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TonyT's third Thailand blog:
Page 8
SURIN & PHANOM DONG RAK
SATURDAY 19th: Our last full day with my Thai family. A big party was organised to say a farewell to Aom, Jack and myself. It was a farewell from PDR, but in fact we were still going to be in Thailand for almost a further 3 weeks.
This party actually began, in true Thai style, at around 8:00am with a group of Aunts appearing with food and food preparation bits and pieces and to get the charcoal burners and enormous barbecue fired-up.
Weather was now back to hot and sunny with temperatures in the mid 30's. By 09:00 most of the huge family of at least 30-40 people had arrived and the feasting began soon after. The alcohol was there but way too early for me. Food of all types, much of not to my taste I'm afraid, but what I did eat was delicious.
Aom, Jack and I were given a traditional Thai blessing ceremony called Baci [see below] for safe travel and good health. By 14:00 the party was still going strong and people were still here drinking at 22:00. All very very traditional.
Baci is a phi ritual used to celebrate important events and occasions, like births and marriages and also entering into the monkhood, departing, returning, beginning a new year, and welcoming or bidding etc. The ritual of the baci involves tying strings around a person’s wrist to preserve good luck, and has become a national custom.
During the Baci ceremony, a white (symbolizes purity) thread of silk or cotton is tied on the right hand wrist of the individual who is being wished for his well being and good luck and also around the wrists of all guests who assemble to wish a person. The thread is first knotted before tying on the wrist of the person to be blessed and other guests. Before the thread is tied, the hand is held chest high as a mark of respect. The white thread is symbolic of “peace, harmony, good fortune, good health and human warmth and community". The thread is worn by an individual normally for a minimum of three days and is untied thereafter (thread is not to be cut). Recommended practice is to allow the thread to fall off on its own. In recent times, the thread in yellow, red and black colours are also used representing particular occasion; red symbolizing bravery, yellow representing faith and black sharing a person’s loss or grief.
There is also a legend that links the cotton thread's significance to a successful and happy married life. In Laos, where a traditional way of life is of trust on beliefs and superstitions, a marriage ceremony has a special link to an ancient legend and to the thread tying ceremony of the Baci celebration. According to their legend, marriages are predetermined in heaven by what is termed as nene or "Love Karma" (destiny). In the heavenly garden, each individual has a tree with branches cuddling to the soul of his or her life partner. Eventually such pre-destined intertwined trees move to earth as human beings with their wrists tied together by a cotton thread. In the process of their coming to the earth, the cotton thread binding them is severed by “wind of scissors” and they are born on earth as separate individuals. Once born on the earth, they search for their soul mates and when they find them they marry, and by performing the Baci ceremony they are rejoined by tying the symbolic cotton thread. If the cotton thread so tied remains intact for three days then the marriage is considered fortunate and lucky for the couple.
When Aom and I married, albeit in UK, and on our return to Thailand we were subjected to this ceremony. It was, frankly, very moving.
TOP LEFT: Aom with college friend, Bom.
TOP RIGHT: Meow with Jack.
SECOND: All good friends from their school days. L-to-R; Aom, Kik, Sar and Meow.
THIRD: They all descended on us for a party. L-to-R; Cat, Sar (Cat's sister), Meow, Kik and Aom. Right hand photo additions are Jack and me.
BOTTOM LEFT: My Thai Family: L-to-R; Joe (Aom's youngest brother), Somjit, Jack, Chet, Aom and James.
BOTTOM RIGHT: James preparing a course for dinner; he's a very good cook.
Below is a movie snip of what would be a totally irresponsible and illegal act in UK. But out in deepest, darkest Surin, there's no other way to get about and there's not a crash helmet to be found anywhere.
SUNDAY 20th: Out of bed by 06:00 and started to pack ready to leave PDR. Left it a bit late but shouldn't be a problem. The day dawned hot and sunny.
Originally the taxi I'd arranged to take us to Bangkok was planned for 12:00 noon but I contacted the driver to ask if he could get here sooner so's we could arrive in Bangkok in daylight. In the end he arrived at 09:45.
Very sad farewell with loads of tears from Aom's Mum and Dad. They'd really taken a shine to baby Jack and most of the tears were for seeing him be taken away with his parents. A few family photos [see [see above] and we were on our way.
The journey to the capital was uneventful and we made our apartment there in just under 6 hours. We were in our apartment for only one night as we were flying out of Don Muang Airport (Bangkok's original) at 10 the following morning. Because we had Jack with us and the early start it was a first for me in that it's my first visit to Bangkok without entering a bar!!
Aom and sleepy Jack in our taxi from Surin to Bangkok.
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SURIN & PHANOM DONG RAK
SATURDAY 19th: Our last full day with my Thai family. A big party was organised to say a farewell to Aom, Jack and myself. It was a farewell from PDR, but in fact we were still going to be in Thailand for almost a further 3 weeks.
Baci is a phi ritual used to celebrate important events and occasions, like births and marriages and also entering into the monkhood, departing, returning, beginning a new year, and welcoming or bidding etc. The ritual of the baci involves tying strings around a person’s wrist to preserve good luck, and has become a national custom. TOP LEFT: Aom with college friend, Bom. TOP RIGHT: Meow with Jack. SECOND: All good friends from their school days. L-to-R; Aom, Kik, Sar and Meow. THIRD: They all descended on us for a party. L-to-R; Cat, Sar (Cat's sister), Meow, Kik and Aom. Right hand photo additions are Jack and me. BOTTOM LEFT: My Thai Family: L-to-R; Joe (Aom's youngest brother), Somjit, Jack, Chet, Aom and James. BOTTOM RIGHT: James preparing a course for dinner; he's a very good cook. Below is a movie snip of what would be a totally irresponsible and illegal act in UK. But out in deepest, darkest Surin, there's no other way to get about and there's not a crash helmet to be found anywhere.
SUNDAY 20th: Out of bed by 06:00 and started to pack ready to leave PDR. Left it a bit late but shouldn't be a problem. The day dawned hot and sunny.
This party actually began, in true Thai style, at around 8:00am with a group of Aunts appearing with food and food preparation bits and pieces and to get the charcoal burners and enormous barbecue fired-up.
Weather was now back to hot and sunny with temperatures in the mid 30's. By 09:00 most of the huge family of at least 30-40 people had arrived and the feasting began soon after. The alcohol was there but way too early for me. Food of all types, much of not to my taste I'm afraid, but what I did eat was delicious.
Aom, Jack and I were given a traditional Thai blessing ceremony called Baci [see below] for safe travel and good health. By 14:00 the party was still going strong and people were still here drinking at 22:00. All very very traditional.
During the Baci ceremony, a white (symbolizes purity) thread of silk or cotton is tied on the right hand wrist of the individual who is being wished for his well being and good luck and also around the wrists of all guests who assemble to wish a person. The thread is first knotted before tying on the wrist of the person to be blessed and other guests. Before the thread is tied, the hand is held chest high as a mark of respect. The white thread is symbolic of “peace, harmony, good fortune, good health and human warmth and community". The thread is worn by an individual normally for a minimum of three days and is untied thereafter (thread is not to be cut). Recommended practice is to allow the thread to fall off on its own. In recent times, the thread in yellow, red and black colours are also used representing particular occasion; red symbolizing bravery, yellow representing faith and black sharing a person’s loss or grief.
There is also a legend that links the cotton thread's significance to a successful and happy married life. In Laos, where a traditional way of life is of trust on beliefs and superstitions, a marriage ceremony has a special link to an ancient legend and to the thread tying ceremony of the Baci celebration. According to their legend, marriages are predetermined in heaven by what is termed as nene or "Love Karma" (destiny). In the heavenly garden, each individual has a tree with branches cuddling to the soul of his or her life partner. Eventually such pre-destined intertwined trees move to earth as human beings with their wrists tied together by a cotton thread. In the process of their coming to the earth, the cotton thread binding them is severed by “wind of scissors” and they are born on earth as separate individuals. Once born on the earth, they search for their soul mates and when they find them they marry, and by performing the Baci ceremony they are rejoined by tying the symbolic cotton thread. If the cotton thread so tied remains intact for three days then the marriage is considered fortunate and lucky for the couple.
When Aom and I married, albeit in UK, and on our return to Thailand we were subjected to this ceremony. It was, frankly, very moving.
Very sad farewell with loads of tears from Aom's Mum and Dad. They'd really taken a shine to baby Jack and most of the tears were for seeing him be taken away with his parents. A few family photos [see [see above] and we were on our way.
The journey to the capital was uneventful and we made our apartment there in just under 6 hours. We were in our apartment for only one night as we were flying out of Don Muang Airport (Bangkok's original) at 10 the following morning. Because we had Jack with us and the early start it was a first for me in that it's my first visit to Bangkok without entering a bar!!
Aom and sleepy Jack in our taxi from Surin to Bangkok.
Next > or Go To Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 - 9 10 11 12 13