A little update after the blog dust-ed

Reflection

An eye from the past

Lovely sky

Shade

Different

Journey

Cave

Do not 

A not-so-secret-beach in Krabi

Group shots with everyone!

Another group shot

Satisfaction

Friends

Friends

Boy to Man: Monk

According to the Thai's culture, in order for a boy to turn into a man, becoming a monk is part of the process. Becoming a monk in this stage has got one important message: That is, to thanks the parents for raising him from boy to man. They normally become a monk for a period of about 15 days.

I am honoured to have a chance to witness part of the process of the ceremony as I was invited to my colleague's spiritual ceremony. It was about 2-hour journey from Survanabhum airport. We reached there about 12pm and then, the ceremony begun.

1. Family members and relatives were invited to help the boy to cut the hair. It's the honour of the boy to receive blessings from his family and relatives this way. 

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3. There were loud musics playing all along and some people dance too!

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5. Khun Nu helped to cut his hair too. 

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8. The grandmother gave her blessings too. 

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12. Experienced shaver shaving the head...

13. ...while the relatives looked on.

14. Sometimes... misharps happened too. 

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17. After they get dressed, senior monk is ready to give his words of wisdoms and guidance. 

18. They listened tentatively. 

19. We then went for lunch. First time seeing such a big Coke glass bottle!

20. We went to a market near the border of Thai-Combodia... iPhoine spotted. For 2300 baht. 

21. I was ONE kilometer away from Combodia.

22. We then went back for dinner after shopping at the market. The family of the boy who are about to be a monk, treats everyone dinner. 

23. It's a big hall, with 40 tables. 

24. A quick snap!

25. Pictures taken during the afternoon were effectively produced into bantings.

26. Honourable people and family were invited to the stage to give some speech. OF COURSE, right after these there were entertainers to perform on stage too. 

27. My shot. 

It's feeling good to be able to start blending around. But I still need to learn to speak Thai as soon as possible or else, it'll be really difficult for me to blend even more.

A little updates from Thai.

Sawadeekap! Well, the update's a bit too slow but still, I finally have a little bit of time to keep my blog alive.

My first time using the SMART Tunnel, thanks to Wei Chun.

1. First up, peeps that I've met during CNY. 

2. I was on my way to Thailand already. Looking familiar? 

3. The second or third day I'm in BKK, my cousin brother Thomas brought me to one of the mountain whereby 释迦牟尼佛 used to have His teaching. Look at those 4WD's. It started with a thrilling ride up the mountain (half of the mountain) and if you're not careful, any single time you can just bounce out from the back seats. 

4. It started with prayers at the middle of the mountain, and it continued ALL THE WAY UP to the highest point. 

5. I stopped by at side to catch this shot. 

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7. A dimmed light shined the way for prayers.

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9. Due to some "inside connection", we got to go up the mountain once we arrived. HOWEVER, those other people, might have to wait half a day or more just to get a place to reach the mid-check point of the mountain. Thousands of people stopped at the side for a rest before continue hiking/decending. 

10. 3/4 check point. And it's about 3am. 

11. 7/8 Check point. This is where 释迦牟尼佛 sat back then. 

12. The big frame of the right is actually a potraiture of Thai King. 

13. After another 800m hike, I've finally decending. It was about 5am. Look at the crowd.

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15. On the decending path, there are stalls selling lotteries. 

16. Break of dawn.

17. About 6.30am, we had finally reached our transportation again. Look at the tip top of the mountain on the left, there was where I were. 

18. This, is the evening view from my office @ 6th floor. 

19. I was placed to stay with my colleague, Aod for a few days before getting my accomodation ready. Sunset view from his balcony.

20. Still, I missed this most. =) 

First time I'm seeing Waiters & Waitress dancing during peak hours in restaurant. MK Restaurant is a big brand in Thailand.

Had finally started working about 1 week. It's kind of okay still, but a lot of things to be learnt. The biggest problem of all is that, I can't speak Thai, yet. Like the saying goes, "The fastest way to pick up a foreign language is to get a local girlfriend".

**There are a few things I noticed in Thai & people.

1) I travelled to work in a "Song Diao", it's something like a small bus. No matter you're a guy or a girl, as long as  you're carrying a child, you will be given seat even if the "Song Diao" is packed like sardine can.

2) They are actually very nice people to talk to.

3) So far I still can't converse in Thai but of the things I've heard in their conversation, you can hardly raise your voice when you're speaking Thai. It just "doesn't allow" you to raise your voice, in a way.

More updates coming soon, I hope. =)