Nui Becomes a Monk

For my American friends... Buddhists may be ordained as monks for as long as life or for as little as a day or a week.  One of my work associates with whom I am quite close chose to be ordained for three weeks today.  I thought some of you would like to see how this is done.  I will describe the process with my limited knowledge...

Dressed in simple white clothing, Nui prepares to present himself as a prospective monk.

Take a good look at the hair.  It will not be there long!

Friends and family are invited to snip off a lock of hair.

Taking my turn.

Hope snips a chunk off, too.

A monk does the real work with a razor.

No going back now!

Almost done!

Now dressed in a white robe, Nui poses with his mother and father.

And with his work friends

Nui with Jib and Eam (his project leader at work.)

With his friends Sert and Hope.

Nui with his girlfriend, Eve.

He appears at the front of the temple and throws flower petals and ribbons with coins attached.

The crowd tries to catch all the ribbons they can.

Now in the orange robe he will wear for three weeks, he presents himself for ordination.

He sits with an older monk while a group of monks chant.

Waiting to take his 'vows.'

The front of the ornate temple.

Two older monks chant their part of the vows.   Nui has to reply in Pali, the ancient language used at the time of the Buddha.

He presents himself to the abbot, the lead monk at the temple.

Phra Nui, a monk for the next three weeks.

TRAC team outing to Pran Buri

Several weeks ago, the TRAC team took an extended outing to Pran Buri, near the seashore, just south of the resort town of Hua Hin.  It was a GREAT trip with great folks.

We stopped at a temple along the way that was home to more monkeys than you could count.  Several were carrying their babies with them.

The temple was built into the side of a mountain.

Inside the temple.

A big, home cooked seafood meal!  Fresh fish, shrimp and crabs, hot off the grill!

Afterward, Chut (sporting his North Carolina gear) and Hope provided the music.

Chut was sent to the US by DST last Spring.  I went back to visit while he was there.  The highlight of the trip was traveling to Chapel Hill to visit the University of North Carolina and to watch their first round NCAA tournament games in Greensboro.  I took Jason and his son Jayben, of course, but I happened to have four tickets to the game and a lot of frequent flier miles for free airline tickets, so I invited Chut to go with us. We had a great time and I made a UNC "disciple!"

Not sure what kind of monkey this is, but he (or she) sure is cute.

We went to a local national park and explored for a while.

The water was full of jellyfish.  I was told this kind was not dangerous.  I hope so, because I grabbed one up!

The trip was on the weekend of a big Buddhist holiday.  People came to temples from all around to "make merit" by leaving donations.

On the way home, we stopped at a small amusement park.  Chut and Hope just HAD to try the bungee cord ride.  That is them WAYYYY up there.

Chut on the left, Hope on the right.

With Sert, waiting for the others to join us.

Another popular request is for food photos, as Thai food and American food are so different.  I have grown to love true Thai cooking so much, I don't know how I will survive when I return to the US!

Som tom bpla.  Som tom is one of the most traditional and best loved Thai dishes, a form of papaya salad.  This is a little different.  Som tom bpla is made with fermented fish, and is most popular in the northeast.  It has a very strong smell and taste, and most Thais from Bangkok can't stand it, but I LOVE it.  This dish was ordered especially for me.  You can tell because they know I love extra spicy food, and this is loaded with red hot chillis.

Shredded catfish deep fried and crispy.

Grilled shrimp.  We eat a LOT of shrimp here, and all kinds of sea food is plentiful.

Grilled crab.

On a recent outing, Jib grills pork, a fish, and shrimp for the team.

The TRAC group went to Khao Yai recently also.  A different resort from the one I went to with Full Service, and, of course, a different team, so it was a very different trip and much fun.

Starting the trip well, with a delicious lunch.

Nui relaxes after a big lunch.

The team posing at Smokehouse, a favorite photo taking spot in Khao Yai.

Interesting sculpture at our resort.

When you arrive, the towels are all folded as elephants!

Playing "Slave," a card game I learned on the trip.

Super-Sert shows me how to play.

I have been told I resemble Colonel Sanders.  Remind me not to grow a goatee!

Dinner at a GREAT riverside restaurant.

Nan explores the area near the water wheel at the resort.

Nan, me, and Hope.

Live entertainment at the floating market.

The floating market almost became a REAL floating market after a downpour of rain.  Here, the team waits for the rain to stop so we can get to our van and go home.

Posing with Jo.