4. Kushinagar - Place of Buddha's Passing Away (photos)

The Mahaparinibbna Temple was build in 1956 by the Indian Government to commemorate the 2,500th year of the Buddha's era.


The reclining Buddha image inside the temple is 1,500 years old and carved out in one block of red stone during the Gupta period.






The Nirvana stupa that houses the relics of the Buddha is just behind the main temple.


Ruins of the old temple around the Mahaparinibbana Temple.




The Matha Kuwara Shrine contains the 1,000 year old Buddha image carved out of blue stone. This shrine is on another site about 300m from the main temple.


The Makutabandhana cetiya of the Mallas that marks the acutal cremation site of Buddha. This site is about 1.5km away from the main temple.

2. Bodhgaya - Seat of Enlightenment (photos)

Mahabodhi Temple







Mahabodhi Temple at night





Some of the temples found in Bodhgaya near the Mahabodhi Temple - Tibetan, Butan and Japanese.




Dhongra Hill - Place where the Bodhisatta practised for six years prior to his enlightenment.



Place where Lady Sujata offered milk rice to the Bodhisatta



Stupa built to mark Sujata's village

1. Lumbini - Birth place of Buddha (photos)

Lumbini Complex on the right as we walk towards the stupa complex.


Mahadevi Complex that houses the ruins of a former temple. The pond, called Puskarni in front of the complex is belived to be the place where Buddha's mother took bath before giving birth to Buddha.


Ruins of the 2,000 over years old temple inside the complex.


Exact spot where Buddha was born (Sanctum-Sanctorum).

Ruins of temple outside the Mahadevi complex.


The famous Asoka pillar located beside the complex, a pillar erected by King Asoka to mark his visit to the site on 249BC. However, the famous three horse heads on the top of the pillar is missing.

The Nepalese temple, the first temple just outside the Lumbini protected area.


Some photos taken inside and outside the temple showcasing Nepalese handicraft




Some photos taken from the Chinese Temple




Some photos taken from the Tara Foundation (German) Tibetian styled temple.




The uncompleted Japanese and Vietnamese temples respectively.



The Tibetian Monastery that we stayed for a night outside Lumbini Garden (about 20 minutes walk).

Why Recommend?

My ex colleague, Mark from Singapore was in town for a night and I took the opportunity to meet him to catch up. We met at a cosy pub at Desa Petaling together with another ex colleague, all three of us intending to do some catch up as we last saw eath other more than 1 year ago. Also present were the cousins of Mark. After some brief introduction and I told them I am a cancer patient, many of them were surprised as they could not see anything wrong with me physically or displayed the sick looking face. Not that I want to announce or anything to brag, I should not be ashamed on my medical condition and also not to offend friends as I have refused all forms of food and drinks offered.

Anyway before I could continue with Mark, one of the cousins became very interested in my treatment. Later I found out that her mother and another cousin sister also suffered from cancer. Looks like more and more people are getting cancer. Anyway, the cousin sister's situation is very tricky. She has breast cancer and several lumps were noted on armpit of one of the hands. This was further complicated by her pregnancy which is now in the 6th month. Her doctors has recommended chemotherapy which she has accepted. Meanwhile, many of her friend offered all sorts of treatment (probably the same as those I got) but I think she and her fetus could be in danger. Let me explain. It seems someone recommended that she take juices together with fibres. The problem is that she cannot complete her juices as her stomach is full. She is also losing weight. This is definitely not good. Although I have not seen her, I can say her health condition will deteriorate if this condition continues. Herein lies that same problem. "Experts" offered recommendation but do not what to do (or do follow-up) when things don't go as planned.

I am not an expert but only a user. Based on what I read, I explained what I know. First off, what is the purpose of the fibre? She can have solid food during lunch and dinner. When taking juices, the nutrients and the enzymes are all in the juices, so there is no requirement to take in the fibre. Secondly it is likely that the cousin's stomach is small or that she is suffering from some form of indigestion. Taking only juices will help the stomach absorb the nutrients better and she can then take the juices more frequently. Unfortunately, her cousin seems sold to the earlier idea and she may require me to explain to her directly. I just don't know what to say. Anyway she said she will contact me again. I have also asked her to vist this blog for some information.

Of course, I cannot say the problem is mainly cause by the jucing recommendation as I also do not know what diet she is on. My point is this. That someone must be prepared to do a bit more to really help.

Health Status @ 2 January 2010

This is my first health status report for 2010, but 6th in the series. New information are presented in italics.

Problem
Tumor mass of size of about 13cm on the right kidney and 21 and 23 over nodes all over my left and right lungs respectively with one up to 3cm in size on both lungs. Possibly also spread to the liver.

First detected on 11 September 2009 through CT Scan. Subsequent CT scan on 24 October 2009 showed a slight improvement and possibly no growth.

Prognosis
Consulted four urologist (one in Singapore and three in Malaysia) and two oncologist (one in Malaysia and one in Singapore). Both oncologist suggested removal of right kidney. Singapore urologist also suggested removal of kidney. The three uronogist do not recommend surgery or chemotherapy. The last urologist consulted said most of his patients died within six months of surgery while two on the experimental drug Sutent is not responding. All agree that is no cure for the moment.

My urologists do not recomment me to take any treatment. It is also my own choice not to take conventional treatment after considering all the facts of the case.

Schedule for next scan is in March 2010.

Treatment Undertaking
a. Modified Gerson Therapy
a1. Coffee Enema
Initially, four times a day for four weeks, every four hours apart. Subsequently three times a day in the morning, afternoon and evening for 15 minutes.

After return from India, performed 4 enemas a day, planned for two weeks but now reduced to three time daily as the coffee discharge was back to normal.

a2. Nutrition Diet
All fruits and vegetables mentioned are organic.
i. Juicing - 12 fruit and vegetables juices a day begining around 7am and ending 7pm. First juice is either 40% ripe papaya (with skin) or green apple, then alternating between carrot+apple and vegetables (mainly lettuce) and ending with carrot juice. Juice from 7.45am to 12.45pm and from 2pm to 7pm, every hourly.
2. Diet - No oil, no sugar and no salt on all cooking. For breakfast and supper, maily oats with some raisins, sometimes a little manuka honey is added. For lunch and dinner, vegetables such as Siew Pak Choy, Lettuce, lady's fingers, califlower, broccoli and spinach are mainly steamed or boiled. K-salt is added for flavouring. A teaspoon of flaxseed oil is added when serving (but not during cooking). Somali organic brown rice is consumed and sometime potatoes are also used. ABC or hipocrates soup are also prepared every other day for daily consumtion.
3. Supplements - K-salt, naicin, kelp (for iodine) and Q10.
4. Others - Rye bread, papaya, guavas, oranges and bananas are consumed at regular intervals.

b. Homeopathy Medicine
Consulting Doctor: DR AU Ramakrishnan MBBS,PhD, Chenni, India (http://www.drramakrishnan.com/)
Local Consultant: Vishuddi Lee
Treatment Started: 6 November 2009.
Consulting: Once every two months in Singapore. Next appointment 9 January 2010.
Medication Given : Phosphorus and Carsinosin (alternating between weekly), morning and evening tablet.
Reaction: No further reactions observed other than mouth ulcers.

Initial two month's medication will complete by today and have 1 week break.
c. Urine Therapy
Drink the first urine of the day.

Health Status
Physical energy is low but does not pose problems for walking or climbing stairs. No impairment to daily movement. Spirits are high.

Verdict
Weight has stabilised to 70-71kg range.

So far, so good. No new symptoms or pain dicovery since treatment started.

New Year Day Health Review

Happy New Year Everyone.

I will begin the first day of 2010 with a quick review of my therapies that I am taking. The Gerson therapy started about 15 weeks ago while the Homeopathy therapy started about 12 week ago. Except during the period of 9 days while I was in India where I suspended the Gerson therapy and went on normal vegetarian food, I had followed the Gerson therapy as close as possible. I also increased the 10 juicing a day to 12. As for Homeopathy therapy, the first phase of treatment involved the stabilising or prevention of growth of the tumors. The medication given was for two months and will end tomorrow after which I will have a week's break before I see Dr. Ramakrishnan on 9 January to review my progress. If he is satisfied with the progress, he will most likely begin phase 2 of the treatment. This phase involves prescribing medication to shrink the tumors. Detoxing is also very important. I started with 4 coffee enemas per day and after about 8 weeks, I reduced it to 3 times a day. Since I came back from India I have increased it back to 4 times daily for 2 weeks as I ate forbidden food, that is non vegetarian food, low oil, low sugar and low salt diet. After every detox, the body feels good.

What about the results? My body is like a living laboratory. The results of the therapies that I am trying will be reflected in my body almost immediately. For example, when I take the tablet naicin, I get immediate redness and rashes on my face, neck and thighs. Of course, it's harmless and will fade away in 15 minutes. The results are basically observation of the body to see if there are any deterioration in terms of pain and other developments such as lumps. Actual results can only be determined by another CT scan. So far, I am pleased to report that so far so good with no visible deterioration or pain. Weight has stabalised to around 70kgs (80kgs at the start of the program). Continues to have very good appetite and can sleep very well.