Quietly there and back again

As I write this, both Saw See and I are back on solid ground: terra firma, home sweet home. A four-hour flight from Kathmandu to Bangkok, followed by a 90-minute hop to the Penang International Airport, has brought us safely back. Yes, we’ve just returned from Nepal, where among the many places we visited was the Dhammadāyāda Meditation Centre, better known as the Pa-Auk Monastery in Phasku.

This is where Sayadawgyi Bhaddanta Āciṇṇa, now resides. At 90 years of age—and celebrating his next birthday in June—the Sayadawgyi remains the revered leader of the Pa-Auk forest monk tradition from Myanmar. While his base is in Burma, he has now relocated to this peaceful corner in Nepal for health reasons.

Reaching the monastery was no small feat. It took us seven hours by road from Kathmandu Airport, winding through mountain passes that climbed as high as 2,500 metres before settling at around 2,300 metres. The road twisted and turned endlessly, but the quiet that awaited us was well worth the journey.

We also made a significant journey to Lumbini to bask in the birthplace of the Buddha, before circling back to Kathmandu. And now, after a most tiring yet fulfilling eight days away, we’re home again—feeling very tired, with aching feet and many memories to process. Details will follow in due time. For the moment, sleep awaits to rest my bones and body.