1st May 2008 marked a public holiday as Singapore celebrated Labour Day. Sri Krishna Mandir took this opportunity to stage the first spiritual retreat to Malaysia. Eighteen devotees from Sri Krishna Mandir were joined by two devotees from the Taman Daya temple in Johor, Malaysia. Devotees from Sri Krishna Mandir started their journey at 8pm on 30th Apr 08 to the causeway in Woodlands. As they approached the causeway, there was a long queue of vehicles as expected due to Malaysians going back home for the long weekend. The van carrying the devotees maneuvered to the nearest location to the Woodlands checkpoint without being caught in the jam. The devotees disembarked and started their journey by foot. Passing the causeway through the two checkpoints, the devotees embarked an air-conditioned coach in Johor that comfortably fetched them to the Taman Daya temple. Despite being arriving at a late hour the hospitality shown by the Taman Daya temple president, His Grace Saci Suta Prabhu and the other devotees made their guests feel homely as they served them prasadam consisting of biryani and sabji (vegetables). After prasadam, the devotees were shown their lodging at the Rose Cottage Hotel, a budget hotel with a simple yet comfortable stay having rooms equipped with air-conditioner, television and heater shower. Before devotees retired for the night, a small request was made by Sri Krishna Mandir Singapore temple president, His Grace Sundar Gopal Prabhu requesting all to join him for mangala arati the next day at 5am.
The next morning as the time ticked away to 5am, all the guest devotees from Singapore joined their Malaysian counterparts for the start of mangala arati. This was the first time that the Taman Daya temple has experienced such a huge gathering of devotees from Singapore and Johor for mangala arati. His Grace Raghupati Prabhu led the kirtan as devotees chanted the holy names and danced for the deities of Gaura-Nitai. After the Srimad-Bhgavatam class, devotees had breakfast and checked out of the hotel all ready for the adventures ahead. A 25-seater air-conditioned coach ferried them to their first stop, Malaya Giri Dhama, the future site of the first spiritual farm stay near Kota Tinggi, Johor. As devotees enjoyed the beauty and the bliss of the place, a clairvoyant wave of expected questions filled the air, “When will this project be completed?”
Next stop was Kota Tinggi waterfalls. Being a holiday in Malaysia as well, the environment was crowded with locals hoping to have a dip and feel the rush of the falls. The devotees manage to find a secluded spot at the top of the waterfalls just before the rapid falls. After quickly changing to their swimming attire, the devotees took a plunge into the pool. The coldness of the water was enough to jolt one into delirium. But the small rapid of water into the pool was refreshing as devotees took turns to sit in the midst of the rapids. It was duly labeled fresh water massage treatment by the devotees. As the rapids pushed against their bodies, a relaxing, soft touch was all that was needed to relax the joints and the body parts that are ached by the mediocre city lifestyle. After being rejuvenated, the devotees changed to dry attire and broke for lunch.After lunch, devotees rested in the coach as it made its way to Desaru, a sleepy coastal town on the east coast of Johor. A half-hour pit stop was made at a fruit farm where devotees took the opportunity get their hands on cheap fruits and freshly squeezed fruit juices. Finally, the devotees made their final stop of the day at a beach resort in Desaru. Desaru, which is well known among the locals and Singaporeans for their wide sand tropical beaches became a transcendental playground for the devotees. After a game of beach football, the devotees headed into the water to cool off and engage in water games such as wrestling, tug-o-war and even something as naïve as wave slamming. Some even took off early from the beach to race in go-karts. Soon, the time came to depart, and all the devotees departed filling refreshed and light-headed.
The first spiritual retreat was a grand success with another retreat soon to follow in June. This trip has given devotees a temporary hermitage from the hustle and bustle of a stressful city life. Because of such a lifestyle, city dwellers become too attached to their work commitments and often fail to realize that there is more to life than working as if there is no tomorrow. This attempt of this retreat was to re-ignite sadhana bhakti for the city dwelling devotees through the morning program that Srila Prabhupada very heavily stresses upon. With the association of devotees and the congregational chanting of the holy names of the Supreme Lord, the retreat definitely brightened up a lot of faces. Sadhana bhakti that includes attending the morning program coupled with a day out in the water played a big part in re-igniting the devotional spirit of everyone. Even though it looks more like fun and games, there is constant association of devotees who are properly following the orders of their spiritual master, congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord as well as prasadam honouring. It was indeed a win-win situation for all. Vinay, a Mauritiun teaching in Singapore summed it up the best, “Prabhu, when are you planning to go back again?!”