4th Dhamma-Yatra for Songkhla Lake
April 25 - May 11, 1999
(part 1)
General Information
The entire walk this year takes place in Songkhla Province, and covers about 135
kilometers. This year, we will be walking from Kau Yau Island at the opening of Songkhla
Lake into the Gulf of Siam, along or near the lake's southern shore, and then begin moving
up the Phumi Klong (or Phumi River) up into the hills of Rattaphum District to the
southwest of the Lake, to its watershed forests, with the ending point being Boriphat
Falls.
Walking usually takes place in the morning, sometimes both before and after breakfast, but
normally after. On some days there is also walking in the afternoon. In the afternoons and
evenings there are
usually activities (skits, discussions, presentations, and so on) within the group and/or
seminars, rituals, and cultural activities that involve both walkers and local
communities. In all cases, the wat where the (lay) walkers have their evening meal is also
the place where all walkers stay
overnight.
Dhamma-Yatra IV Daily Schedule:
//////////////// APRIL 25 (day 1) //////////////////////////////
Morning: Opening Ceremony at Wat Thai Yau, Kau Yau, Songkhla District. Vans will leave
from Prince of Songkhla University in Hat Yai by 8:00 am. Signing in for the walk at Wat
Thai Yau is from 9:00 am on, and the ceremony begins at 10:00. The opening ceremony will
include a brief history of the Songkhla Lake Dhamma-Yatra from Santikaro Bhikkhu, a poetry
reading by Achan Kovit Khemananda, a religious ritual, and a symbolic opening of the
walk with the ringing of the temple bells.
Lunch: Wat Thai Yau
Afternoon: Seminar at Wat Thai Yau, Kau Yau, on the theme for Dhamma-Yatra IV: Way of
Dhamma, Way of Freedom, Way of Survival for the Songkhla Lake Basin (1:30 pm). The seminar
will include presentations by Phra Phaisal Visalo, a conservationist and leader of the
Sekhiyatham network of socially concerned monks, and Achan Suthiwong Phongphaibun, a noted
scholar on the history and culture of southern Thailand and the lake region. The seminar
will be facilitated by Sathaporn Srisajey, who is also a well known writer and scholar on
southern Thailand.
Dinner: Wat Thai Yau
Evening: Orientation for walkers.
//////////////// APRIL 26 (day 2) //////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Wat Thai Yau
Morning: Walk around Kau Yau. Approximately 11 kilometers.
Lunch: Wat Khok Piao, Mu 6, Kau Yau, Songkhla District.
Afternoon: Form and meet with base groups. These are something like support groups within
the walking contingent that meet for expressing feelings and thoughts or exchanging ideas
and experiences. These groups also have logistical responsibilities on certain days.
Dinner: Wat Khok Piao
Evening: Seminar with local villagers (7:00 pm): "Caring for Kau
Yau."
//////////////// APRIL 27 (day 3) /////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Wat Khok Piao
Morning: Walk and travel by boat, approximately 4 kilometers.
Lunch: Wat Tha Nang Haum, Mu 5, Tambon Nam Noi, Hat Yai District.
Afternoon: Visit Klong Wong and a pottery works that has been a part of the local economy
for a long time.
Dinner: Wat Tha Nang Haum
Evening: Seminar on the sources of the pollution of klong Wong, which flows past Wat Tha
Nang Haum. A student of Achan Ruengchai (Department of Environmental Management at Prince
of Songkhla University in Hat Yai) has done research on this klong, and I believe he will
be contributing to the discussion.
//////////////// APRIL 28 (day 4) //////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Walk 4.3 kilometers to Wat Bang Not, where we will have breakfast.
Morning: Walk 8 kilometers to Laem Pho.
Lunch: Laem Pho Sangha Retreat, Mu 3, Tambon Khu Tao, Hat Yai District.
Afternoon: Rest or within-group activities.
Dinner: Laem Pho Sangha Retreat
Evening: Rest or within-group activities.
//////////////// APRIL 29 (day 5) ////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Laem Pho Sangha Retreat
Morning: Walk 7 kilometers to Wat Khu Tao.
Lunch: Wat Khu Tao, Mu 3, Tambon Mae Thaum, Bang Klam District.
Afternoon: Help restore and clean up the bank of the klong that flows around and past the
wat. Wat Khu Tao is a very old wat. One scholar has described its consecrated assembly
hall (bot) as the most beautiful in the lake region. The wat used to be the center of the
biggest lake-based market in the entire lake region. People would come on boats from many
parts of the lake and dock their boats at the klong while they bought and sold at the
market. The wat was thus central to the trading economy of the lake region. In recent
times the wat has fallen into disrepair. Within the past year a wat committee was formed
to care for the wat. When asked how the Dhamma-Yatra could help they suggested this
activity -- working together with local people on restoring and cleaning up the banks of
the klong that flows past the wat.
Dinner: Wat Khu Tao
Evening: Rest or within-group activities.
//////////////// APRIL 30 (day 6) /////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Walk 4 kilometers to Wat Muang Haum, where we will have breakfast.
Morning: Walk 5 kilometers to Wat Bang Klam.
Lunch: Wat Bang Klam, Mu 1, Tambon Bang Klam, Bang Klam District.
Afternoon: No activities planned yet.
Dinner: Wat Bang Klam
Evening: No activities planned yet.
//////////////// MAY 1 (day 7) //////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Walk 3.5 kilometers to Wat Bang Thing, where we will have breakfast.
Morning: Walk 5 kilometers to Wat Pa Kantaphong for a short rest. Walk another 2
kilometers to a former health clinic in the town of Kau Yai which will henceforth be run
as a Community Learning Center. Participate in the opening ceremony for both the Community
Learning Center and the Bang Riang Council on Local Culture (11:00 am).
Lunch: At the Community Learning Center.
Afternoon: Seminar on the topic, "Who has Polluted the Waters of the Phumi River, and
How Will We Resolve the Problem?" (1:30-3:30)
Dinner: We will walk 2 kilometers back to Wat Pa Kantaphong, Mu 8, Tambon Bang Riang,
Khuan Niang District. This is a forest temple located outside the town of Kau Yai that
emphasizes meditation along the lines of Achan Kaeo, a well-known southern monk. The
routines and daily life of the wat are in accordance with the tradition of Luang Phau Cha.
Evening: Rest or within-group activities.
//////////////// MAY 2 (day 8) //////////////////////////////
Breakfast: Walk 6 kilometers to Wat Khok Mueang, where we will have breakfast.
Morning: Walk 6.4 kilometers to Wat Tha Muang, Mu 4, Tambon Rattaphum, Khuan Niang
District. At this wat we return again to the lake. The wat is located near the lake shore,
but at some distance from Kau Yau, Laem Pho, and Khu Tao. This wat is a place for
meditation practice, also following the approach of Achan Kaeo.
Lunch: Wat Tha Muang
Afternoon: Open a "Khet Aphayathan," which is a no hunting and fishing area or
animal sanctuary. The performance of this ceremony with the Dhamma-Yatra monks and walkers
present is important because the sanctuary then has the authority of approval from the
local community as well as from a larger community represented by the walkers. The
Dhamma-Yatra monks also bring the authority of a ritual or religious blessing. As part of
this ceremony, fish will be released into the lake.
Dinner: Wat Tha Muang
Evening: Rest or within-group activities.
Special thanks to Kai (Isaraa) & Su (Surat)
for organizing this information,
& to Ted for converting it into English.
Updated 07 June 2006 © by
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