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tracks and traces

My friend, and photo buddy, Jamie, asked if I would join her for a “meditative photography” weekend, preferably near or at the beach. After choosing Carolina Beach, thanks to the generosity of long time friends of mine, we wandered up and down the Carolina/Kure beaches for much of the weekend. On a whim, Saturday afternoon, I suggested the Theravada (meaning “Forest Monks”) Buddhist temple in Bolivia, Wat Carolina Buddhajakra Vanaram, and Jamie was enthusiastic about seeing it. I looked at my watch and thought “oh No! It’s 4:15! they’ll surely not entertain visitors this late in the day.” But we decided we would take the chance, even though it would mean beginning the drive Immediately, if the place closed to visitors around 5 (which is not the case, apparently).

When we were greeted and offered a tour, we were told, “You have come at a very special time”  These pictures show what he meant.

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The statue was given by a friend of the temple, in Florida, and was brought up, stored, while the space was being prepared; we were just two of the people who had shown up “out of the blue” on that very day.
At day’s end, I can tell you that we both felt as if we had inexplicably been there for a very special moment in time… if there really is something called a blessing, it was in the green air we all breathed together with the monks in the woods of Wat Carolina.
By now, the statue must be fully assembled and installed.