Another day in Bodhgaya. 7-8 Nov 2024.

Just a simple post. More to document the days I am spending in Bodhgaya.

I am quite a boring person when it comes to meals. If I find somewhere good enough for me, I would come back again and again.

That’s why I am back at Baba Restaurant.

Ordered Aloo Gobhi 170 Rupees (potatoes and cauliflower cooked in a turmeric curry), a Plain Tandoori Roti 15 Rupees, and a Butter Tandoori Roti 20 Rupees. Total of 205 Rupees.

While having my dinner, a friend send me a list of restaurants to try in Bodhgaya. So, I might try other places in the next few days.

900 Rupees per night. Air-conditioned room.

Decided to move to this guest house for the next 2 nights. Main reason being this is just next to the Maha Bodhi Temple grounds, literally a stone’s throw away.

Another reason, there were mosquitoes in the previous guest house, Rama Guest house.

Recommended by a friend. Good recommendation.

The fried buffalo Momo was good. Interesting having Tibetan food in a Muslim named restaurant in India.

There was a group of Lamas (Tibetan Buddhist monks) and a group of Anis (Tibaym Buddhist Nuns) in the restaurant when I went in. Seems like this restaurant is popular with the Tibetan community.

Fantastic supermarket. Had everything I was looking for.

Might stock up a bit here before I move onto my next destination.

In the mid afternooon, there are much fewer people in the temple grounds, as it is too warm. The crowds come in the early morning or later afternoon or evening.

Usually, you would not see many Bodhi leaves lying around as they would have been taken by the many people in the temple grounds.

So, when I came to meditate a short while at about 12pm, there were lots of Bodhi leaves around. I took this one.

The noodles was quite tasty.

Used bottled water for the noodles and even the cleaning up. Too much hassle though.

Might just get cup noodles if really need be. And only as a last resort, then cook packet instant noodles.

At the Maha Bodhi Temple this evening, I met some Singaporeans. First time seeing a group of Singaporeans at the Maha Bodhi Temple, from the Drikung Kagyu Lineage. They were lighting lots of tea lights at the butter lamp house area.

There are many Vietnamese tour groups at the Maha Bodhi Temple, comprising of monks, nuns, and lay followers. They would be chanting in Vietnam with microphones. It was interesting how they chanted. It was like a duet. The monk would chant, then later, a nun would chant, and then this continues on, back and forth.

The next numerous tour group, with monks and lay followers, would be the Thais. They would be chanting but without the microphones.

The Happy Cafe and Restaurant is also at the Happy Guest House, where I am staying.

Since I have tried Singapuri Rice, I should now try Singapore Noodles 130 Rupees.

Quite delicious, just a bit too salty. It was quite spicy as well.

I asked, and was told that this is a spicy leaf for cooking. It makes the meal spicier. Interesting.

Buying a touristy photo, is something which I would never usually do, but I am not sure when I would be back at Bodhgaya and the Maha Bodhi Temple again. So, just do it.

I did not know there was a smaller version for 100 Rupees until I paid up. I would have gotten the smaller version but the person already wrote down the order for the bigger version.

I also want the soft copy. The photographer from the start to the end said ok ok, but never did send it.

Would try to find the same photographer tomorrow again, and hopefully still possible to get the soft copy.

Tomorrow would be my last full day at Bodhgaya before I depart on the morning of the following day to Rajgir.