In Bangkok, Thailand? Here’s a Great Way to Start 2018!
Well, the holidays have passed, and although you feel blessed to have spent Christmas and New Years in Bangkok, you feel a little letdown and would like to do something special to start off 2018. I have a great idea for you, and it will only cost around $25. Okay, this may sound strange to you, but here it goes: How about donating a simple wooden coffin to a poor soul who died and his body was not claimed or identified? See, I told you it was a bit strange. However, it will start your new year with a feeling like no other, you’ll have the experience of participating in a small Thai merit-making ritual, and the memory will stay with you the whole year if not for the rest of your life. Talk about paying it forward!
To get started, take the MRT (Bangkok’s subway) to the Sam Yan Station and walk out using Exit #1. You’ll see the temple Wat Hua Lampong which houses the Ruamkatanyu Foundation and Taoist Shrine. Alternately you could have a Thai friend or someone at the hotel write the name Ruamkatanyu Foundation in Thai and take a taxi. Better still, invite a Thai friend to come with you and show you how to perform the ritual. Failing that, I’ll give you a brief description and this along with a little observation should be fine.
Merit making at the Taoist Shrine of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand (Image from the 180books.org Photo Collection by George Edward Giunca)
Upon entering the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, head to the main counter where a donation of 500 Baht buys a coffin and a cloth for the body. Short on cash? No problem, you can donate whatever amount you want, just write the amount on the pink slip of paper they provide and pay at the counter. They will give you the pink paper and a yellow tax-deductible receipt. Next, take the pink paper and paste it onto one of the simple wooden coffins. After that, take 20 incense sticks from the table and light them from the flames of the butter lamps. Next to the lamp, and around the room, you’ll see several small Taoist shrines with a number and a little urn. Walk around the area in a clockwise direction and place the number of incense sticks indicated into each small urn. Take your time, say a few prayers if you’d like, and be mindful of what you are doing so you can remember it later.
At the end of your session, strike the drum and ring the bell three times. You’ll notice that most Thais burn the tax-deductible receipt before leaving, but it’s okay to take it with you as a souvenir. And there you have it!
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Blog : Thai by Apisatha Hussadee Giunca
Blog : English by George Edward Giunca
About the Authors
Photographer George Edward Giunca, and his Thai wife, Apisatha, have traveled around Thailand armed with a circular fisheye lens to create a photo essay on the rich cultural diversity, and abundant natural beauty of the Kingdom of Thailand. Fleeing from angry water buffaloes, slapping huge mosquitoes, watching exotic festivals and religious rituals, gorging on delicious spicy food, applying aloe vera cream to sunburned skin, wading through rice paddies, getting drenched to the bone by heavy monsoon rains, and gawking at breath-taking scenery; made it a journey of epic proportions! The result is the book, THAILAND 180º. Later, they traveled extensively through Myanmar, Malaysia, and India, gathering a massive collections of 180º photos. They currently live in Chiang Mai where they continue to blog and are now working on a CHIANG MAI 180º book.
Here’s How to Order Your Copy of THAILAND 180º Collectors EditionToday!
In Thailand —>>>http://www.thailand180.com/thaiorder.html
The Rest of the world: We are offering our book on Amazon.com, below list price and I’ll pay for the shipping within the United States! http://amzn.to/1knDPRR
Not Familiar with Our Book???
This show details the origin of 180 Books, a series of art/travel books illustrated with a circular fisheye lens. By using infographics, pictures from our THAILAND 180º book, and never seen before images from our vault, we’ll demonstrate this unique lens and present our unique books.
Also, because there’s nothing to watch on TV, here’s a trailer about our book, “THAILAND 180”
