Imperial City Re-Visited II

One of the nicest entrances of any house I've ever seen. Makes sense, though. Image shows the doorway to the Dien Thu residence. Built in 1804, this was the living quarters of the Emperor's grandmother.

Imperial City Re-Visited

Spent a lovely day yesterday exploring the Imperial City (see Imperial City) in Hue. Weather was overcast and comfortable, so I went slow and took a lot of pictures. I will be sharing these over the next couple of days. Image above shows the Tinh Minh building. It was renovated in the 1950s and used as President Bao Dai's private residence. [NOTE: Bao Dai was also the final emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, which is why, I guess, he was allowed to live in the Imperial City].

Old Plates

Having a cracker for breakfast while you wait to see if anyone will stop and buy any of the old (antique?) plates that you have lined up along the sidewalk. He was a really nice, smiley man. I didn't buy a plate. [NOTE: I am in Hue to do a training workshop for the WWF rattan team].

Book Launched

We had a luxurious venue in the Imperial Hotel in Phnom Penh (thx, Thibault). Table cloths, and simultaneous translation, and wireless headphones, and crystal water glasses, and comfy chairs, and chandeliers, and frigid air conditioning, and a huge banner with the name of the book and all the institutional logos. And an outer room with lovely posters of the WWF Greater Mekong Rattan Project, and fruit, and pastries, and hot beverages. And representatives from the local media, government offices, and several conservation NGOs. And brief talks by the head of the Rattan Association of Cambodia, the Country Director of WWF, local rattan botanist, Khou Eang Hourt, and me. What a book launch. A total success and great fun.

[NOTE: The book, the cover of which is shown on the poster to the left of the projection screen, looks, feels, and smells great].

Palm Leaf Sutras

Close up of the ancient sutra books made from palm leaves archived at Wat Preah Keo in Phnom Penh. There were hundreds of these, all stacked on top of each other in two long glass cases. It was steaming hot the day I took the picture and it must have been an oven inside the cases. Maybe that's a good thing.

Bo Tree on Street 19

Was walking back from the Royal Palace and stopped in a shady park on Street 19 to get out of the sun. The bo tree (Ficus religiosa L.) that I chose to sit under was giving refuge to a wonderful little Buddha.

Peace, Benevolence, Dispelling of Fear

The hand gesture displayed by all of these statues at Wat Preah Keo is the abhaya mudra so common in Theravadan iconography (see Abhaya Mudra). Signifies protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear. Was said to have been first used by the Buddha to calm a charging elephant.

Calmly Abiding

The face on this statue at Kailassa Mountain in the Wat Preah Keo complex embodies a clear sense of peace. Calmly abiding whatever arises. There is, however, an unmistakable hint of sadness in the visage. I kind of feel this way today.

The Passing of Jion Susan Postal

Last night, February 7, 2014 at 11:45 PM, Tokudo Jion Susan Postal (see Jion Susan Postal) crossed the threshold out of this life. May she rest in the radiance of awakening.

Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha

Back in Phnom Penh

Arrived to Cambodia this afternoon. Will be here about a week. Training workshop with WWF rattan team and then the much-awaited book launch on Thursday. Should have a bit of free time tomorrow to visit some favorite spots, e.g. Silver Pagoda, the Royal Palace and the National Museum. [NOTE: I can't wait to see what a book launch is].