Sunday, February 21, 2016

Lunch for the Monks , Wat Phra Phutthabat & a funeral

Well, we got lost getting to the temple but made great time! Sumana has a GPS but she said this morning we have two GPS's as we have two mouths. Mine does not do any good here. Not sure where the real GPS is but we eventually arrived.
Sumana stopped a truck that was behind us and asked him where the temple was, luckily he was going there as well so we just followed him. It was a secondary road with an S turn every 200 meters and not in the best of shape.  When we arrived the monks were meditating so we had to be silent. We unloaded the cars and headed for the kitchen. A beehive of activity. While waiting one of the junior monks helpers asked me if I wanted to see the waterfalls. It beat sitting on the bamboo mat on the floor so off we went. Now, it is dry season here and I asked "is there water"? - "yes, seven waterfalls" was the answer. So, the three of us started out but Sumana quit when she saw how steep the climb was. His English was not that great but he was able to say  "caution" when we were crossing an iffy section.  After about thirty minutes we arrived to see a spectacular dry waterfall!!
Oh well! We went back a much easier and much safer way than we had gone up, don't know why. When we got back the women were still preparing food. Once it was all ready we had to kneel at the table and cup our hands under the table showing that we are giving this food to the monks. The senior monks came in first with their own bowls then the mediation monks then the students. Once they were all finished - about 80 of them, we got the left overs served in the kitchen, on the floor.
Unloading the food into a cart, headed for the kitchen.

Someone else also brought pre-packaged goodies!

Hard at work preparing.

On the way to the waterfalls.

Statue at the falls.

Dry as a bone!

Mediating monks.


The Spread!


Purplish coloured rice - they called it brown rice, there were three kinds of rice.

Dessert

More desserts, sticky rice with mango's, watermelon & durian.

Senior monks entering.

Monks in meditation training.


Main dishes, brown eggs and Sumanas soup.
Taking lunch to the monks was a pretty special event that not your average tourist would ever get to see or experience. I feel pretty fortunate to have had the opportunity to partake in this.
When we delivered our food we had to honour /dedicate it to someone and make a wish for them. I honoured my mother for her strength and for her support . I wished her continued good health and happiness! You're the best ever Mom!

After lunch we drove up to Wat Phra Phutthabat. It is one of the oldest Wats, discovered in the early 17th century.  According to Wikipedia it is "one of the six temples of the highest grade of the first class Royal Temples."  It is a footprint of Buddha that he left when he walked from Thailand to Burma. The people buy gold leaf paper and put it on the ball in front of the first temple or on the side of his footprint in another building further up the mountain. A great site to see.

Pretty spectacular






Inside, all the Thais taking selfies!

Gold ball, supposed to bring good luck.


The footprint of Buddha.


Pup of the day!

Sign of the day!

We returned back to Sumanas about 6 pm and then promptly left again for a funeral of a friends mother. Pretty crazy getting there as it was right downtown and of course it is the Sunday market. Streets closed, no parking as usual and people everywhere. We finally made it. A little different as there was a photographer present, I did not understand a word but the monks chanting was cool.  We hadn't eaten since lunch but luckily as we left the funeral we were given a box of cookies and water!  Off to bed after a very long but very awesome day! Tomorrow is Buddha day - a national holiday!



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