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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - Second Day, Floating Temple tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) - Second Day, Floating Temple

February 8, after an overnight on the ship, I met the driver who would take me to a floating temple that is not well known. I met the driver outside the port and we traveled over an hour in the usual frenetic, mostly motor scooter traffic to the Go Vap district up north. With a little confusion, the driver found where he needed to drop me to go through a temple & shop to walk a short distance to where a boat would take me to the temple. I didn't have the equivalent of 50 cents in Vietnamese dong so I offered a USD & it was accepted. 5 minutes later I & 4 other people were at the temple. I was only the westerner, but of course nobody bothered me or turned me away. The temple is said to contain at least 100 dragon statues, perfect for 2024, the year of the dragon. It had multiple shrines and the usual abundance of gorgeous statues and artwork. It was definitely worth the trip. But if anyone happens to know who "Quan The....." statue represents, please tell me. My Googling was ineffective.

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Many different people & creatures were represented in stone, ceramic and wood
Many different people & creatures were represented in stone, ceramic and wood
Planes occasionally flew over overhead
Planes occasionally flew over overhead
Every shrine was different
Every shrine was different
Entrance from behind looking to river.
Entrance from behind looking to river.
Dragon pillar
Dragon pillar
More shrines
More shrines
The outdoor but covered kitchen had a long table plus these plates & bowls for the monks
The outdoor but covered kitchen had a long table plus these plates & bowls for the monks
These flowers were everywhere in Vietnam
These flowers were everywhere in Vietnam
We had to step around several dogs
We had to step around several dogs
Turtles (symbol of longevity), eels & birds were for sale so worshippers could release them & gain merit
Turtles (symbol of longevity), eels & birds were for sale so worshippers could release them & gain merit
This poor guy had a bad case of mange
This poor guy had a bad case of mange
Goddess statue close up
Goddess statue close up
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