As the young Rato monks celebrated Tibetan New Year watching Hindi films
Rinpoche and I left the monastery
for Hong Kong
where we visited the Big Buddha
and the magnificent Guanyin, Buddha of Compassion
whom Rinpoche prayed before
and who bestowed her blessings
Then to Indonesia
with its dancing girls
However we had come to find the place where Atisha traveled from Bengal to study with the renowned Sumatran master Dharmakirti
We looked for the place they met 1000 years ago
found hints of it
a grand gateway to the monastic complex where aspirants were questioned by sharp minded gate keepers, à la Nalanda
Rinpoche prayed as we searched
And then on to Borobudur
and its famous noodle soup
Finally, with the help of Adele, who wheeled Rinpoche through Jakarta Airport, we said goodbye