meditation at Wat Bo

to dos los dias me levanto alas sies de la manana.
i wake up everyday 6-6:30 in the morning. my guest house is two blocks away from Wat Bo, the oldest temple in the city. Wat Bo is just waking up when i walk over there. the beautiful pagoda and many tomb stones behind it would shine in rising sun, as monks wash up in the back and workers prepare for meals and morning prayer.

first i have to find this old guy who has the key to the pagoda, but i didn't actually know that there are two old guys just looking alike (brothers?) until the day i took these pictures above. no word of English, with gesture i ask him to open the pagoda. it has become such daily habit that all the people at temple know this foreigner coming around every morning.

Main Buddha sitting in the pagoda is 7 to 8 meters tall, definitely the characteristics of khmer face (thick cheeks, jaws, and lips) amongs 20, 30 of medium and smaller statures i light the candles and inscents, sit and breathe for half an houror 45 minutes on my half lotus cross leg. it's been only a month or so since i could flex my legs enough to do half lotus, but i'm hoping by the time i leave Cambodia i can do full lotus. sometimes Basil, this tabby cat comes and sits with me, but she also takes care of her sister KtomTso(garlic) and cuddles with her next to the statues.

surprisingly, nobody visits Wat Bo. in the last twelve mornings i heard only one visitor stroll into the pagoda. i guess everyone goes to Angkor Wat (which i haven't yet!) When i finish sitting and walk out of the temple the town sounds all busy and vital, sometimes i see monks on motorbikes going off to correct donation. another new day.