I will write the post earlier today as I am getting packed ready for the long journey home. The car is coming for me at 7.30 pm and the flight is at 11.26 pm. That of course is USA time and I will be in Manchester, all being well, at 11 am UK time. Home in Scarborough if all goes to plan about 4.30 pm. Anyway, back to the post. After two days of heavy rain it was a much brighter start to the day today.

Pat came at 9.30 am as arranged and drove us over to Chuang Yen Monastery in Putnam County. A lovely morning and an attractive drive. First sightings after we had parked and were on our way to the Great Buddha Hall.

Pat had told me the Buddha was big, but don'e think I was quite prepared for just how big!

The murals were brilliant and colourful.

On the other side of the walkway there were Buddhas in relief.

Around the top of the murals were 10,000 small Buddhas.

Pat took a picture of me in front of the Buddha, it is apparently the largest one in the Western hemisphere.

A most impressive building structure.

We thought this was a whale, but don't know the significance, as there were quite a few smaller ones there too. Something to look up. or maybe it will be in the literature that I picked up.

It was beautifully carved and it did have a 'do not touch' sigh on it. Another surface had lovely illustration on.

There were two elephant statues at the top of the path leading up to the hall.

And statues of many different Buddhas on the way up to them.

Just a couple of shots from inside the quiet worship room

Pat shopped at a lake in the grounds on the way out so that I could take a photo.

We had to remove our shoes in both building, they were very serene inside. It was a really lovely place to have visited. We then went to a great craft store on the way back, called Michael's. I got a few bits and Pat bought lots of Christmas trimmings.

We had lunch at a diner and then Pat drove me home. Thanks for a great trip Pat. Now get the packing finished and rest until the  marathon journey begins.