Every year, on my youngest sisters birthday, the family invite monks to the house to make merit. Work is off the agenda, but everyone mucks in to cook, clean, organise and be happy and social. This being little sister's 20th birthday means that this is probably the last occasion this type of ceremony will take place.
So I took the chance to take some footage of the day.
In the foreground, you can see one of the head monks melting candle wax into a pot of water; this is to bless the water so it can be used to bless the congregation.
After the chanting is finished, the food that has been prepared is given to the monks, who all tuck in and have a good lunch. There will be plenty leftover for everyone else after they have finished.
Finally, everyone has a little sing song to celebrate Noon's birthday, and she cuts the cake (warning: singing is included in this video)
Nice One. Who won the lousy singing contest? You or Por?
Posted by: Captain P | January 11, 2010 at 07:54 AM
i won hands down.
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | January 11, 2010 at 08:05 AM
Twenty years old... those were the days!
Congrats on your win, Ben :-)
Posted by: Catherine | January 12, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Why thank you Cat, in fairness to Jit, it was a close call...
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | January 12, 2010 at 12:14 PM
look forward to hearing your own personal Thai rendition of Happy Birthday, Ben, the next time there's b-day coming up - and that's mine coming up soon...
Posted by: Stephen C | January 13, 2010 at 06:21 AM
That's no problem Steve, I can sing all day long when I'm drinking cheap Thai lager.... Might be a problem for everyone else is the only thing...
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | January 13, 2010 at 07:24 AM