16 feb, i lost my slippers after the evening talk at chua phap van. i went around looking but in vain. i met sc. thi nghiem and she offered her sandals to me. she commented that her name signifies offering. i was overjoyed.

the next day, oanh took me to chua phap van. we met sc. cung nghiem and had lunch together. after lunch, she initiated to go to the market to help get me a new pair of slippers. she even offered to pay. for one moment, i was taken aback by her very kindness.

they are a pair of lovely sisters, pure and cheekily adorable yet mature and considerate.

vietnamese monks and nuns are dressed in brown robes, the colour of the farmers. nuns often wrapped their heads with a scarf. some monastics in vietnam are also dressed in grey, depending on which tradition they follow.