Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi - Chiang Mai

Waleerat Jaruwatchareewong - Thailand Operations Manager

I went to Koh Maha Mongkol or ‘Sacred Island’ in Kanchanaburi for 3 days /2 nights to observe the religious percepts. It was very interesting and I found this place is the most peaceful I have ever seen and I am happy that in Thailand there is a place like this. There were around 300 practitioners in the same hall but it was not noisy we talked when it was necessary it was very calm, everyone smiled to each other.

When we arrived there, the first thing to do was registration and read the rules, mobile phones were not allowed to use and we had to keep it in the locker for all 3 days! Then we changed the clothes to be Nun Uniform in white color it was my first time to wear it and unbelievable that I was to become well mannered!
 
The schedule each day was to get up at 3.30am, chanting 2 times at 4 am until 6.ooh and from 19.00h-21.00h including meditation and walking, only one meal per day before 12.ooh
(we had to go on pilgrimage on bear foot like the monks to have breakfast), all beauty cosmetics are forbidden ( but I still used a bit powder!), after that we would sweep the leaves in the lawn and  cleaning the bathrooms.
 
We could sleep in the afternoon if we felt tired and the place where we slept was in the 2nd floor of riverside Sala. At night we slept on mats and it was cold.

On last day we walked over 1000 steps to the top of the mountain to pay respect the relic of Buddha kept in the big Indian-style building Indian style. We could see beautiful scenery from there.  We then walked down and prayed good bye to land of Dharma and take the afternoon train back to Bangkok.

We clean our house everyday it is the same for our body and mind that need to be cleaned as well. We had to spend the time thinking of nothing- just sit quietly. I was lucky that I decided to go and I wish I could go there once again. It is a good experience.


Exotissimo can arrange half day or full day meditation packages at Sacred Island for travelers to Kanchanaburi.