Andy's Asia - Life in the Village

S ince not much is actually happening with me in the village these days, I persuaded my wife to take a drive around our town with the specific goal of getting some photos from our second closest temple. This temple is called Wat Gaid Kaeo; no doubt there are other possible ways to transliterate these words, but this is the closest I can come. This temple complex is rather larger than ours with some pretty impressive buildings. All the local men/boys who want to become temporary monks must first register at this temple before going to their local temple to begin their stay. On a Monday afternoon, the complex was pretty empty, though yes, I did wear my mask. The monks were no doubt staying out of the heat. One of the reasons we chose to go on Monday was that our electric was going to be ‘out’ for most of the day due to some upgrades. This meant not only no A/C but no fans. Enjoy the photos. As always ALL photos were taken by me unless specifically noted.

As I mentioned in my last post, a huge part of Songkran is about family. While Songkran in general was subdued, it went on with individual families. Buddhas in homes were washed and families met in small groups. Younger family members showed respect to elders by a symbolic pouring water on their hands. Normally in our village all the elders are seated in a long line and the younger ones go past each one and show their respect. This year we could not due to the social distancing regulations. In Thailand there seem to be different definitions and interpretations of essential services. The normal essentials are open such as grocery stores and pharmacies, but many others things go on as if there was no virus. Construction continues, for new homes, roads, businesses, wells, furniture and anything else that would go on during normal times. Construction supply stores, motorcycle sales and repair shops are open. Other than restaurants and bars, very few places are actually cl

I f you live in Thailand you are no doubt aware that the celebration of Songkran has been canceled due to Covid-19. From Wikipedia: “ The Songkran celebration is rich with symbolic traditions. Mornings begin with merit-making . Visiting local temples and offering food to the Buddhist monks is commonly practiced. On this specific occasion, performing water pouring on Buddha statues and the young and elderly is a traditional ritual on this holiday. It represents purification and the washing away of one's sins and bad luck. As a festival of unity, people who have moved away usually return home to their loved ones and elders. Paying reverence to ancestors is an important part of Songkran tradition. The holiday is known for its water festival. Major streets are closed to traffic, and are used as arenas for water fights. Celebrants, young and old, participate in this tradition by splashing water on each other.”  Traditional parades are held in most villages . The parad