| Periods |
The Schedule prepared by the Tour group organizer* |
Authentic field trips, Notes & Others |
| 08:00 AM |
Everyone gather at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thai Airways (TG) group check-in counter, International Departure Terminal, 4th floor, Gate 2, Counter D. Staff will be waiting to welcome you. |
I had to prepare a checked baggage of no more than 20 kg. and a 15,000 mAh power bank (milli-Amphere-hour - which is less than 20,000 mAh can be carried on board). Prepare dried food, fish sauce, shredded pork, chili paste, grilled fish chili paste, Thai-style pickled mustard greens. And prepare a Nikon Zf hero camera with a full zoom lens, a sweater, necessary medicines, exchange money into rupees and buy Ling Thua Luk Thua balm, along with tips if walking into important places. I learned from the guide that the weather in India is very cold at this time, so prepare a winter coat, a hat, and a scarf. I planned to wear a suit because we were going to pay respect to the holy sites of the Lord Buddha, so we should dress neatly. But when I actually packed my bags to go, I didn't bring a suit because my bags were full, so I wore a lightweight UV-protective shirt instead. |
| 10:55 AM |
Departure to Gaya, India by Thai Airways flight number TG 327 (travel time approximately 2:30 hours). Lunch will be served on board. |
I probably won't need to prepare a pillow to nap on the plane because I'll be leaving during the day and returning in the afternoon. Yesterday (December 28), I organized my belongings, ironed my clothes, and organized them into 8 small mesh bags, sorted by day. In the morning, I organized more, took a shower, got dressed, and took the Airport Rail Link on Sri Ayutthaya Road, with my younger sister driving me to the airport. The first train was at 5:50 AM. |
| 12:40 AM. |
(Local time - 1:30 hours behind Thailand) Arrive at Gaya International Airport, clear immigration and customs - Depart by air-conditioned coach to Oaks Hotel or equivalent. |
- Check in properly, carry only necessary travel items (camera set, passport, drinking water, wallet with only rupees, balm, herbal medicine, etc.).
- Arrive at the airport at the appointed point at 7:30 a.m. Meet guide Joe (who I knew before when I went to the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves in July 66) as the leading glider on this trip.
- I checked in through immigration, entered gate S103, which is an expanded airport, looked beautiful, had a burger at Burger King for breakfast at 9 a.m. and then sat waiting to board the plane. The plane was delayed for about half an hour, probably due to the weather, which was full of dust and smog.
- The plane took about 2:45 hours to arrive at Gaya Airport. The lunch on the Thai Airways plane was delicious, it was stir-fried chicken with basil and fried egg, bread with butter, Thai dessert, fruit, drinking water and hot black coffee.
- Arrived at Gaya Airport safely. I was very impressed with George. The immigration officers were very careful and thorough. Our tour group (25 people) was checked for more than 2 hours at this stage.
- Boarded a large air-conditioned coach that was big enough to accommodate our group. The local guide, Khun Ravi (Sun Suriya), took the coach to check in. We rested for a while and then visited the place that is assumed to be the home of Nang Suchada, the first female lay follower in the world who offered the exquisite rice pudding to the great man, the Lord Buddha. There was quite a lot of traffic and the sky was starting to get dark. |
| 02:00 PM. |
Leave the accommodation to go to the area of the Great Stupa and the Bodhi Tree, the first Buddhist pilgrimage site. |
- Dress code: Smart, easy-to-slip shoes because you have to take off your shoes when entering the temple. Socks are acceptable (mobile phones, communication devices and all types of electronic devices are not allowed inside the temple).
- Camera fee at the Buddha Gaya Stupa (100 rupees for a regular camera, 300 rupees for a video camera). |
| 02:30 PM. |
- Arrive at the Mahabodhi Stupa and the Bodhi Tree. Visit the Seven Great Places, the places where the Buddha attained liberation after attaining enlightenment, consisting of:
1). Vajrasana Throne - Under the Bodhi Tree, he sat and enjoyed liberation for 7 days (all week).
2). Animisatti Stupa - He stood staring at the Bodhi Tree without blinking for 7 days in the 2nd week.
3). Ratanajongkram Stupa - He created a meditation base and walked his feet for 7 days in the 3rd week.
4). Ratanaghara Stupa - He went to the northeast of the Bodhi Tree and sat cross-legged in a glass house, which the angels created for him, and contemplated the Abhidhamma for 7 days in the 4th week. (And visit the replicas built around the Bodhi Tree and listen to a lecture on the significance of the various places and surrounding Buddhist sites).
5). He sat cross-legged under the banyan tree for 7 days under the Ajapalanigro tree, the shepherds' resting place, in the 5th week.
6). He sat cross-legged under the Chik Mucalinda tree, located southeast of the Bodhi tree, in the 6th week.
7). He sat under the Ked tree or the Rachayatana tree, enjoying the bliss of liberation for 7 days.
- The group paid homage to the Buddha Metta enshrined in the Great Stupa. The group joined the pilgrimage, chanted prayers, and performed evening prayers. |
- Bring a prayer book (the guidebook that the tour provided also has prayers).
- When we arrived at the point closest to the Mahabodhi Buddha Gaya and the Bodhi tree, we took a tuk-tuk with five or six people to visit this pilgrimage site. I was very impressed and took a lot of photos. I took photos of the Buddha Metta 01 and photos for my friends on the trip. The weather was cool and comfortable, but the inspection was very strict. There were scans at many points.
- Actually, we should have spent time here in the morning, spending time at various temples, meditating under the Bodhi tree, etc.
- Around 8 pm, we waited at the meeting point, gathered to ride a tuk-tuk, and then a coach back to the accommodation. This time, we arrived at the accommodation early, probably because it was late and there were few cars.
- We had dinner at the hotel, talked with friends, and then went to our rooms to rest as we pleased. |
| 07:30 PM. |
- The group traveled back to their accommodation.
- Have dinner at the hotel restaurant and then relax at your leisure. |
- According to the program, there is a supplementary Thai meal. (This meal does not include a supplementary Thai meal.
Guide Joe told us that since it is the first meal, we should try and respect the Indian food first. To be honest, the taste is not to our liking, but it looks clean and sanitary.) |
