Day 6 of visit, first up, no hot water to shower before 7am. Pack and lock cases, but take camera bags with us. Kates mother arrives 7:45 am to take passport and Sheng's ID Card to reception, then we all go to a mini-bus waiting in the forecourt. Cui, Ma and Pa, grandson Chang, Sheng and RD, wait in mini-bus for Jing, (Kates brother and Chang's father) but then leave without him. Chang cries at first, wants his mother. Drive over Liberation Bridge to town. Call at Buddhist Temple where Ma orders lunch for later, then drive to restaurant for Dim Sum (breakfast) Joined by uncles, aunts, nephews, and Chang's parents. Fourteen at table, 15 different dishes, including, chickens feet, small bird soup, rice soup, fried meatballs in batter. Good variety of dishes, sweet, sour, spicey, savoury, and a special soup for long life. After breakfast drive to park to visit Dao, and Buddhist Caves. Dao Monk tells fortunes with red backed cards. Mine very good, Sheng's not so good ! Sheng rushes off to buy Joss Sticks to burn at Shrine, to placate the gods, and Kow Tows. Dao Monk tells Sheng to take care when we leave the cave.
Vegetarian Food Cooked and Served By Nuns In Buddhist Abbey
Walk back over Lake Bridge and sit at cafe table to drink orange juice. Chang plays with the drinking straws. Get second mini-bus for drive to Buddhist Abbey, and meet Abbess, in her black robes. The men dress up in Buddhist robes to have photos taken. Walk back through busy old world kitchen with earthen floors, and food being cooked over wood fires, with woks supported on stones. Sit for lunch at table in Main Hall of Abbey. all vegetarian dishes prepared by the Nuns. Joined by 2 family friends to lunch, exhausted Chang sleeps on bench, looking like a young monk. Food dishes look like fish, chicken, eggs, etc., but all vegetarian, no animal fats used in cooking. Lotus Seed Soup very expensive (for local people ). Disaster strikes ! Open back of A4 Camera before film wind back ! Sheng's Dao prediction comes true. Feared all photos lost, so take other photos of Sheng with young Nun.
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