Phi Phi Islands ever since I watched the movie - The Beach starring Leonardo Dicaprio (he looked so young back then). Ever since I was an undergraduate, I was imagining myself backpacking in Thailand, and wondering into unknown places in the midst of the monsoon rain. There was this excitement of exploring new places and getting lost. 

When I was an undergraduate, a good friend) told me that her friend (an exchange student from Europe) said that Phi Phi Islands was the best beach, he ever visited. Hence, the urge to visit Phi Phi Islands was seeded more than a decade ago.

I am amazed that it took me more than 10 years to visit Phi Phi Islands. I have traveled to so many exotic places around the world, yet I kinda took it for granted. (I went Phuket before with friends, unfortunately, my friends weren't so keen to explore the islands. I also went Krabi before with colleagues, but I did not make it Phi Phi Islands too.) 

I decided to travel to Phi Phi Islands alone.


DAY 1 

Quip Bed & Breakfast

Interesting B&B in Phuket Town

Love the freedom of traveling alone in my slippers and a small backpack.

DAY 2

Boat Ride to Phi Phi Islands
(Ko Phi Phi Don on the left, and Ko Phi Phi Leh on the right).

Ko Phi Phi Leh, the Maya Bay is the location where The Beach is filmed. 
It is a national park and staying overnight is not allowed.


Congested Ko Phi Phi  Don- Ton Sai Bay

I was mentally prepared to see this, but I being a tourist is a contributor to the pollution of this beautiful island. It is noisy and smell of exhaust fume etc... Feeling abit disappointed.


Lotsa boats for tourists


A reminder of the devastating tsunami in 2004.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake_and_tsunami


Loh Dalum Bay
The other bay of Ko Phi Phi Don which is not as crowded.

Loh Dalum Bay


Book a tour with Maya Bay Sleep aboard.
http://www.mayabaytours.com/


Phi Phi Leh

The Sleepaboard Boat

Jump off from the top of the roof. 
It was pretty scary initially, but was quite fun.

Snorkelling

Not fantastic visibility, as the weather condition was not good.


A small boat dropped us off near a cliff, and we had to make our way to the cliff. It was raining and the water was quite choppy. Tough to keep our balance in the water. And I felt like a illegal refugee, which was quite fun.


Climb over a small cliff, and if you fall, it would be quite nasty with so many sharp edges. I wasn't expecting this.

Maya Bay =)

It was pouring heavily, but I was elated. 
Finally, I got here and there wasn't a lot of tourists.
Thanks to the bad weather.

Dipped myself in the warm seawater. 
Enjoying the view and the rain!
=)

Maya Bay


Shelter that we spent a night (due to bad weather, our operator decided that we should stay in the island instead of the boat. Apparently, it is a common occurrence.) I was glad to spend one night in  Ko Phi Phi Leh Island, even though overnight stay is not allowed.

It was raining heavily, and we were quite cold in the shelter. The feeling of being cold, dirty and wet felt like the experience of the reality show - Survivor. The only difference is that we have good operator that took care of the food and entertainment at night. The basic living condition is fine for me, in exchange, we get to see Maya Bay without tourists!

One American tourist was whining about how miserable she felt, and that she was paying good money for such a bad experience. I tried to keep her spirits up telling her that it is an interesting experience. 

Another highlight of the trip was to see blue luminous Plankton at midnight. Even though I only saw a few blue luminous Plankton, it is quite an amazing experience to hold the plankton on my finger. 
The world is quite amazing! =)


DAY 3

Morning at Maya Bay (without hordes of tourist)
Managed to do a short meditation - no mosquito and sandfly.


Listening to "Pure Shore" by All Saints.

"I'm moving
I'm coming
Can you hear, what I hear
It's calling you my dear
Out of reach
(Take me to my beach)
I can hear it, calling you
I'm coming not drowning
Swimming closer to you
(Take me to my beach)"


Panorama View of Maya Bay
(I swam across toward another small beach on the top left corner.
It is good to be a swimmer!)


In the late morning, we went back to Ko Phi Phi Don.

Street View -  Ko Phi Phi Don Island.
While it is touristy, I kinda like it for the variety of restaurants and massage parlours - creature comforts.

My Hotel (The Beacha Club) with the beach infront. 
Love the location of this hotel.
I just need to walk out of my hotel room and go for a swim in the sea.
=)


Raining Heavily at the Viewpoint.


Lotsa partying along the beach

Fire acrobat display along the beach


DAY 4

Panorama view of Koh Phi Phi Don.


Spent more than 1.5 hours looking at this. (That's the good thing about solo traveling, I can do things at my own pace). It is definitely one of the most beautiful islands I ever visited (even though it is very touristy). 

Enjoying the moment.
Lying down on the boulder.
Feeling the wind beneath my feet.
Listening to the Buddhist Music/Chant "Om Mani Padme Hum".
Looking beyond the boundless sea.
Feeling insignificant
Feeling grateful.

While I was 1.5 hours on the rock, people were constantly moving. They visit the vista point for 5 mins and left. 
Where are they going?
Do they know where they are heading?
Is there other places nice than this place?

Beautiful Phi Phi Island. 
On my last few days of my life, I will think about my life and be glad that I have seen so many beautiful places, and this is one of them.
Don't be sad, be grateful.


After Phi Phi Islands, I headed back to Phuket to catch my flight, before that I went to the Tiger Kingdom (after much struggle). On one hand, I think it is unethical to visit Tiger Kingdom to see captive tigers. On the other hand, I am very keen to touch the majestic tigers.

In the end, my desire to touch the tigers overwhelmed me. However, during my visit, I asked alot of questions to the staffs and the reply I gotten wasn't satisfactory.

http://www.tigerkingdom.com/Phuket.html


Small tigers


Large Tigers (less than 3 years old)


Another tourist touching this majestic animal


Caged.

Their fate beyond 3 years old is unknown. Apparently, the tigers would get territorial and aggressive beyond 3 years old, so no interaction is allowed with human beings and they would be fighting a lot among themselves. =(


This tiger is kept for breeding purposes

Small tigers taken away at night.


After this visit, I would not visit another Tiger Kingdom again.
My urges has been satisfied and I think I caused more harm to them indirectly.


Bangla Street - the famous party street in Phuket


Phuket - Patong Beach


Bangla Street at night.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Travel: Mexico & Cuba Trip - April 2014

http://boon-mexico-cuba-2014.blogspot.sg/

Sunday, August 03, 2014

Article: 面对它、接受它、处理它、放下它。

面对它、接受它、处理它、放下它。
Face it, Accept it, Deal with it, Let it Go


Buddhist Master Sheng-yen
Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheng-yen

Master Sheng-yen passed away 5 years ago in 2009, unfortunately, I only got to read about his teachings after his death. I am very touched and impressed by Master Sheng-yen's compassion and love for the all beings.  One of the most iconic Chinese actress (Brigitte Lin, 林青霞, whose husband is the owner of global apparel company - Esprit) is one of his disciples. 

*Notably, Brigitte Lin came from a Christian Family background

Below is  part of her sharing:

Source

我有幸见到圣严法师,由于以前没有接触过佛法、不谙规矩,见到师父竟然跟他握起手来。后来发现所有佛教徒都是以双手合十来打招呼。 继续延伸阅读:《佛教双手合十(合掌)的16种意义》

   我应该很专心地跪下磕头再站起来,跪下磕头再站起来,就这样连续做20分钟,心里要想着该忏悔的事和该感恩的事。开头我并不很专心,眼睛往旁边一瞥,见到一双轻盈的脚步从我身边走过。那袈裟飞起,就像浪花。我呆住了,心里赞叹着“好美!好美!”那是圣严法师。当年他老人家七十好几,也跟我们一样地跪拜,他的专注和真诚让我动容。后来他说他是对他的师父感恩。

   大约是8年前,我发觉我这个人太计较,总以为别人应该理所当然地对我好,而经常令自己很不开心,也影响别人的情绪。所以我决定去修行。我想要有一颗包容心,也想让自己“肚子能撑船”。于是我回台寻找大师,很幸运地,在因缘际会之下,我遇到了特技专家柯受良的太太宋丽华,她是一位虔诚的佛教徒。她送了一本小册子给我,我读了大为感动,那是一本谈论“禅”的册子。因为她的引荐,我有幸见到圣严法师,由于以前没有接触过佛法、不谙规矩,见到师父竟然跟他握起手来,后来还因为有点感冒怕传染给他而不安了很久,再后来发现所有佛教徒都是以双手合十来打招呼,我暗忖当时一定让周遭的人大为紧张。

   在见面的一个钟头里,我只问了一个问题,就是什么叫“禅”,因为始终认为禅是一门很深奥的学问。师父说只要坐三天禅就什么都知道了。我正在考虑的时候,师父连说了三次,于是我当下就决定坐禅三天,听说坐禅之前会因为被考验而受到阻碍,而我却在冥冥中很顺利地上了山。

   上山的第一件事,手提电话就给没收了,在没收前我赶快打个电话给女儿,告诉她我将有三天不跟她通话,这才放心。在三天内我要和其他九十九个人昼夜相处。不准化妆、不可看书、不可看电视,要睡大通铺。晚上十点钟睡觉、早上五点钟起床。这下可惨了,平常我在这个时候可能还没睡,还好我偷偷带了六颗安眠药,一天两颗,总算解决了睡觉的问题。

   晚饭之前,每人分获一个号码,暂时不用自己的名字,各人根据自己的号码坐位置、拿拖鞋和睡床位。这是要我们放下自我。在大堂里先对着大佛跪下头着地再站起来,心想这下可上当了(因为父母是基督徒,这辈子从来没有这么跪拜过)。原来这个作用也是为了消融自我。

   在饭堂里我隔壁那个人很面熟,后来才知道她是曾庆瑜,吴宗宪乖乖地坐在我对面,眼睛不像我这样到处乱睨。之前在走廊上见到曾志伟我还扬了扬眉(原来这也是犯规的,连对眼都不可,又怎能扬眉),还有一位是功夫明星卫子云,来的时候看他在山边松筋骨。这么多圈内人,可见经常暴露在大众面前,表面上看起来多姿多采,内心却是渴望得到一片宁静和做到自我修行。

   吃饭的时候,师父很温和地一句一句叮咛,要我们心无旁骛专心吃饭,好吃的时候不要高兴,不好吃的时候也不要讨厌。要感恩这食物是经过很多人的辛苦才到我们的嘴里。吃完饭用一碗清水将碗碟冲一冲再倒回碗里喝下。

   饭后离座时要双手迭起,放在胸前,慢慢起身,顺序走出饭堂,手里就像捧着一尊菩萨,内心里什么都不能想,也不可以自己对自己说话。我静静地坐在石头上,对着大山和星空,突然听到一阵很美的声音,我寻着那个方向走去,原来是一位女菩萨跪在那儿,一面敲钟一面念经,不知道为什么我感觉好喜悦好舒服。

   第一天早起,吃完早饭,我们坐在大堂里听师父开示,师父教我们如何打坐和拜忏。一天内有许多开示和打坐,师父循循善诱,我们密密抄经。

   有几句真言,在我生命里最不可承受的痛时,因为用了它而顺利度过。人世无常,不如意事常八九,我经常把这些话送给朋友,他们也因为渡过内心的难关而感激我。说句笑话,这几句话惟一不适用的就是台湾“总统”的选举。

   这几句真言就是:面对它、接受它、处理它、放下它。

  当你遇见一些事时,你不要逃避,最好的方法就是面对它,然后你必须接受那已成的事实,好好地处理它,处理完后,不要让它占据你的心,必须放下。以下是师父给四众佛子的共勉语:

   信佛学法敬僧 三宝万世明灯
  提升人的质量 建设人间净土
  知恩报恩为先 利人便是利己
  尽心尽力第一 不争你我多少
  慈悲没有敌人 智慧不起烦恼
  忙人时间最多 勤劳健康最好
  为了广种福田 哪怕任怨任劳
  布施的人有福 行善的人快乐
  时时心有法喜 念念不离禅悦
  处处观音菩萨 声声阿弥陀佛

   第二天我们学行经。有慢经、快经和自然经,行慢经时,双手轻轻握拳,每一步路是脚掌一半的距离,要走得很慢很稳,这叫“步步为营”。快经的步伐可大一点,双手自然下垂,但是要走得很快很快,自然经则要全身放松地步行,看似简单行则不易。走完后感觉好舒畅。

   第三天是要我们做到感恩和忏悔,我们就像开头讲的那样拜忏20分钟,心里要为这一生中所有该忏悔的事忏悔,对这一生中所有该感恩的人感恩。很多师姊、师兄泣不成声。我听到一种平和的声音:“要用情操,不要用情绪。”那是师傅的声音。

   三天很快就过去了,这三天的课程让我一生受用不尽,我对父母、先生、女儿、朋友,甚至整个世界感恩。对该忏悔的事,想办法补偿。减少了自我感。少了计较,多了回馈。人也快乐起来。我觉得这三天里,学到的比三年甚至十年还要多,最难得的是我找到了内心最深层的宁静。

   师父是个智者也是位哲学家,我对他是感恩!感恩!再感恩!

+++

Life will be full of challenges.
Be Equanimous.

How to cope with life challenges?

Face it, Accept it, Deal with it, Let it Go

Challenge is often a source of growth and improvement.