19th National Maha Sanghika Dana Year 2009

For the 19th time, the Maha Sanghika Dana event is held, and this year, it is in Moral Uplifting Society. A lot of people turned up, suprisingly. Woke up at 5 am sharp, took a bath, and its still early. Therefore, I decided to go to McDonalds for breakfast, since I got bored with home food.

McDonald in Greenlane

Had breakfast, and it was still early. Drove to school and reached at 5.45am. Not a single soul present (human, yes, soul..... maybe.....). Waited in the car for a few minutes to see if any of my friends have reached. 15 minutes, later, incoming Kenny Goh on a Saga. Went out of the car and have a little chat there. Too bad he didn't bring his partner there, or things will be interesting. Minutes later, people started pouring in. Got to chat with a lot of people before entering the bus to the destination.

It took us 10~15 minute bus ride to Moral Uplifting Society, since the bus was SLOOOOOOOW... Met with Eu Teong, Shin Ye and Shaun Lim upon reaching. The event will not start yet for quite sometime, so we relax with free food and waited for QUITE a while...

Got bored, so Desper became paparazzi for a moment...

Soon, we all got inside for a group photo. 4 struggling test shots and finally we got a good one. Then, Ms. Yeoh gave a brief and summarized explanation on the activities and duties we are suppose to participate in.

Ms. Yeoh giving her briefing.

Strolled and wandered for a moment around the main hall, getting to know the place better. Took some pics which were in bad quality because practically, zoom have no good focus.

Lord Buddha.

Settings for monks' feast.

After that, its attendance time!! I use to be incharge of this, but not anymore, and hopefully, will never be. It is not an easy job, not to mention the things I have been through holding you-know-what and dealing with 2 you-khow-whos.

Taking attendance. Good job Jason!

Afterwards, we were stationed into groups, and I fall into group A2, with the rest of my friends. I have to be incharge of 2 things, scooping the rice for the monks in the beginning, and refilling the fruit juices in the middle. After all briefing was done, there were a couple of hours left before we ACTUALLY get involved, so we sat, relaxed and took pictures.

My friends Camwhoring...

Fantastic 4...

Randy Lim and me...

Then, luck striked John Wong Ying Jian. One of the daily chinese newspaper came to us and chose to interview Wong. His picture will also be featured in the newpaper as helper of the Maha Sanghika Dana. We tried to ask for a group photo for the newspaper, but they only need individual ones...

Soon, the monks arrived. The song played when they arrive was fantastic! I'd buy the album for it. All of them have their own sitting positions so no mixing up or anything.

Monks settled down on their seats.

Later, the guests and donors were called up to the stage to open the ceremony. More then 20 were called and even Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan was there!

There, the famous guy...

The full guest...

Soon, our duties have arrived. I had to scoop rices, which is the hard part for me. The reverants never signal whether the rice is enough or not. I keep scooping and scooping and no signal was given! I just estimated the amount and went to the next one. After the scooping was done, the refilling part arrived. Piece of cake, I'd say, compared to the previous task. Not all wanted refill and most of them are still having their feast. Barely refill more than 5 monks.

After all is done, The monks were done with the food, its the requisite time. We get to offer requisites to 2 monks. I was incharge of 2 nuns, which was not suppose to happen. Therefore, someone was kind enough to left me offer the requisites to their monks incharged of. There are a lot of chanting in between all events, I'll just skip all of them. No photos taken, hands were busy with the food and drinks.

Then, the ceremony has ended and the day is over..... NOT! We are not called helpier for no reason... We had to clean up the tables and cloths as they will be reused the next year. Good thing though, we get free lunch. After that, Kenny, Sau Fei and I decided to follow Shin Ye to PFS, instead of riding the turtle-speed bus back there. So, Shin Ye a.k.a. Wira Drift was on action! I drove home to rest a while, but later, I was paid a visit by Randy, Sau Fein Shin Ye and Kenny. We decided to go Sunshine Farlim to help Randy pick up an outfit for his prom night, hoping he would be crowned Prom King!

From left, me, Shin Ye, Kenny, Sau Fei and Randy

And that, is that, the end of the journey on the 5th July 2009. I'm exhausted right now, typing and uploading so many images. So this is where it will all end. Sayonara!!Picture taken at 5.05am...

P.S., Oh yeah, Happy Birthday to Ooi Chee Beng! Have a good 18th birthday!

Signed off,
Teng Aun