Thai PM prays in Mendut<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA: Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leek Pai on Wednesday
\nvisited the ancient Buddhist Mendut temple in Mungkid, Magelang,
\nCentral Java.<\/p>\n
Chuan later joined other Buddhist for a prayer at a nearby
\ntemple. He received blessings from the priest Joti Dhammo.<\/p>\n
After the ceremony, the priest also presented the Thai premier
\nwith a memento, a miniature of the Borobudur temple, a Dhamma
\nPada holy book, and a Buddhist prayer book written in Indonesian
\nlanguage, the Antara news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Chuan for his part presented the priest with a donation to
\nhelp the upkeep of the temple.<\/p>\n
The prime minister flew in from Jakarta on Tuesday night after
\nattending the APEC leaders meeting in Bogor.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by Central Java Governor Soewardi, Chuan held a
\ndialog with the local Buddhis community, and also had a chat with
\nresidents around Mendut.<\/p>\n
Priest Joti Dhammo said the prime minister was particularly
\nimpressed with the relief found on the walls of Mendut and
\nBorobudur, something which cannot be found in Thai temples.<\/p>\n
So impressed was Chuan that he was seen taking notes into a
\nbook which he was carrying during the tour.<\/p>\n
Prior to Chuan, American First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was
\nalso in Yogyakarta and visited Borobudur on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who will be making a state
\nvisit in Jakarta beginning on Thursday, was also scheduled to
\ntour the Borobudur later yesterday. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thai-pm-prays-in-mendut-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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