Berry's SEAJ trip Day 2: Finding religion while losing our mind (6/7/15)

Today I went on the tour that I booked through the hostel that combined the Cao Dai temple visit and the Cu Chi tunnels. First was the temple. Cao Dai is a blended religion that draws from Buddhism, Confusiousism, and Christianity.

Berry is all about learning about all these different cultures/religions. Their temple being so colorful/pretty doesnt hurt.

Even though the area was relatively dry for what I was expecting, they had some well maintained and beautiful gardens.

The grand entrance to the Cao Dai grounds. Only certain vehicles were allowed to enter the gates (most of the vehicles were scooters)

The actual entrance gate at the end of the long walk with a rainbow fountain pyramid. 

Men and women had to enter at opposite sides. We also had to leave our sandals outside (finding your shoes after was like a needle in a haystack).

Walkway along the right side of the temple. So many colors, I think a rainbow would be jealous.

At the "Alter" and there are dragons, lanterns, and other decorations in various colors.

Front look of the alter with the all seeing eye on the orb. Us plebes were not allowed to walk in the middle so all the shots are from an angle.

Berry wanted to play the gong bell but I told him that probably wasnt the best idea (boys will be boys).

View of the living quarters from the back of the temple. Parts of this compound seemed cultish but to each their own.

Side entrance with spiral staircases to get up to the second floor landing. If you couldnt tell by now, this temple is very ornate/colorful.

Long view of the temple floor with praying practitioners.

I believe this was a artistic representation showing the formation of Cao Dai with the 3 founders collaborating to make their rules.

Temple is in session. Their ceremony was essentially a giant music festival with a band near us helping lead the chants. 

We get there about 30 minutes before the service is to begin, which allows us time to explore the temple and the massive compound. After walking through the temple, I walk around outside and meet one of the Daiist with whom I sit and chat for 5-10 minutes. His English is pretty good, and the old man keeps bringing more of his fellow followers to talk  to me and hang out until it is time for service. The temple was beautiful and the service was cool with the monks? Chanting continuously and a group up in the rafters playing instruments along with it. After the temple we head to lunch, which is not the kind of place I would have gone normally on this trip (was a little expensive for the kind of food offered but I guess that's how they offer the low prices for the tours, making you eat at certain places). After that, we headed towards the Cu Chi tunnels.

Berry was done with religion, so we moved to history. This is a map at the entrance of the Cu Chi Tunnel grounds.

This guy was crawling around our first stopping point. Cool little millipede just hanging out.

Our first stop was an overview of the construction and use of the tunnels. Berry was very interested in this diagram of the tunnels and their arrangement underground. Apparently these tunnel systems had rooms for living, eating, hospital, etc. Also had traps set in various places. Quite spectacular.

Berry doesnt want to go down there. I dont blame him. This was one such trap that would have been found in the tunnels. Ground just disappears from under you then BAM! spike! No bueno!

I am a little bigger than normal but these entrances/exits from the tunnels were ridiculous tiny. No one else would try in my group so I tried to fit in. As you can see, I am a sardine.

I should probably start worrying about Berry. He keeps finding these tanks to ride. This tank was destroyed.

The entrance to the "Americanized" end of the tunnel. Even this one was too narrow for my shoulders (without turning on my side and worming my way in). They only get more narrow from here so Berry and I decide to depart.

Was a pretty cool thing to see, as you learn about the ground making the tunnels possible because its so hard, learn about the tunnel system and how they lived down there and how they were able to use it to their advantage. There is also a tunnel they widened (Western sized tunnel) that I tried to go through but at the entrance my shoulders got wedged in there and I didn't want to crawl 20-100 m so I just got out and said screw it. I cant imagine what it must have been like to be a tunnel rat (the American troops who were trained to go down there) during the war. One example when bigger is not better. We then returned to the hostel where I found a nearby bahn mi place and had my free beers. After the beers, I did some trip planning and packed my bag as tomorrow I begin a 3 day tour of the Mekong delta area. My euro to US adapter got stuck in the outlet so I went and bought an all in 1 adapter. Turns out I only used it once I got to Singapore cause all the places in SEA had general outlets that would easily take US and Euro plugs without needing an adapter.