Second day spent with the Thai cyclists. During their trip they rely a lot on temples. Thailand has a lot of them apparently. They provide free food and accommodation for anyone. Singapore has its lot of temples too. Tonight we will sleep in one of them. This is going to be my first time. This afternoon the temple surroundings were occupied by huge tents and other installations. Hundreds of Chineses were here for the celebration. Again, for the first time I’m enjoying a festival like this one. Lots of discoveries today :-)
Back to this morning. First, let’s go and eat something. There is a running competition going. Many guys carry a bag that seems to be heavy. I wonder why…
We came down to the usual place and eat vegetarian food. The old guy in the middle is leaving on the beach since 20 years! He seems very happy like this and even more when he meets Kate and Arjan each year.
Another one :-)
After breakfast we have been cycling until a bicycle shop. Kate fixed her bike here few times now. The owner, just behind the pink shirt guy, is very nice. We observed him building a wheel directly front of his shop during he was telling us stories. It took him about an hour. That was interesting to see what it’s made. He says he likes doing a job that would last maximum 24 hours. Most of the time, he fixes the bike straight away so customers don’t have to leave and come back. He told us also that he cycled with his daughter from Singapore to the border of Thailand in 5 days, with mountain bikes! That’s pretty imoressive!
Finally we are nearly there!
Apparently there is a kind of event going on here but I don’t have a clue as everything is written in Chinese.
Big tents are ready to handle a lot of people.
This is the temple. Actually there is 4 temples in one (better than any shampoo ;-).
Houuu, lots of gold here :-)
Soon this Chinese festival should start.
I hope my bike will be safe here tonight.
This temple is much more modern than I thought. There is a lift that deserve four floors and many rooms.
Toilets and shower room.
Tiny living room.
The view :-)
My bedroom for tonight. Arjan, Kate and Pee Ta will sleep in another one. Their room has bunkbeds that might be too small for me haha. This is why I have my own room. I’m OK with this, no problem :-)
The event is on!
En fait ce temple, c’est un hôtel donc ? Ah ! Les chinois et leurs dragons, ils adorent ça !
Free food and bed at temples are great! They help pilgrims in that way I guess.