With being so busy, we knew Wednesday was a public holiday, which is why we only splashed on Thursday, but we hadn’t actually realised the significance of the holiday; it was “Isakha Puja” or the “Day of Vesak”, also known as “Buddha Jayanti”, “Buddha Puṇṇamā” or “Buddha Day”, commemorating the birth of the Buddha, his attainment of enlightenment, and his passing away, in Theravada, Tibetan and Navayana Buddhism. It is traditionally observed by Buddhists and Hindus in South and Southeast Asia, as well as in Tibet and Mongolia. However, in The East Asian tradition, a celebration of Buddha’s birthday typically occurs around the traditional timing of Vesak, but the awakening and death are celebrated as separate holidays which occur at other times in the calendar, as “Bodhi Day” and “Nibbãna Day”, respectively.
Observances on “Isakha Puja” include meditation, observing the “Eight Precepts”, eating vegetarian food, giving to charity and "bathing" the Buddha, where the “Eight Precepts” are to refrain from killing living beings, stealing and damaging speech and to abstain from intoxicating drinks or drugs, sexual activities, from eating after midday, from entertainment such as dancing, singing, music, watching shows, as well as wearing garlands, perfumes, cosmetics, and personal adornments and to abstain from using luxurious seats and beds. We both would certainly be able to adhere to all eight, except abstaining from luxurious seats and beds, although on the day, being in the apartment, we would have almost been fully compliant; unfortunately we ate after midday, unless the time was based on UTC. Regardless, neither of us has the temperament to ever be considered a Buddhist. It’s one thing we love about being in Thailand; the people are so calm and you get a sense of peacefulness just being in their presence.
Yesterday, after enjoying a night in our own beds and rain overnight to cool the temperatures, being our first morning back onboard, Roy cooked up a storm in the galley for breakfast. Of course, the first order of the day was to get feedback from Keenan on the COVID-19 situation in the Cadman Jr household. Unfortunately matters had worsened, as Brooke’s dad had developed a fever and his oxygen levels were dropping, but the direction Keenan received from the Emergency Room was to keep him at home to convalesce and to continue to treat his symptoms, unless his oxygen levels dropped further and he developed breathing problems. A followup video call this morning indicated that the situation was in flux, but that Keenan, Brooke and all the grandchildren had been tested again and were awaiting the results. A particularly worrying aspect for us, though, is that, since Keenan is the only vaccinated person in the household, he is the one undertaking the direct care. We certainly hope and pray his double jab of the Pfizer vaccine works!
With not much else to do, but wait it out, we got on with our day; Roy took our latest load of laundry to the laundry service and collected our previous one and Elaine eventually got around to completing the ironing of Roy’s shirts, a job she hates more than washing pots, neither of which she ever did during our landlubber life, thanks to a “wash, starch and iron” laundry service and a dishwasher. In fact, she hates the ironing so much that one of the shirts had last been worn by Roy in Australia in 2019 and another one in Rebak Island Resort & Marina, Malaysia, a year ago. It clearly was time to do the ironing!
A light lunch was enjoyed at the Hardstand Café before taking a wander around the various chandleries in search of a few last minute items we still need. Then, besides Roy continuing his research efforts into a lithium battery solution, it was Elaine’s turn to just potter around and also enjoy a chat to her folks in Ireland.
On the COVID-19 situation in Thailand, it was confirmed that the number of recoveries yesterday, in this latest wave of the outbreak, 4,044, exceeded the number of new confirmed cases again and that there were now 29 provinces around Thailand in which no one was infected with COVID-19. Unfortunately Phuket Island is not yet one of them, but daily cases are in single digits and, on some days, there are no new cases at all on the island, putting the plans on track to open up Phuket Island to foreigners, who are fully vaccinated and test negative on arrival to ensure they are indeed COVID-19-Free. At least Thailand seems to be heading in the right direction now as apposed to Malaysia, who’s new cases are in excess of 9000 per day and, on a per capita basis, is now considered to be worse than India. It appears we departed at exactly the right time!
Today we enjoyed a lazy morning, although Elaine thoroughly enjoyed being able to do her stretch exercises on deck again. Roy also enjoyed a chat to Craig, off Il Sogno, but his continued research has revealed a few limitations of our existing battery charger and inverter, complicating a lithium solution somewhat, as we definitely do not want the expense of replacing these very expensive pieces of equipment.
Lunch was another selection of our favourite Thai dishes from the little permanent food stall not far from the marina, before we were both in need of a nap. Although we both slept like logs last night, it seems everything had simply caught up with us.
Feeling a little refreshed after our nap, Roy removed the rain water from the engine compartments, which had somehow accumulated while we were on the hard, presumably due to the angle at which Paw Paw was sitting. Elaine caught up with her blogs and completed a few menial tasks.
After another squall passed through, we enjoyed the cooled temperatures on the foredeck before dinner and half a movie sealed the day.
