I think that today was the most beautiful day yet in Bangkok. Instead of smoggy, cloudy skies all day, we enjoyed an afternoon of Reno-like clouds and breeze. It was still very hot and muggy, and besides sweating a liter, it was great.
We woke up before 6 and were out of the house by 6:30 in order to go to a temple in Bangkok. What a difference it was from the forest temple, as about 50 people showed up with food to share. Instead of offering all of the food to the monks, we put a spoonful of rice into their alms bowl (which they mostly dumped back in to a big pot because they had too much) and then they got the rest of their food from the buffet line. Literally.
After the eldest monk blessed the food and all of us, he blessed some water in a pot/chalice-like cup that we each had as an offering so that "all people, dead or alive" would have food.
Ma and I then went on a bus for two hours to get to the other side of Bangkok to get to the Emerald Buddha Temple, which is probably the most revered temple in all of Thailand. It's main relic is a jade Buddha statue that was discovered in the 15th century (hence the name of the place, as all Thais call any green stone "emerald"), but there are many building, including a royal residence, a meeting area, pagodas with the ashes of former rulers, and a museum full of royal regalia and old coins.
At the museum, I learned that the king who is reigning in Thailand is the longest reining king that they have ever had (60 years this year!) and is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world right now. And let me tell you- the people here loooove him. Since I am from a country where democracy decides a new figurehead every 4 years, I don't easily identify with the regard that they have for him but actually I find it quite intriguing. Their dedication to him, however, was exemplified when Ma wanted to spend two hours in line to be one of fifty people allowed to buy two comemorative coins produced to celebrate His Majesty's 60th anniversary of his accension to the throne. Well, the two hours paid off, as we were the 50th people in line. She was so excited she screamed!
After that, we went to Chinatown and then I went with Tee to a Rotaract meeting which was very interesting mostly because their club is a university-based club and structured much differently than ours in Reno. Although it was unofficial, this was the first meeting of the new Rotary year. They are planning their first camp of the year (they have three every year- the 1st one is the shortest at 3 days, the 2nd is a week, and the 3rd is 14 or 16 days). They are in the first stages of deciding what their service project is going to be (most likely planting a mango farm in a nearby province) and will serve as a major recruitment tool in August.
We woke up before 6 and were out of the house by 6:30 in order to go to a temple in Bangkok. What a difference it was from the forest temple, as about 50 people showed up with food to share. Instead of offering all of the food to the monks, we put a spoonful of rice into their alms bowl (which they mostly dumped back in to a big pot because they had too much) and then they got the rest of their food from the buffet line. Literally.
After the eldest monk blessed the food and all of us, he blessed some water in a pot/chalice-like cup that we each had as an offering so that "all people, dead or alive" would have food.
Ma and I then went on a bus for two hours to get to the other side of Bangkok to get to the Emerald Buddha Temple, which is probably the most revered temple in all of Thailand. It's main relic is a jade Buddha statue that was discovered in the 15th century (hence the name of the place, as all Thais call any green stone "emerald"), but there are many building, including a royal residence, a meeting area, pagodas with the ashes of former rulers, and a museum full of royal regalia and old coins.
At the museum, I learned that the king who is reigning in Thailand is the longest reining king that they have ever had (60 years this year!) and is currently the longest reigning monarch in the world right now. And let me tell you- the people here loooove him. Since I am from a country where democracy decides a new figurehead every 4 years, I don't easily identify with the regard that they have for him but actually I find it quite intriguing. Their dedication to him, however, was exemplified when Ma wanted to spend two hours in line to be one of fifty people allowed to buy two comemorative coins produced to celebrate His Majesty's 60th anniversary of his accension to the throne. Well, the two hours paid off, as we were the 50th people in line. She was so excited she screamed!
After that, we went to Chinatown and then I went with Tee to a Rotaract meeting which was very interesting mostly because their club is a university-based club and structured much differently than ours in Reno. Although it was unofficial, this was the first meeting of the new Rotary year. They are planning their first camp of the year (they have three every year- the 1st one is the shortest at 3 days, the 2nd is a week, and the 3rd is 14 or 16 days). They are in the first stages of deciding what their service project is going to be (most likely planting a mango farm in a nearby province) and will serve as a major recruitment tool in August.
posted by Rebecca | 7:17 PM
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