My dreams fulfilled in MY PRAYERS

A TRIP THAT WE HAVE WAITED FOR!!

It has been a long long time really, that we have been active. Our planned trip to Lhadak in 2020 for another medical camp was brought to a sudden stop due to Covid. The wait was long as the world situation evolved to an unexpected height due to this pandemic. We could not travel for a few years and then slowly the countries opened up with much precautions. Finally the group that we had for 2020 asked me at the end of last year: Will we be able to make a trip next year? My answer was: YES! I intend to!

So off I went to make enquiries on air tickets, guesthouses and booking of rooms and transport, raise medical fund for all the things we need to buy to bring over there, taking note of the the preparations we need to do for high altitude place as there are about 8 persons in our group that is new to this environment and also advising each to purchase travel insurance just in case.... So plenty of advises to be given beforehand besides deciding the items and medicine to purchase. With the help of our group members and our leading TCM Dr. Fei Loo we managed to raise about 7k of fund to buy all that we need including 35 pieces of walking sticks.

The day had finally arrived and we were all set to leave in early morning of 20th July arriving on the same morning in Leh. It was quite a challenge for everyone as most of us made use of the leave that we had and worked till the very last day before we depart. Also it was regrettable that we have to leave with one doctor less because she caught Covid the day before we left. So another round of frenzy as to how to switch the medication to the rest of the group before we leave.

After arriving in Leh and greeted by my favorite lamas, Old friends for more than 10 years. I could really breath easily now because there was no problem with our overweight luggages and all the medical items that we have brought were in tact. The change of climate was welcomed by most of us as we had been experiencing rain and hot and humid weather in Singapore.

We soon settled into our first guesthouse that is near the city so that in case there was any unfavorable reaction to this sudden change of altitude, the person could be addressed by the nearby hospital easily.

For a change, we see lush garden in the guesthouse and hotel with plenty of organic vegetables for us to consume. We all enjoyed the nice restaurant in the Padma hotel and our nice rooms in the guesthouse.

At long last! After a journey of 7 hours of flight with a layover of 3 hours, it is time to have a good sleep! It was really nice to wake up and look out your balcony and see this!

A visit by our teacher Geshe Yonten to our guesthouse and joining us for lunch was a real nice encounter in a foreign land. Geshe la will proceed to his home Zanskar.

Since we managed to raise enough fund for our own clinic, I have decided that we will give some money to Zanskar Hospital, a far away place where we would not have the time and energy to go during this trip. So medication lasting for about 4-5 months for their outpatient department was purchased from the pharmacy in Leh. This is to prepare them for the onslaught of common sickness due to the change of season in September where temperature will suddenly plunge very drastically. Geshe Yonten helped us to carry all the medicine over. On top of that, we also purchased online 32 pieces of walking sticks for the locals over there who have problems with their legs. Hope this little gesture can show to the people there that we have not forgotten them.

After a relaxing day, we had to move on, taking into account our travel timing would be affected by HHDL's public teaching in Leh. We made our first stop in Stok's big buddha as 21 July is Choekor Dhuchen in the Tibetan calendar. This is the day where Buddha first turned the wheel of dharma and it would be auspicious for all of us to offer light to the Buddha. Lead by Geshe Tsewang, we all did our prayers and took turn to offer lights in the light house outside.

Then we proceed to Ngari Institute and settled ourselves in Norling Guesthouse.....this will be our home for the next 9 days. To many it seems like in the middle of nowhere.

Good to see the familiar sight. Our apples trees are still there thriving.

This is what Geshe Tsewang called: The Singapore garden. We first planted 10 apple trees in front of the monks' hostel in 2016. They will be harvesting the fruit in October.

Directions were clear and you will not get lost.

A nice view from my window and also noting some new features there. Though the guesthouse is small but the atmosphere is very cozy and this will be our dinning room for all our meals and most of what our bedroom look like for the rest of our trip.

Who is standing in front of the guesthouse? The boss of course!

Since we had to change our schedule of clinic due to HHDL's teaching time, we set up in the next morning and the doctors ran through the flow with all the helpers so everyone understood what was supposed to be the procedure when the patients arrive.

All the medications and equipments were loaded onto the the counters of the dinning hall which was made into a temporary clinic by putting the benches together with mattresses on top so the doctors do not have to bend so low to treat the patients

In the afternoon , we had a light day but everyone was excited at the start of our clinic.

But we were not all work and no play throughout the clinic. There was an evening prayer to all the protectors lead by Geshe Tsewang and the small monks, plus the children staying in Ngari. This is a nightly ritual for them and they dedicate all the merits to all the sponsors and donors to Ngari throughout the year. Here Geshe la recited the names of the 38 sponsors for the medical fund for our camp and may they have long and healthy lives.

Also there was a night that a cultural show was showcased for all guests in Norling Guesthouse. We have guests from not only Singapore, but Malaysia and Russia as well. We could witness the different ethnic groups that exist in this Himalaya region and their costumes etc. But the best item of all was the one performed by the the Ngari children. The elder ones are all boarding in TCV for the exam period so we had only the younger ones performing for us this time.

After the 5 sessions of clinic we "closed our shop" in Ngari. Mission almost accomplished.

The next morning we went to the old folks home in TCV. The old folks there mostly were plagued by aches and pains due to old age and harsh living conditions. Hopefully they all improved with the treatment we gave.

During one of the day time, the first timers to Ngari Institute also get to see the temple that houses the 1000 buddha thangka as well as the apartments for the visiting high lamas on the top floor of the building. The cabins on top of the hill are meant for solitary retreatants.

After all the hard work, it was R&R time for the rest of the group since they had only seen the Big Buddha and Ngari Institute. We went to visit another bigger outdoor Buddha site. This was supposed to be completed more than 2 years ago. But due to Covid, it is planned to be completed by next year. This 83 ft Buddha not only has other Buddha statues underneath the lotus seat, it also can be seen from travelers on the Khardung la pass as you can see in the picture on the far end. So Buddha is actually watching over all the travelers.

So outing to the central market. drinking western style coffee, buying local products like dried fruit was something that was refreshing and exciting! It was the first time we can spend money during this trip!

We were fortunate enough to be informed that the first day of R&R was the birthday of Guru Padmasambava. The driver took us all the way 50km out to catch the Cham dance that was going on for the entire day in TakTok Monastery.

Then followed by visit to Thiksey monastery... the little Potala with the giant indoor Maitrya Buddha that spans 3 floors of the building.

Then Hemis Monastery with a treasure of artifacts brought out from China in their Museum. And the symbol of Leh ....the Shanti Stupa built by the founder of Nichiren sect. This is a very common feature on all publicity material for Lhadak.

To top the jewel on our crown, we were given an audience with HHDL at his palace on early 29 July morning. We were truly blessed....to be able to shake his hands and talk to him face to face. Not often we have this opportunity!

The next day, we had to go home. I do not know how the others feel but I do miss the people, the buildings, the flowers, amd the land of god (where we raised our dharchor-prayer flags that is unique to Lhadak) every year.As the song goes.... we will meet again..

The students' hostel (above)and their dinning hall (below) newly built and sponsored by the Germans

View from my registration table of the every changing clouds and mountains

Our new found friend who was so inspired by the treatment of acupunture and going to do a documentary on this after he returned to Canada.

An old friend since 2018 and she was willing to come back to help as an interpreter even she now works in a hospital. Rejoice!

The beautiful flowers that blossom in the summer which always brings a smile to my face with their unique hue of colours.

The Gods' land with running stream at the bottom of the hill and strong wind that make sure all the mantras and sutras from the flags are blown to all faraway land to heal all the sufferings of sentient beings.