The Bodhi Tree

Julian, Bella and Lotus and I all woke around 5:30am. Mark and Bodhi were in another room. We waited until 6am and went downstairs to look outside and decided to take a little look around town. We jumped in a rickshaw and asked to go to the Bodhi Tree. It was a brisk morning, a little cooler than at Varanasi. The small village town of BodhGaya was home of the Bodhi Tree, the spot where Buddha reached enlightenment. It was a quaint country town, pretty trees lined the streets. The road curved around golden buddha temples and countries from around the world had their temple here. Young boys sold bright pink lotus flowers for offerings in the early morning. They followed us as we rode along. ( I bought 2 bunches on the way home) After a ten minute ride we arrived at the Burmese temple and the driver gestured for us to get out. I looked at him in confusion and tried to confirm this was the Bodhi tree. Another boy walking by who spoke english helped clarify the matter. Another 5 minute bike ride, past chickens, cows, and goats we drove down a small alley where people were cooking breakfast. They all stared at the sight of blond, westerns riding through their town. We arrived to the entrance of the Main Temple. We decided to wait and enter as a whole family so we went back to the hotel. Mark and Bodhi were now awake, we had breakfast and went out to see the Bodhi Tree. We decided to walk because it was pretty close. However walking the streets of BodhGaya with Bodhi and Lotus is like walking with Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt. We were swarmed with fans who wanted to touch, hold or photograph the pair. i think it was Bodhi's hair and Lotus's karma that people were drawn too. It was a little intimidating. Bella was scared and clung to me as we made out way to the temple. Beggars asked for money and men offered all kinds on goods at discount prices. Once through the gates of the temple they seemed to stop and not follow us. We had to pay a fee to use our cameras. We spent 2 hours at the temple trying to get the perfect photo of Bodhi and his tree. Again, monks and visitors all continued to want to touch the children. One monk held Julian's arm for 15 minutes. The Bodhi tree is a ficus tree located at the back of the temple. It is surrounded by a stone fence. One area has buddha's footprints in stone. The whole place is surrounded by monks in prayer or doing some type of yoga movement. Asian television interviewed us on what we thought of the tree. Look for it!! Pam sat next to the tree the whole time and donated money to a monk going around looking for donations.

We got some great photos and Bodhi saw his tree, afterwards it was too much to go out with all the kids so we went back to the hotel to have lunch and let Pam watch the kids while Mark and I went out. However, our ATM wouldn't work and their was only one ATM in BodyGaya. While we waited inside the bank i met a western woman from Denmark who was married to an Indian man and they had a child. She was trying to help us with the ATM. While her husband tried to help Mark the Danish women, named Camilla, told me her husband and her ran an orphanage and school for poor children. It just so happened I had one bag left of school supplies. We had planned on going to their home and meeting the kids but it was getting too late and we had an early morning to catch a plane back to Delhi. So unfortunately I handed over the bag of supplies and we exchanged contact information and hope to continue our relationship of support.

On the plus side I told Islam, the Camilla's husband about Bella and her cold sore's, he took us to a local auyvedic doctor who checked her out and gave her some herbs to take three times a day and it should clear up forever....let's hope. For most of this trip Bella has had her whole bottom lip full of cold sore's. It is an ongoing problem in her life. Let's hope it works.