In Thai language ทำบุญกระดูกบรรพบุรุษ translates to Make Ancestral Bones. Personally, I would be inclined to call it ‘Ancestral Bones Ceremony’ but I’m not going to make any bones about that, lol. Not surprisingly, this somewhat bizarre event took place during a visit to Buriram. I have to admit that before, during and after the occasion […]
Continue ReadingSpirituality
Dancing to The Temple
It’s not street dancing as we know it, it’s not dancing in the street as we know it. This is more of a procession, a dancing procession, on the way to the neighborhood temple in Buriram, Northeast Thailand. Among the procession are members of my wife’s family, extended family and friends, and their heading to […]
Continue ReadingIs Thailand a Land of Ghosts
Do you believe in ghosts ?. If you are Thai I’m certain you will answer yes, I believe in ghosts. If you are a westerner I guess you will most likely dismiss ghosts and belief in the spirit world as pure twaddle. As a westerner living in Thailand you will also be aware that Thai […]
Continue ReadingRaising the Chofah
So far as I know the “Yohk Chofah” (Raising the Chofah) ceremony must be performed during the construction of every Buddhist temple in Thailand. Yohk Chofah ceremony is performed when the Chofah is raised to the temple roof and secured to the gable of the roof. What is a Chofah ?, If you have ever […]
Continue ReadingThailand Deities: Phra Rahu
Phra Rahu is worshiped at many temples throughout Thailand, the most famous of which is Wat Srisathhong in Nakhon Pathom Province. Phra Rahu was formerly a Demon God who the Thais believe took the form of a serpent, these days at temples he takes a more demonic human form. Colored black, with only an upper […]
Continue ReadingThailand Photos: Money Monks
There are a great many rituals in Thailand which I will never understand, the throwing of coins at cremations and Buddhist Monk ordinations is just one of them. Maybe you can tell us what it’s all about, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post.
Continue ReadingSurreal Thai Cremation Moments
During my stay in Thailand, surreality has repeatedly left me speechless, that’s because I’m not expecting to witness or experience a surreal moment at the time. Two of these surreal moments occurred at funerals, cremations to be more exact. Depending on your outlook, you may or may not expect bizarre, surreal experiences to take place […]
Continue ReadingThai Roadside Flower Garlands
Every set of traffic lights on every highway, in every town, city and district of Thailand is a potential market for sellers of Phuang Malai. What is Phuang Malai ?, take a look at the photo below, the hawker is holding several garlands of assorted flowers, these are called ‘Phuang Malai’. Phuang Maalai and the […]
Continue ReadingPattaya Photos: For Buddha
Pattaya Photos: A Buddhist Monk approaches 2 girls who respectfully wait to donate alms.
Continue ReadingWomen Wai a Monk
Pattaya photos: I snapped this picture (below) during an early morning walk in Pattaya. One thing I have noticed from my observations of Thai people is that women seem to take the role of giving alms to monks much more commonly than men do. Here is an interesting fact for you, Monks are not allowed […]
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