Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Ipoh Charity/Religious Trip 2011

This year, our annual trip to Ipoh was scheduled on 19 - 20 November 2011. It's encouraging that we received full participation of 44 members (i.e. a full busload!!).
First and foremost, before reporting this trip, I would like to say a big sadhu to Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association, particularly Bro. Fong Chin Onn who helped us to plan our programme in Ipoh, book lunch and dinner from restaurants in Kampar and Ipoh, and led us to the welfare homes and two monasteries in Ipoh.
On 19/11/2011, our bus departed from Buddhist Maha Vihara at around 8:45am and we reached Vihara Buddha Gotama, Temoh at around 11:00am, which was on time for us to participate in the lunch dana offering to the Sangha.
Offering dana to Bhate Hye by Bro. Dennis
Offering dana to Bhante Hye by Bro. Lau
As we were going to have our lunch in Kampar, we partook some fruits and kuihs only.
Bhante Hye conducted a lively Q&A dhamma session after the lunch dana, which gave us a better understanding of the delicate aspect of the Buddha Dhamma. Many members took the opportunity to clear their doubts about dhamma so much so that extra time had to be allocated for asking the final question.

We bid farewell to Bhante Hye at around 12:45pm and proceed to Kampar for lunch. Our next stop was Batu Gajah Handicapped Children Welfare Home.
The Home has 40 inmates with various mental and physical disabilities. It is now more systematically organised. For the first time, we were issued receipt for the groceries we donated. We also donated RM1,000 to the home.

The administrator who joined the Home few months ago told me that she was very happy to work there. She said the "children" were nurtured with a spirit of helping each other. The physically abled children always help to carry (or push the wheelchair of) the disabled one whenever required. The children were quite happy to see us around, particularly this young lady and this young man (in the picture below) who sang along with Sis. Choo.

However, this boy was a bit shy to receive attention from so many uncles and aunties.

We took a group picture for memory before saying bye bye to all the children.
Our journey to Pusat Jagaan Yayasan Latihan Insan Istimewa (a handicapped children welfare home) in Pasir Putih was hampered by heavy rain. Certain part of the road leading to our destination was inundated and was inaccessible to light vehicles causing massive traffic jam. However, we were still able reach the welfare home as scheduled at around 4:15pm. The rain stopped when we reached there. How lucky were we!!!
The home takes care of 35 "children" with various physical and mental disabilities.
Sis. Sumitra distributed sweets and titbits to the children.
Sis. Sally's motherly touch was so soothing !
Bro. Koy cheered up the young boy on wheel chair.
We left the Home at around 5:00pm.
After dinner, we attended a fellowship gathering at the Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association Centre in Canning Garden until 10:00pm.
Welcoming speech by the IBDA's President, Bro. Kiang.
A happy moment. Performance by Bro. Pheng, Sis. Khoo (from Ipoh Buddhist Dhamma Association), Sis. Thum & Sis. Lily Cheah.
The next morning, we visited the Jelapang Old Folk Home and Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home in Silibin.
The Jelapang Old Folk Home has about 50 old folks. It was conferred with the "Excellent Organisation Award" by the Registrar of Society in 2008. We donated RM1,000 to the Home and also distributed angpows to the old folks.

Bro. Dr. Koh and Sis. Lily Cheah distributed angpows to the old folks at Jalapang Old Folk Home

This uncle (above) is the best singer in Jelapang Old Folk Home.


Sis. Lily Cheah (left) and Bro. Pheng (right) rendered a song to entertain the old folks


The Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home is located at No. 17, Lorong Silibin, 30100 Ipoh. It was was established in 1999 and has about 39 "children" of various severe disabilities. We donated RM1,000 and some groceries to the home.
Group photograph with the children at Loyal Handicapped Children Welfare Home. The man in in purple batik shirt is the founder and care taker of  this home.
Next we visited two monasteries, Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery in Gunung Lang and Sukhavana Meditation Monastery in Bercham.

Listening to dhamma talk by Ven.  Thitavijjo Dhammapiti Meditation Monastery.

Bro. Koh offered robe to Ven. Thitavijjo

Sukhavana Meditation Monastery is housed in a cave in Bercham next to Huat Thien Keong Chinese Temple. Here are some snapshots of the monastery.








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