Wat Pah Nana Chat: Temple in a Forest - Temples in Ubon Ratchathani

There is something dreamy about a temple in the middle of a forest, right? 

That's what exactly drew me into visiting this temple, located in Ban Bung Wai some 14 kilometers from downtown Ubon, via Warin Chamrap (through Highway 226). This monastery was established by the late Ajahn Chah in 1975 to train non-Thais in the monastic life. This monastery is the 19th branch of Wat Nong Pa Phong where foreign monks practice Vipassana meditation. Most of them speak fluent Thai and pray in Pali. This particular branch observe strict practices, thus monks here are considered quite honorable among Buddhists. According to their site: "The monastery aims at providing English-speaking people the opportunity to train and practice the ancient lifestyle that the Buddha taught his monks in the forests over 2500 years ago."

My travelogue here is read in a separate post and has details of the "difficult" way of getting there on local commuter transportation. Otherwise, it's a long way via a taxi (though it's supposedly only 14 to15 kilometers away from the city). That travelogue is in this link: http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2012/02/ubon-ratchathani-sleepless-and-hectic.html for information and details.

It was mostly a solitary walk from the highway; this place is quite remote. Upon finding the gate, I saw notices that prohibits photography, among other things so I had to secretly take some photos - I got very few, actually because I felt guilty. Otherwise, I'd have none to share here. Fortunately, Wat Pah Nana Chat has a website where I was able to secure some photos of the monastery with "photo reuse" noted. Now here's what's interesting. Most of the photos posted in their website is from someone called "eye sky" (how's that for a coincidence?) and if I wasn't in some alternate world, I could swear that was me - so how come I didn't know I got these fabulous photos? :)

Please visit their website here: http://www.watpahnanachat.org/ 

In line with this, we would like to acknowledge the aforementioned website for the "re-use" of some of their photos. Thank you very much. It is our aim to help disseminate information about such an amazing place in Ubon. 

Upon my arrival "into the woods", I saw the foreign monks - called "postulants in white robes" aka pahkows or anagarikas, sweeping the grounds, wearing white garments. They were scattered throughout the forest grounds. It was "sweeping time". I proceeded to the new Dhamma Hall, took my shoes off, then sat on the floor, my back against one of those cylindrical white posts, facing the shrine. At the center of the shrine was a Buddha statue called "Phra Buddha Karuna", glistening beautifully against glass panels, the backdrop of tall green trees dramatically framing the statue.

Realizing I wasn't happy with the few photos I got (no flash, hurried), I finally tried to ask permission to take photographs, but one friendly monk said it was regulations, but he informed me that I could visit their website and use their photos as long as there is due attribution or acknowledgment. So there. :)

There's not a lot of things you can do here other than meditate, and observe the few structures in this forest. There are posters nailed on trees with sayings from their founder Ajahn Chah. I must have sat there for 30 minutes before finally deciding to leave and head back to the city. This was one of my favorite moments in Ubon Ratchathani, particularly because it was hard to get there and get out of there. 

This is the Eye in the Sky!     

This photo courtesy of  http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php 

This photo courtesy of  http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php 

Notices prohibiting noise and the use of cameras.

Photo courtesy of  http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php

Photo courtesy of  http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php

This photo courtesy of  http://www.watpahnanachat.org/index.php

Once you find this concrete fence, then the entrance gate is nearby.

A hill and a forest where the monastery is located in Ban Bung Wai.

Baker's Hill v.02 - Palawan Chronicles Part 4

It was past 1 PM when I reached Baker’s Hill. The first thing that I noticed was the modern multi-level house that stood at the front of the complex. Just beside it was the souvenir shop. I stepped inside and immediately noticed the inviting barbeque sticks on display at the nearby carinderia (small food shop). Fifteen pesos per stick ($0.30)? Without batting an eyelash, I ordered 2 sticks and a cup of rice, only to realize while waiting for food that there was a restaurant just a few paces behind my stone-on-concrete table and chair – the fine-dine Twigs Restaurant. I peeked inside and saw an American family dining. Oh well, there’s always a next time. Barbeque turned out to be very tasty – and rather unbelievably cheap!

After late lunch, I was all set to roam the tree-lined, flora-bustling park grounds. Beautifully landscaped, even the hedges and the shrubs were sculpted. Despite the lush vegetation, the whole surrounding was neat. There’s hardly any trace of litter and leaves that have gathered for more than a day! This place is well maintained! Colorful concrete sculptures of animals (parrots in abundance), cartoon characters, Marilyn Monroe, pirates, frogs and even dinosaurs stood everywhere. It would be a treat for kids and the kids-at-heart. Did I mention that there’s no entrance fee involved? The catch is that there may be corkage fee for food and drinks bought from outside, which is really understandable. This visit turned out to be one of my favorites while revisiting Puerto Princesa.

Please refer to the previous post for more detailed information and photos about this place - http://eye-in-the-blue-sky.blogspot.com/2009/08/bakers-hill-v01-palawan-chronicles-part.html

Next stop: Around Puerto Princesa City – What is there to see in the city proper?

This is the Eye in the Sky.

Captain Jack frozen...

A parade of freshly picked flowers float atop a pond.

A complete set of pearl accessories - earings, necklace and a ring - at PhP200. I haggled and even got a set for just PhP150 ($3).

Baker's Hill v.01 - Palawan Chronicles Part 3

Some unplanned visits sometimes turn out to be great cinches. Baker’s Hill was one of them. As we’ve written previously, I haven’t heard of Baker’s Hill until this 3^rd visit in Puerto Princesa. When our trike driver asked us if we wanted to drop by Baker’s Hill (it was part of the “city tour”), we weren’t so thrilled about it, but we thought we should at least check it out since we’re in the vicinity.

HOPIA HEAVEN

Baker’s Hill is a mixed commercial-residential compound located in Barangay Santa Monica, on the same street where Mitra Ranch and Commodore Hernandez Mansion are. It was primarily known as a place where tourists buy their kakanin and pasalubong (food gifts). They are known for their hopia - a popular Filipino bean-filled pastry originally introduced by Fujianese immigrants in the Philippines around the start of the American civil occupation. The most popular flaky hopia is Hopiang Mungo and as its name implies, is filled with sweet split mung bean paste. Other varieties include hopia baboy (pork meat) and ube (purple yam). Varieties at the Hill include hopia pinya (pineapple) and hopia hapon (gosh! I hope they don’t stuff them with Japanese folks – kidding!) 

Other food items they sell include the following: mamon, crinkles, brownies, choco slice and droplets, tostadong mamon and pianono. It’s weird though that they don’t have cashew products from which Palawan is quite known for. They also sell souvenir shirts. At the entrance, there are ambulant vendors selling a variety of accessories studded with pearl, another common product of Palawan. I got a complete set for my mom at a giveaway price of PhP200 – which I was able to haggle down to PhP150 ($3).

Hopia ube - This photo only courtesy of flickr's pianoforte.

HOW TO TEST FAKE PEARLS – THE CIRCUS ACT

Now how do you test if it’s real cultured pearl? There are several methods they employ to show you it’s the real deal. One, they clench their teeth on the pearl – and it shouldn’t break. Two, they rub it off a rough surface and it doesn’t scratch. Three, they burn them with their lighter – and these pearls wouldn’t get covered with soot nor melt like plastics. I was impressed with their circus acts so I got myself a pair as gift to my mom. (Check out the next post for photos of these pearl set.)

These days however, Baker’s Hill has expanded their raison d’etre. The compound has been developed into a park filled with mini-gardens of eclectic themes. There are dinosaur statues, colorful birds and animal statues, a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired captain, quirky and comic statues of Marilyn Monroe and her rather more voluptuous alter-ego, cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny and Donald Duck and a –hold your breath! – dumping dwarf! There are on-going works seen all over the compound, which should spread between 5-7 hectares.

I was able to luckily sneak inside the Green Room – a garden full of exotic plants, and I suspect it wasn’t for guests. However, I wanted to check out the place where all the magnificent decorative plants were being grown! I was impressed! I saw a couple of gardeners sneaking surprised glances my way, so I escorted myself out. They also have a large toilet for separate sexes – modern, very dry, almost unused and very clean! Entry to Baker’s Hill is free of charge.

Exotic and fat...

When my 6 year old niece saw this photo, she blurted, "Shells..." LOL

The Green Room

Beautiful, beautiful cacti...

There are see-saws, swings and slides for children; picnic tables and wooden swings for lovers. For the hungry, there’s a carinderia (a small food shop) selling really cheap food – a tasty pork barbeque at just PhP15 ($0.30) per stick, a cup of rice at PhP10 ($0.20), a full porkchop meal with drinks at PhP75 ($1.55), a hopia box at PhP35 ($0.70). For the more upscale customers, the sophisticated Twigs Restaurant is a fine-dining option located just 15 paces from the carinderia. Food and drinks bought outside the compound are then strictly and expectedly prohibited – or sanctions of corkage fees might be imposed.

Carinderia (food shop)

Twigs Restaurant

I was in awe of the place, most especially since I didn’t expect anything from it other than that it would be a series of shops for gifts and souvenirs. At the front of the compound stands the multi-story residential complex where the owner lives. My driver told me that this establishment is owned by a Filipina who married a businessman from Saudi Arabia, thus the obvious source of wealth and out-of-the-box artistic and entrepreneurial inspiration. However, Elena, my dear friend who lives in PP, strongly negated this rumor. The Floreses own the place, Elena corrected me. The soft-spoken matriarch, Susan Flores, is the brains behind such quirky park which quickly reminded me of a scaled down Damsen Park (in Saigon). The owners are a very humble, self-made couple who shuns publicity. In fact, journalist Korina Sanchez’s name surfaces again as having allegedly invited the Floreses for a little television feature (probably for her tele-magazine show “Balitang K”), but they declined. That’s what the grapevine said.

What Ms. Sanchez didn't succeed, the team behind GMA's "Mel & Joey" did. They were able to get a sit-down interview with the owner who revealed that their bakery business started as far back as 1967 from her mother-in-law. Then they decided to put up a rest house. The plan to turn it into a fun park came later, and in stages. Baker's Hill is also home to well-loved ostrich pets (Homer and Marge - who were originally housed in Manila) and 7 peacocks, and this feathery company is steadily growing.

There are several areas in this park that’s under construction, and word is that all these sections have been a series of non-stop development for the last 10 years or so. “Palaging may bago, (There’s always something new.)” Elena pointed.

Next up: More of Baker’s Hill (2^nd part)

This is the Eye in the Sky.