Lesli's Lists: Standing Still

by Lesli Heron

Sometimes travelling to experience a new culture, people and unique landscapes doesn’t always leave us fulfilled or provide enough disconnection from the clutter of our daily lives. With its message of peace and compassion Southeast Asia is a place of extraordinary beauty, discovery and spirit. The following is my list of some places that inspire a sense of reverence, a zen moment or just a place where you can “stand still”.

1. Rise early to give alms to monks in Luang Prabang, Laos

2. Meditate at sunset (keeping eyes open!) in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

3. Do the downward facing dog at sunrise overlooking the terraced rice paddies in Ubud, Bali

4. Climb to the Taktsang Monastery in Bhutan where the quality of life is measured in terms of GNH Gross National Happiness

5. Walk clockwise around the Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma, stopping to pray along the way at this most sacred of Burmese sites

6. Enjoy a massage at the Thai Massage School on the grounds of The Grand Palace, Bangkok

7. Hike Adams Peak, Sri Lanka - a mountain that is all things to all religions

8. Spend a day as a monk or take a course in Tibetan Buddhism in Dharamsala, India

9. Do the 88 Temple Circuit clockwise (1500km route) to rid yourself of the 88 evil human passions as defined by the Buddhist doctrine, Shikoku, Japan