THAILAND:- A Birthing and a Deadin' ... it was a busy week-end.

[David48atTD]

Weekend before last we had the joy, if that's the correct term to participate in a Buddhist young Monk Ceremony, held over 2 days at the Boy's local Wat.

Also my Thai Partners best friend's mum (let's refer to her as Miss A) Mum 'went up' so there was quite a contrast of feeling and dress styles over the 2 days.


First to the deading ... not much different to report there, if you've been to one, like a Funeral in the West, the basic structure remains the same.

The friends are, for want of a better term, lower middle class. Both professionals, own a property in a decent MooBahn/Mooban, have an investment house and 2 mortgages. No village insurance scheme here, she paid for the lot, cooking each night helped with by the relatives.

So, for her dearly departed mum, it was 5 days in the Temple and the Burn Day, the day the casket and contents were cremated.

Envelopes were collected and, for the record, my partner gave BHT 1,000.
I gave nothing.

The extended Thai Family went the night before and gave an envelope containing BHT 500


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The usual process unfolded. Most attendees wear black/white or a combination of both*

Miss A wore what looked to me like the attire a dental assistant would wear, drab, off white semi corporate style dress. Apparently it's sort of the standard uniform, given her position.

The traditional white paper flower was given to everyone.


There was a MC and an immaculately dressed Naval officer with a black arm band doing all the floor work.

The guests were invited, formally one at a time or in groups (the elite) to collect their tribute to the departed mum. Also, they bought/offered each Monk a new orange robe.

Surprising, well, for me anyway, some of the guests and the Navy dude continued to wear their shoes inside the temple. My perfectly polished Italian leathers were on display amongst the heathens flip-flops at the Temple boundary.


Once that list was exhausted, the MC cranked up again, a Puumpuui pubescent girl screeched her way through some song ... I was hoping for just the first verse and chorus ... but no ... she paid full respect to the song, sadly the same can't be said for my eardrums.
BTW ... I'm not casting any stones in the direction of glass houses as my singing voice was once likened to the sound of 'Geese Farts on a Foggy Morning' ...


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More MC'ing ... then the Chanting ... maybe 10 + mins. Some time sitting, some time standing. I simply cast my eyes to the floor. No-one expects a white guy to be pitch perfect in these situations, so I just try and show respect for the tradition.

OH, backtracking a little, I was surprised or reminded just the level of freedom the kids enjoy. Not mine, but Miss A's boy was running amok and the other kids weren't far behind. I tried to keep my kids in tow, but eventually gave in and handed the reins over to the squeeze and let her set the level of discipline which was appropriate. Our kids did well ... maybe I'm a bit strict for Thailand.
Either way, I chilled.


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After the chanting finished, some bla bla from the MC, everyone stands and start to form the queue to place the white flower on the coffin.

This time, I declined, assuming the kids would stay with me and mum would toddle off, but the kids were keen and I stayed on my tod.

This is where this particular funeral differed from the others inso much as usually the casket is on display but moved to the burn house/chapel prior to the actual burn day.
This time, not.
So the flowers were placed on the coffin (it's no big deal, just go with the flow if you've never done it before) and off you shuffle.

What did give that 'moment of disquiet' was watching the many pallbearers attempting to hoist the coffin (and every funeral I've been to, the coffin is white) hoist the coffin on their shoulders, navigate the door threshold and the low door lintel and not have the coffin lid pop off and the contents on display.

Buddha, thankfully steadied the ship and the egress was effected successfully and the march proceeded to the burn house/temple.

Three times anti-clockwise round the Temple and up a few stairs to the final resting placed before someone lit the BBQ.

No disrespect, but we made it once round the temple and stopped to chat to folks we know.

That's about it.

Afterwards, we returned to the Temple, had a chat with Miss A (lovely lassie) and said our fond farewells.


* If the departed have reached the ripe old age of 100, then apparently, the most colourfull garb is worn to celebrate the life passing. Think Songran on Steroids ... a relative Rastafarian Rainbow of Colours ... apparently.


I'll write up the Monk Ceremony next ... just have to gather my thoughts and the media from the day.


Hope that helps a few who haven't been to a funeral before to know what to expect.

[Chico]

I believe this is the cheapest time of the year to become a monk,we had a procession couple of days ago and there was around ten locals becoming monks.

All dressed in frilly katoey clothing.