FROM MELAKA TO PENANG

 We were all packed at the temple and waiting for our promised taxi driver (who had dropped us off Saturday and agreed to come back at 1:30 on Monday). To relieve my anxiety that he wouldn't come, I did about 30 minutes of walking meditation around the lobby and portico of the temple, while Betty kept watch outside by our luggage. By 1:40 (our flight was departing at 3) I finally went into the office and asked a couple of people there how to call a taxi. They were just helping me with their cell phones when he showed up!! Relief~!!

At the airport while waiting met a cute little Muslim girl just home from school, with her mom working at the airport.

3rd grader just home from school! 

Colorful snacks at airport. Didn't look inviting!

Haven't flown prop plane in quite awhile! Was like traveling in the 1960s. Even let me take water bottle through security!

More colorful snacks.

Betty in turquoise waiting at the gate. Very smooth, inexpensive 1.5 hr. flight. Monk on the right in red (from Ireland, blue eyes!) used his phone to call Br. Kai Li to tell him where we would meet him.

 They  we arrived, Br. Kai Li was right there to greet us!! This is a monk in another tradition (robes were kind of muted yellow) who now is following as well the Plum Village tradition. He has been to PV recently and Doug asked him to look out for me. He has been WONDERFUL!! Doug indicated he is a VERY busy teacher!! But he spent the entire afternoon and all next day with us!! A "student", someone whose family has been practicing at this temple (there is a teacher, Rev. Boon Cheng and 2 other monks living there besides Br. Kai Li. Br. Li is from Borneo, way north, near Brunei. He is of Chinese descent and has a couple of brothers and a sister. His parents, in their 80s still live there and he just came back from visiting with them. He says, finally after 20 years as a monk, his mom said he had made the right life choice!!

Having difficulty getting the pictures in the right place. I'll try again! Here is Br. Kai Li

Bodhi from Sri Lanka

Helpers who drove us, took us to dinner, showed us where the sites were downtown for WEds. and took us to our hotel. She and her husband run a bakery - she gave us a delicious loaf of sour dough bread with cranberries! What a treat!!

Rev. Boon Keng, 77 year old head teacher, talked to us for awhile. Showed us a picture of himself at 28 before becoming a monk. Very fit and agile! Told us to walk backwards, and left to right-sideways, as well as forward to stay balanced! 

Reclining Buddha right by the bodhi tree - roots are pushing it up!

I forgot Ann had driven us downtown to our hotel to check in and drop our bags. She said it was a very good choice (it's the most expensive one we've stayed at so far! ) Room very large with AC, FANTASTIC shower with rain head, and all kinds of jets. Has a jacuzzi tub but we haven't used it. Two or three English TV stations - a big plus!! 

We headed to dinner at a vegetarian restaurant where Ann and her husband bake their bread, Jack works as a waiter, and they ordered multipled dishes! I think they ordered one of everything on the menu!! We later heard the next day from the 4 women who accompanied us around that Malaysians eat ALL day!! Lots of tofu and vegetables!

After dinner, Ann and her husband drove us around the downtown and showed us what highlights in the UNESCO heritage site here that we might want to see. FINALLY we headed to our room around 9 p.m. Exhausted!! But feeling very welcomed by these wonderful Malaysians!! Especially Br. Kai Li!

Br. Kai Li is the KING of selfies!! with his long arms. This is Ann and her two daughters, a 12 and a 14 year old. Very cute!! And very shy!!