12-24 degC, getting warmer!
It was a very late start for us due to the arctic conditions created by the high velocity wind. By the time we’d had mornos, it had rocketed up to 17 degC so we decided we should head out. We went in search of the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, about 15 km on the other side of Bendigo. The route we took made it a 21 km trip, but it was all good, with the last km being on dirt. When we got there, we were not permitted to enter without a guide, so we took photos from the outside and then went into Exhibition Centre for a look around; we’ve done Temples to the nth degree many times. Not much to see so we moved along quite quickly.
The Stupa is a sacred Buddhist monument being constructed (funds made available via donations). The design is based on Great Stupa of Gyantse, which is 600 years old. When completed, the Bendigo stupa's exterior will look like an exact replica, and will be 50m high and its four sides will each be 50m long, making it one of the largest Buddhist monuments in the Western world. Buddhists say that viewing the stupa will help purify the mind. The Bendigo stupa is being designed to last 1,000 years and will eventually house the 2.5 metre Jade Buddha for Universal Peace statue, the world’s largest gem-quality jade Buddha.
Next stop was Eaglehawk where we had lunch in a very popular bakery which had an old penny farthing in it, so we had to stop there. Greg had Caesar salad with chicken and Wendy had a chicken/cheese/avo focaccia. Both were very delicious. It was then back into the city to find the frozen yoghurt shop Greg had seen yesterday. His was not very nice, but Wendy had a passionfruit ice cream (the biggest single serve ever – was about three serves) and it was good.
It was a short ride home with very full bellies. Wendy put the washing on then we both had an afternoon rest.
Pub
night tonight – we visited The Wellington at Botanic Gardens which was well
within walking distance of the van park. We both had fantastic meals: Greg had
the Authentic Lamb Curry and Wendy had the 300g Scotch Fillet, cooked to
absolute perfection. Whilst the meal and
the wine cost almost double what we pay at Howard, the meals and the wine were
three times better. Glad we walked home to settle it before bed.
