Vanessa Pike-Russell's memory board

Vanessa Pike-Russell Vanessa was born

Vanessa Pike-Russell Vanessa was married

Vanessa Pike-Russell Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Education (Primary) with a specialisation in Information Technology and Communication

Vanessa Pike-Russell On September 30th, 2008 I was a freelance photographer for Wollongong & Northern Leader and they sent me on assignment to the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Berkeley, Wollongong New South Wales, Australia.   Nan Tien Temple, literally means “paradise of the south” in English, is the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. This traditional Chinese temple has become the most attractive view point and culture exchange place at Wollongong.   My guide around the temple was the Ven. Ru Yi, a female buddhist monk who was kind and patient.    Nan Tien Buddhist Temple       The architecture is stunning and I love the animal guardians on the roof tops, the roof charms or roof-figures.        Nan Tien’s Pagoda is an eight storey resting place for the cremated ashes of devotees and their relatives; it can accommodate the remains of over 7,000 people. Inside the Pagoda is a shrine dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who vowed to help all beings reach enlightenment; there is also a wishing bell, visitors may make a wish and sound the bell. Source: Nan Tien Buddhist Temple   One of my favourite features of the temple is the incense burner.      There is a lovely sculpture walk                    There is a tea house at Nan Tien called ‘Dew Drop Inn’  I had an amazing time on assignment and loved seeing my photos in the magazine.

Vanessa Pike-Russell Mystery Island, October 21 2012 Mystery Island, also known as Aneityum Island, is a small island in Vanuatu. It is an uninhabited island surrounded with crystal blue waters, filled with turtles, fish and beautiful coral. The locals from the neighbouring island come across and set up market stalls selling cold drinks, coconuts and local handicrafts. It was a hot day when we arrived at Mystery Island. I ordered a Tequila Sunrise cocktail, which was amazing!!! There was a local band playing, Nasitpu String Band. Philip was enjoying the music There was a local school asking for donations I had my hair cornrowed I was kidnapped by cannibals! The local children were so friendly An amazing day that we will remember forever

Vanessa Pike-Russell Lifou, New Caledonia October 20, 2012 Lifou was our first shore tour and I was amazed at the colour of the water and how friendly everyone was. The amazing Mary-Ellen of Lifou, New Caledonia. I shared her blanket and we sat and enjoyed the Coconut Crab I purchased for $34 from the market. I asked her if she would like some and she said ‘merci beaucoup”, French for ‘thank you very much’. Mary-Ellen was the fourth generation to live in Lifou. Her family were originally from Port Villa, Vanuatu. She had a gentle grace and wisdom that greatly affected me and this is still my favourite photo of the trip. We visited St. Pierre Baptist Church Nearby was the Big Chief’s house After spending time in the big chief’s hut, we were invited to a Bougna or feast. The food was delicious and had a sweet and coconut flavour from the hand made coconut milk It was an amazing start to our shore tours and I would love to go back one day

Vanessa Pike-Russell Port Denaru, Fiji Today we watched some warriors from the South Islands do a firewalking and traditional dancing demonstration at Sheraton / Westin Resport and Spa in Port Denaru. Absolutely amazing

Vanessa Pike-Russell Suva, Fiji and Colo-I-Suva OCT 22, 2012 On October 22nd, 2012 we sailed into Suva, FIji on the P&O Pacific Dawn. Suva is the capital of Fiji and highly populated. It is also the economic and cultural capital of the South Pacific, hosting the majority of regional headquarters of major corporations, as well as international agencies and diplomatic missions in the region. Later, we visited to Colo-I-Suva Forest Park "Colo-I-Suva Forest Park is a nature reserve near Suva, Fiji. It offers hiking trails, swimming, and birdwatching. The forest is part of the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy"

Vanessa Pike-Russell Port Vila, Vanuatu 2012 October 24 On our Pacific Dawn cruise from Brisbane to Fiji we visited Port Vila, Vanuatu. It was a beautiful location and I want to go back. Port Vila, Vanuatu There were many market stalls and I had my passport stamped. A couple on the Pacific Dawn that I photographed. We visited Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa to see a demonstration by the Vanuatu warriors We visited Ekasup Cultural Village. It was an amazing insight into the local cultural practices and handicrafts. i bought an amazing woven bag for $20 that someone had just made. It was a highlight of the trip. Ekasup Cultural Village is an award-winning attraction that brings ancient Melanesian culture to life. Villagers in traditional dress will greet you before walking a short distance to various staging areas within the village. Meet the Chief and his warriors armed with traditional weapons such as clubs, spears, bows and arrows. Learn about Melanesian custom medicine including remedies derived from herbs, roots, bark and leaves as well as game trapping. See how villagers preserve and prepare food each day. Be amazed by the fascinating and ancient art of sand drawings. Hear spine-tingling tales of cannibalism from the not-so-distant past, watch a performance by the Futuna youth and view a weaving demonstration of both decorative and practical baskets, mats and hats. Information source: P&O On the way back from the village I took some photos of the road. It looks so lush. A lovely place to visit. We only saw some highlights on our shore trip and hope to go back experience more of the culture and lifestyle.

Vanessa Pike-Russell Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Japan October 16, 2017 On October 16th, 2020 I visited the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, Japan with my husband Philip. Also known as the ‘Fox shrine’. "Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari, which stands at 233 meters and belongs to the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari is the most important of several thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds. Fushimi Inari Shrine has ancient origins, predating the capital’s move to Kyoto in 794." Source: Japan Guide Fushimi Inari Shrine is located just outside JR Inari Station. We were staying in Gion, Kyoto and booked a taxi to take us to the shrine only 15 minutes (5.7km) away. It was the day I found out that my mother had passed away and I was in shock. Having read about the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine I thought it was fitting to make the trek towards the top of Mount Inari up the many steps inside the tori gates like the stairway to heaven. I tried to push through my grief and made the most of the day. We started with washing our hands in a ritualistic way, using the ladles to dip into the water and then splash the water over our palms. This was my view as I walked through the gates, each one decorated with the name of somoene who sponsored that gate. It was a surreal experience and a highlight of my first trip to Japan. There was a display with fox-shaped pieces of wood. You added the eyes to personalise the fox. I chose a winking eye design. I made a wish for my mother, ‘the safety of one’s family’. It was my first time writing in Japanese kanji (writing) and as I was writing it I was sending loving thoughts to my Mother. I could feel her presence with me on the day. I also purchased a Hitakigushi stick where I wrote on, ‘that my mother rests in peace’. bought some talismans, including ‘Warding off evils’ and for ‘good health’. I loved the Japanese red bridge and the lush green behind it. There was a lovely creek which gave me a moment of tranquility Walking upwards towards the mountain and down again was a long and exhausting day but I am glad I pushed through and it was healing in many ways. It was a beautiful experience. The next day was my birthday and the shock wore off and I spent most of my birthday in bed crying, mourning the loss of my mother. It was difficult being so far away from family and friends but I had so much support and made it through somehow. Japan was beautiful and I will always cherish the memories of our first trip in October 2016 and second trip in March/April 2017.

Vanessa Pike-Russell My Mother’s Death October 16, 2016 I found out today that my Mum died in her sleep and was found on Thursday, the day after I left for Japan. I wasn’t told until now because my family didn’t want to spoil my trip but I had a bad feeling when I kept calling my Mother and she wasn’t answering. I called her neighbour and she told me mum was found dead on Thursday and there was going to be an inquest. I didn’t cope well with the news coming from a stranger but I know my family meant well. I’m stunned but truthfully I have been expecting this for a very long time. She already had a stroke 5 years ago and had very high blood sugar levels and not eating the right foods and refused to go onto insulin. We’re not sure exactly how she died. There will be an inquest. My sister Renee has asked the people examining Mum to hold her body for a week before sending it to the funeral home so the funeral will wait until I get home to Brisbane and then fly to Sydney. I might be in Sydney for a while as the house is sold to pay for funeral expenses. Like some have said, she is with me as I travel Japan with Philip Philip Russell who has been my rock. Today we went to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine and I felt her presence with me as I wrote on a fox my wish for family safety and on a wooden stick for her to have peace. I bought some talismans for her coffin – and I know she would have liked that. For a long time there it was just Mum and I and we were very close until the end when she just wouldn’t answer the phone. I’m sad that I couldn’t say goodbye to her. I will miss her hugs, advice and hope she is at peace now after years of physical pain. Love you, Mum ❤️💗 I just hate that she died alone. 😢

Vanessa Pike-Russell Kako Okamato – Michelin star restaurant in Gion, Kyoto Japan March 31, 2017 Four years ago on my second visit to Gion, Japan it was raining and I decided to ring up the closest restaurant to our accommodation in Gion, Kyoto for lunch – Kako Okamato. In broken english the waitress told me that they were only open for dinner. I booked a table for Philip and I. We were greeted as we entered and our coats were taken and we were ushered to the counter style seating. The next four hours of dining was a truly incredible experience. The chef smiled and continued with his prep work. I used google translate to see if I could overcome the language barrier and found out the japanese word for menu was pronounced ‘men youu”, which had me confused that they hadn’t responded. After a while were handed the first dish – which we believe was Scallop Foam with Asparagus It was so delicious we didn’t question the lack of menu, looked at each other and decided to go with it. Halfway through the 11 or so courses (my phone died towards the end) I googled the restaurant and was shocked not only to find out it was a 1 star michelin restaurant but it was $160 per person in Australian dollars!. Well worth the price with 12 courses over four hours. They had not warned us when booking or when we arrived. There was a japanese word Kaiseki in the Tripadvisor description of the restaurant’s fixed menu which was similar to ‘table d’hôte’ or ”table of the host’) where the menu is a menu where multi-course meals with only a few choices are charged at a fixed total price. Thankfully we had the money as someone had paid for a website earlier that day. Phew! A huge highlight of the trip and we left grinning from ear to ear. To watch the Michelin star chef work his knife and other tools was a wonder to behold. He showed such finesse that I felt we were watching Iron Chef – one of our favourite cooking shows. There were eight seats at the counter and all were filled soon after we arrived. The chef was patient with me as he explained the ingredients of each course in Japanese. Courses included: Scallops with asparagus; Seaweed with wasabi and pine nuts; Seafood in broth; Sashimi; Sardine boiled 5 hours in vinegar and coated with bonito flakes; Squid with Okinawa salad vegetable; Sashimi of baby eel; Shellfish in Filo pastry; steamed egg; Fish (mackerel ?) sashimi; Sky beans (aka Broad Beans); sweet bun with black bean paste for dessert. Accompanied by sake and green tea. Very oishi – delicious! One of the best parts of the night were the other people enjoying the meal. One lady was in a beautiful kimono, another lady well dressed and two gentlemen. I used Google Translate to talk until later in the night when they decided it was easier to speak in English. Such an amazing experience and definitely something I’d love to do again. Michelin review https://guide.michelin.com/en/kyoto-region/kyoto/restaurant/kako-okamoto

Vanessa Pike-Russell Golden Pavilion at the Kinkakuji Temple. Kinkakuji (金閣寺, Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Kyoto, Japan

Vanessa Pike-Russell On April 3rd, 2017 my husband and I were in Japan and I took part in a Geisha and Samurai makeover. I was very excited as I had been looking forward to it since my trip the year before that when I had to cancel my geisha makeover on my birthday. I decided that I had to go back to Japan during cherry blossom season and revisit the geisha makeover. I am so grateful to have had the experience. The day started with choosing my kimono. I found a lovely pink one but then at the last minute I saw a purple one and decided that I must have it. The process of dressing me in a kimono took around 15 minutes. They wrapped me in layers of material similar to the kimono and tied a belt around each layer, securing it. They were so tight, similar to a corset. I could barely breathe. Then the outer layer of kimono secured with an obi or sash. The house where the makeover was located was a three story and there were no railings for the stairs so I had to put my hands out to secure myself whilst walking down the stairs. At one stage I almost fell down the stairs but luckily I made it. The makeup took around 15-20 minutes and included a white powder, red lipstick that didn’t reach the sides of my mouth, and then once the makeup was done, a black wig was added. The ceremony of it was beautiful. We then went to the photo studio section where we had professional photos taken. You only received three photos: one each of Philip and myself; and one couple photo. The rest of the photos were taken by Philip or myself. It was a wonderful experience. It's still surreal to see myself with a Geisha wig on and kimono. From the Kyoto Maiko website: "Experience the essence of Japanese culture. Dress up and makeover yourself into a Geisha and Maiko in Kyoto We provide joyful and inspiring opportunities for international visitors from all over the the world to experience Japanese culture, continuing the traditions of beauty and hospitality in Japan as a studio that specializes in Maiko and Geisha makeover experiences." https://kyoto-maiko.com/english

Vanessa Pike-Russell MAIKO THEATRE, GION KYOTO April 2017 Philip and I went to the Geisha Theatre in Gion, Kyoto to watch meet an apprentice geisha, a Maiko dance and perform for us. It was an amazing night.

Vanessa Pike-Russell Buckingham Palace Royal Mews, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Lion King, 2017 JULY 29th, 2017 In July and August 2017 I travelled with my husband and friends around England, Scotland, Wales, Paris and back to England. It was an amazing trip of over two weeks. By the end we were weary but boy was it worth it! Below is a journal entry of visits to Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and then the Lion King. We left our motel the Hyde Park Room and Apartments at 9am after a buffet breakfast. We set out in search of a Golden Tours Hop on Hop Off bus with our first destination of Buckingham Palace. THE ROYAL MEWS There was no changing of the guard that day so we went next door to the Royal Mews, Home to historic royal carriages and one of the finest working stables in existence. The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is responsible for all the road travel arrangements for The Queen and members of the Royal Family. There we took part in a guided tour of the Royal Mews including the horse yards, carriages and more. We loved viewing the Gold Stage Coach. It was very flashy and looked very heavy. The tour guide was lovely. In the State Stables, Philip dressed up as a footman in specially-created livery worn by The Queen’s coachmen... apart from a few small details, the livery remains much the same as it was in Victorian times, and some of the tailors who produce today’s livery are the same companies used during the reign of George III. THE ROYAL MEWS STORE After the guided tour of the Royal Mews we enjoyed the Royal Mews shop which was next door. I was in tourist heaven! After a marathon shopping experience, we hopped on another Golden Tours bus and headed to Bankside Pier stop, home of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. I was so excited I forgot to take photos. We hopped off at our destination and made our way to the theatre. I really liked the atmosphere at the Bankside Pier. I would love to go back and explore. SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE THEATRE After lunch, we walked the short distance to The shakespeare’s Globe theatre. We arrived just before 2pm and lucky for us there was a 2pm performance of Much Ado About Nothing which we managed to buy some returned tickets after waiting in the returns line. We purchased two unobstructed tickets and took our seats. Fortunately we were near the stairs and had a great view. Admittedly I was very tired and nodded off for a few minutes. At intermission I purchased some coffee and some nibbles and perked up. I loved that it was open air and the architecture of the theatre meant that I could hear all the actors very clearly. It was electrifying being there. THE LION KING Afterwards we hopped back on the Golden Tours Hop on Hop off bus and travelled around London and then headed to the Lyceum Theatre to attend a performance of The Lion King. Arriving a few minutes late due to a taxi not arriving in a timely fashion, it was an amazing production that was very thrilling. I bought a Lion King toy and book. What an amazing and fun-filled day!

Vanessa Pike-Russell In August, 2017 we visited Cardiff for the Doctor Who Experience. It was an amazing, live-changing experience. There were props from all the seasons and at one point I was able to pull down one of the instruments of the tardis! I couldn’t believe it! I took so many photos and we took part in a challenge to find the crystal that powers the tardis. So much fun! "The Doctor Who Experience was one of the largest and most ambitious Doctor Who exhibitions ever staged. Featuring props and costumes from throughout the franchise's history, it also featured one new and different element; an interactive story in which people could take part and become part of the adventure. The interactive story originally featured Matt Smith as the then-current Eleventh Doctor, but was replaced with one with Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. The Experience in Cardiff sat in the Cardiff Bay area, adjacent to Roath Lock, where Doctor Who was filmed from 2012 onwards. There were two separate portions to this exhibition, an interactive story and a free-flow exhibition. with the interactive portion taking 30 minutes to complete. Part of the interactive element included a 3D presentation. A huge exhibition with both interactive elements and exhibition elements from throughout Doctor Who's history: covering over 4000 square metres, this large exhibition covers all of Doctor Who history. With walk through parts of the exhibition and part where the audience becomes a part of the interactive story with Peter Capaldi as the Doctor taking part in interactive video! On launch, Steven Moffat said, "It will also be the first time that Doctor Who artefacts from all the show's 47 year history - classic and new - will be on display together." https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Doctor_Who_Experience_(London/Cardiff)

Vanessa Pike-Russell Stonehenge 2017 August 5th, 2017 Today I visited Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. It was an amazing experience and a highlight of our trip around England, Scotland, Wales and Paris. It was a surreal feeling being so close to the magnificent stone structure. It was an overcast day and very cold day so I was rugged up. As I made my way around Stonehenge I took many photos and soaked up the charged atmosphere. The druids built the structure and used it to celebrate the summer and winter solstice and other pagan events.

Vanessa Pike-Russell PARIS TRIP In August 2017 my friends, my husband and I visited Paris for a two night, three day visit. Our friends drove us from Folkestone (near Dover) England to Calais, France in the Eurotunnel or Channel Tunnel. It was very close quarters and I found it difficult to relax, knowing that some parts of the journey were under water. When we reached Calais, it was weird being driven on the right hand side of the road but the scenery was so beautiful. Along the way to Paris we passed a lovely old restaurant which gave me the reality check that we were in France. Unfortunately no restaurants were open so we ate some chicken (poulet), ham (jamon) and egg (oeuf) sandwiches from a garage. Luckily I took some French lessons when i was 12 which helped a little. We stayed at the Timhotel which was very close to the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately we didn’t have a view of the Eiffel Tower but it was a short walk away. The next day we purchased a ticket for the BigBus Paris hop on, hop off bus which took us to the feature sites of Paris. It was an amazing way of seeing the ‘city of lights’. On August 6th, 2017 we booked tickets on the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Sightseeing Cruise. It was a lovely Autumn day and I was very excited as the Seine River cruise was one of the things I was most looking forward to. I didn’t get many photos from the cruise. Below is an image from the Viator website which gives you an idea what the cruise boat looked like from the river bank. Photo: Viator – Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Sightseeing Cruise It was amazing cruising down the Seine River. Here’s a description from the website: Enjoy a leisurely trip down the Seine on this Bateaux Parisiens river cruise. Glide past Paris’ world-famous monuments including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower and historic bridges like the Pont Neuf. Glide beneath beautiful historic bridges, including the famous Pont Neuf. Listen to audio commentary along the way to learn more about passing attractions. Cruise during the day, or choose an evening departure time to float through the enchanting city at night. Either way, it’s a fantastic introduction to the highlights of Paris. Even the riverbanks of the Seine are a sight to behold and have been collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, a prerecorded audio guide provides commentary on the history and legends of Paris. Read more about Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Sightseeing Cruise 2021 We saw many famous sites such as Notre Dame Cathedral which is famous for being the location of the Hunchback of Notre Dame story. Almost two years later on April 15th, 2019 it burned down but they are working on restoring it. The canals were lovely and at one section there was three parks, each had a different type of music and people were dancing. It was an amazing site to behold and made me very happy to see. The photo below was taken in front of Notre Dame. I was so excited to capture it as we cruised past. We got back on the BigBus Paris for more sightseeing, then headed back to the motel. The next morning we enjoyed a buffet breakfast at Timhotel. It was a wonderful three days, with some ups and downs, and an experience I will never forget. We returned to Dover and then on to London. So many experiences in such a short amount of time.

Vanessa Pike-Russell The most amazing present I ever received was my first computer when I was 16. I begged for one all year. One day in December I went into my mum’s room to borrow one of my mum’s jackets up in the top of the wardrobe and saw a present 🎁 I carefully lowered it down to the bed and had a peek to see what was in it. After pulling the first piece of sticky tape I was excited, knowing what it was. I knew that my Mum and step father wouldn’t be home for hours and couldn’t help myself. I had to see what kind of computer it was and gently, ever so carefully unwrapped the computer. Once it was unwrapped I looked at my new favourite thing: A Commodore VIC 20! It was an older model than the Commodore 64 with 20 KB ROM + 5KB RAM It had a data cassette player and several games. Each time you loaded a cassette into the player it took 5-10 minutes to load the game. It was sooo slow but I loved it! There was a game similar to ping pong, a helicopter rescue game, a text based role play game and more. I reluctantly re-wrapped the most amazing present I’d ever received, returned the present to the top shelf of the wardrobe, covered it with the jumper and excitedly left the room. A few weeks later I waited impatiently for Christmas. On Christmas Day I looked under the tree and didn’t see the computer present 🎁 I opened what was under the Christmas tree 🎄 and then looked behind the tree. My step father Steve asked me what I was looking for, smiling at me. He looked at my Mum and they exchanged secret smiles. I couldn’t say that I knew there was another present so I stopped looking and thanked them for what I had been given – some clothes, a book, a board game. I was very thankful for them – although excitedly waiting for the computer. Finally they couldn’t continue with the ruse any longer and Steve went to fetch the last present. I could barely breathe with excitement, just like I had been when I first saw it in my mother’s bedroom. I spent many hours waiting for the games, waiting for them to load, having fun taking turns with Steve and my next door neighbour Anna. It was even more fun when I learned some BASIC programming language to do simple lines of code. My stepfather is very intelligent and was able to program a BINGO game using the VIC 20. It was a much used computer and was then best present I have ever been given. Before she passed, I confessed to my mother what had happened. She had no idea and she then confessed that she opened a present I had given her the same year! I miss her every day and Christmas just isn’t the same without her ❤️ We would wait until Christmas Eve to decorate the Christmas tree 🎄, listening to Carols by Candlelight on TV. She was famous for her roasts with all the trimmings, potato salad (German style – but with thinly sliced gerkins), cabbage rolls, sauerkraut, bean salad, etc. I would cook Scottish butter shortbread and help with cooking – mum’s taste tester. When my Nan was alive my Mum and 7 (of her eight (8) sisters and two (2) brothers and all the grandchildren would visit in stages. Everyone would bring a plate of food (or more) and it was a multicultural feast. I miss those days. This year, instead of visiting my stepsons and grandchildren in Tasmania, I’m staying home with my husband and visiting my aunt and uncle. I will be cooking mum’s potato salad to go with a roast pork and crackling, roast vegetables and finishing with Scottish butter shortbread. Recently I was accepted into a Masters degree in Education, specialising in Information and Communication Technology. I would like to learn App design and focus on assistive technology to support people like my Autistic grandson who is 13 and using his iPad to communicate. When I look back at my first computer I am so grateful to my mum and stepfather for investing in my dream present. Gratitude 🙏

Vanessa Pike-Russell Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, Priestdale QLD Australia January 14, 2021 Chung Tian Temple, which means “Middle Heaven”, was constructed in 1992 using traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture – it is situated between Brisbane and Logan, Queensland. Surrounded by nature, the Temple provides a peaceful and culturally beautiful venue for the community to celebrate its multicultural diversity and multi-faith harmony through Humanistic Buddhism. TEMPLE PAGODA The Pagoda has three halls. The Centre has a large Amitabha statue and represents the Pure Land. The ceiling with its Eight Celestial Beings conveys the ideal beauty of the Pure Land. BLESSING BELL A Buddhist blessing bell in the temple courtyard. A reminder to herald peace and harmony. An offering to Buddhist teachings may be made by ringing the large Blessing Bell in the centre court. CHAN, ZEN & ARHAT GARDENS Traditional Chinese gardens surround the temple with sculptured landscapes and plants. Gardens contain statuary and plants chosen to create a peaceful ambiance while the presence of a Bodhi tree is indicative of the place at which the Buddha found enlightenment. Eighteen majestic Arhat statues are placed in the Garden Area. TEA ROOM The Tea Room is intended to provide a peaceful haven for visitors having a cup of tea. Visitors are invited to help themselves to refreshment and/or to sit quietly with friends to reflect on the beauty of the Temple.