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Taipei is a very exciting city! One could appreciate more how the people of Taiwan go about their way of living when you visit some of the temples in the area.

It is inevitable to talk about religion and the Japanese colonization upon visiting the Baoan Temple. Our tour guides asked about the main religion in the Philippines since they also want to get to know us a little bit more. With that, they also shared that the two main religion in Taiwan is Taoism and Buddhism.

I don’t fully understand the main components of Taoism but from what I got from their introduction, Taoism is all about living in harmony with the “Tao” that means path, way, or principle. Their gods are usually people who lived extraordinary lives and made a great difference in their community.

As for Buddhism, I was quite familiar of it when I visited Nepal. Nepal actually is mainly Hinduism, but I visited a few Buddhist temples there and I felt peace. Buddhism is all about enlightenment and self-awareness. You associate this religion with the words Nirvana and Enlightenment or Inner Peace.

It is important to keep an open mind when you travel. Experiencing their culture and way of life is a part of the whole experience.

The Baoan Temple or the Bao’an Temple is dedicated to the Taoist God of Medicine. It is worth visiting for to see preserved Taiwanese temple architecture including the wonderfully made ornate roof sanctuary. This is where you will learn how the temple was built for a quarter of a century during the Japanese occupation of Taiwan. During that era, they used this temple as a language school and factory. For years, it was neglected and was just refurbished in the early 1900s.

I recalled the tour guide mentioning dragon pillars as the Baoan Temple’s main feautre. With this we also noticed a pair of stone lion decor that were actually quite unusual. Normally, of the two lions that guard a temple, the male has an open mouth and the female has a closed mouth. However in this temple, both have open mouths. Then I recall that the guide made joke how in the modern world, the female is the one who has an open mouth because we are quite talkative – especially the wives. But that’s just a joke, don’t be silly!

Back to the lions, they said they are not really lions at all but a “human beast” and a “law beast.” The meaning of all that is still quite a mystery to me. Maybe this was the part where I was already goofing around with the other tour members 😛 But seriously, I think it’s all about respect with the law and carrying out good government.

As I strolled along the insides of the temple.  I noticed a few people forwarding their prayers to the diety and a person droping 2 pieces of stones asking the gods to answer his question.  I actually forgot how it works but I think it’s this:

• 2 stones fall open means YES
• 1 stone falls open and another falls closed means NO
• 2 stones fall closed means DON’T ask any more questions.

Bao’an / Baoan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan

Baoan Temple Address: No. 61, Hami St., Datong District, Taipei City
Baoan Temple Contact Number: +886-2-2595-1676
How to get there: Take the THSR or train to Taipei Station, transfer Taipei MRT to Yuanshan Station.

AirAsia flies to Taiwan four times a week, with fights departing Clark at 12:05 p.m. and arriving at Taoyuan airport at 2:00 p.m.

You can book your flights via AirAsia.com
Follow AirAsia on Twitter: @AirAsiaPH
Follow AirAsia on Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines

For tours and hotel accommodations visit AirAsiaGo.com.
Follow AirAsiaGo on Twitter: @AirAsiaGoPH
Follow AirAsiaGo on Facebook: facebook.com/AirAsiaGo.ph

Spiritual, not religious. Trips like this opens my soul to another light, a different perspective. On our first day in Kathmandu, we visited the biggest Stupa in the world! On our second day, we went to the Pashupatinath Temple they shortly call “Pashupati” and the Bagmati river.

“Pashupati” is the local name of one of the Shiva gods, mainly the Lord of Cattle.

In Hindu and Buddhism, they have thousands of gods, but mostly broken down into 3 categories namely:

• Brahma – the creator
• Vishnu – the preserver
• Shiva – the destroyer

It was enlightening how the people live simple and humble lives valuing their relationship with family, friends and their gods. The main point of all this is beyond religion, but more of the morals these people value.

One of the tour guides of Himalayan Encounters even asked me what my religion is – all I could say is “LOVE.”

Pashupatinath Temple

One of the biggest Hindu temples of Lord Shiva is found in the banks of the Bagmati River in Nepal. It is the Pashupatinath Temple. It is found on the Eastern part of Kathmandu, just near our hotel Dwarika’s and the airport.

The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river. It is regarded as the most sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati).

Bagmati River

The Bagamti river separates Kathmandu from Lalitpur and flows right doen Kathmandu Valley. This river is very holy both to the Hindus and Buddhists. Our guide said, 80% of Nepali are hindu and the rest are Buddhists, Muslims, etc.

Cremation ceremonies happen on the banks of this river.

According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the eldest son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation.

Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take a bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. The Bagmati River is said to purify people spiritually.

A priest leads the mourning ceremonies

Details and going to Pashupatinath Temple and the Bagmati River

Location: Pashupatinath Temple, Pashupati Nath Road, Kathmandu, Central Region, Nepal

View Larger Map

Transportation: cab ride to this place usually ranges from NPR 100 – 400 (Php 50 – 200) depending on the traffic and wheere you’re staying.

Entrance Fee: NPR 500 (Php 250)

Bonus: monkies and dogs are everywhere to greet you! Beware, monkies might rob you of your food

Spiritual Leaders: for a little donation, you can have your photo taken with these spiritual leaders.

Book at The Dwarika’s Hotel via Agoda.com

Hotel Booking through Agoda.com

You can book through Agoda.com via FlairCandy.com! Book just right below the title post 🙂

Registered tour guides for hassle-free trip

Tour Guides: Himalayan Encounters

PO Box 21218(Courtyard Kathmandu Guest House), Thamel, Kathmandu, NEPAL
Tel: +977-1-4700426, 4700335

Fax: +977-1-4700354

info@himalayanencounters.com

himalayanencounters.com

A cow chillin’ – Killing a cow in Nepal is punishable by law (imprisonment if I’m not mistaken)

Cows freely roam even in the streets of the city.

Puppets

The mother and baby monkey

Overlooking the Pashupatinath Temple atop a hill

Uphill.

Walk atop the cliff to get a good view 🙂  It’s also relaxing here, makes you want to just sit down, enjoy the cool breeze and read a book.

Mourning temples for the Royals or families in high ranking positions.

A lion in the body of a dog. 😛

Colorful powder found mostly in temples

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