有借有还，再借不难。有许愿就要还。

还愿 (Huan Yuan), literal meaning is returning wishes. More like returning a favour.

Technically I did not borrow. I made wishes to gods. Not sure if it is more Buddhist or Taoist or just Chinese superstition. When you wished for something and it came true, you have to return the favour to whoever you prayed to.

I wished for a child. Seeking divine intervention was the last straw for desperate people like me. I’ve been dying to return.

There is a famous temple that blesses couples with kids in Bhutan hubby and I visited during our honeymoon. I told him please don’t make any wishes because it is unlikely we will visit again.

Instead, we made wishes to the four faced Buddha at Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand, to the Goddess of Mercy and the Buddha at Chin Swee Temple in Genting Highlands, Malaysia and Zhu Sheng Niang Niang at Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery in Toa Payoh locally. We promised to return 200 eggs to the latter but it was closed due to Covid-19 and has not resumed operations. Malaysia is still closed and Thailand is still wary of visitors. Argh.

It is superstition that something bad will happen if you don’t return what you prayed for. When you seeked divine help, who is to say it won’t be taken away?

My point is, can you people please stay home and stop community spread of Covid-19 so temples can reopen so I can visit and return the 200 eggs I owed?! 🤣

More on Keeping the Faith.