The Great Stupa

The Dragon

This morning we’re going to visit the Great Stupa, we have no expectations of what it will be like. The dirt road to the Stupa doesn’t give us any indication of the enormous building that is developing in the clearing. The Stupa seems to sit up on a hill and before it 

Prayer wheels in the Stupa garden

are gardens planted with lovely native trees and plants, there are prayer wheels, a statue of St Francis of Assisi, a dragon and an elephant, all representing different faiths. 

The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion (top section under construction to the right)

The stupa itself is still being built and had only reached the sixth level with the cone of the stupa being welded on the ground beside the stupa. Inside the stupa it’s cool compared to the heat outside, a Buddhist monk shows us around, explaining that the stupa will be completed in height later this year and then the building phase will be done. They will then enter the decoration phase which will take about 45 years. The jade buddha is huge and carved from one single piece of jade. It’s all very impressive and so peaceful, may be the Great Stupa of universal compassion is working its magic.

Following lunch at the MHA pub, Sandy is driving us to see Tara, Darren, Mya and Connor on their farm. It’s a wonderful drive through the vast farmland and bush but it’s all so dry and brown from lack of water. The farm is so different to any farms we see in the UK, Darren is eager to show us all his boys’ toys, Holden’s, bikes and farm machinery. Its great to meet our extended family and spend time with them chatting and eating a meal, watching the sun get lower in the sky and kangaroos emerge from the bush while Galas and Cockatoos fly around in great swarms overhead. Then it’s time to drive home with eyes peeled looking out for kangaroos which may try to jump in front of the car.