Big Monk day, stuck in a puddle, and a wonderful meal. A good day.

Big Monk day, stuck in a puddle, and a wonderful meal. A good day.

We got up early and went to Big Monk day at one of the local Wats. I can not get clear which Wat the monks come from each morning. I think they might come from two or three different Wats. Anyway everybody prepared food and different families laid out there food on tables around the Wat. There was a small float and as the float circled the temple people made donations. The monks were following and stopped at each table and accepted food from the families. It is, I think, part of the ending of the rainy season. It was pretty interesting. I was glad to go. I took many pictures, most of them with film, so pictures will be later. I think the idea was to give a meal, dessert, and a drink to each monk. It was very relaxed and informal.

Normally Monks make the rounds of the community to get their morning food. The Wat and the community must have a close relationship because without community support there would be no Wat.

One thing though, the dogs around the Wat were in terrible shape. Mange, very thin, with obvious physical problems. I would think that if a Wat respected life they would take care of the dogs that congregate around their Wat, but what do I know. It was pretty sad seeing some of the dogs.

We were invited to take a trip with the local family that we rode to the Wat, 12 people in the car. We went to the mouth of the Chao Phraya river. The name of the fort we visited was the Chulachomklao Fort Naval History Park and the HTMS Mae Khlong Museum. There was a decommissioned Thai destroyer that had been made into a monument. There was also a fort with old guns and a statue of Rama V. The Fort was near the mouth of the Chao Phraya river. We also had an excellent seafood lunch at the Park. The driver, Na Rong Rit, had forgotten his drivers license so he used Jit's. He said he was driving for Jit, it all worked out and we got into the Park.

On the way down we went through the flooded area again that we saw on Sunday. The flooding must not be from a storm, but from the tide in the river. Many areas were flooded. It looks like they are rebuilding the road and also putting in drainage. It was a muddy mess. The car stalled in a puddle and would not start. I thought it sounded bad. We got a mechanic and it turned out to be the battery. The engine sounded bad because it was a Diesel. I was already planning how we could take taxi's back, it would have taken three of them, but the mechanic fixed the car. We drove to the mechanic's shop and got a new battery. Everything worked out and it became an experience, not a problem.

At the mechanic's shop was a BBQ place that had pots of charcoal, they even provided delivery. When we were there a motorbike dropped one of the BBQ pots by the shop. I guess there is a market in the area in the evening.

One of our passengers was Jit's uncle, he is over 80. When we got to the mechanic's shop this little girl came out and said "Grandpa let me help you out." She took him by the hand and led him to a seat in the shade. We all laughed. The girl must have been about 5 or 6. It was great to see her values.

On the way back I saw the "Country City Study Centre "with a sub title "Study In Australia" the whole place looked pretty shabby, but it is a sign of the demand and desire for international education in Thailand.

Nuck is still in the hospital. She is supposed to be getting an operation on her thyroid. We heard that she is still waiting for the doctor to perform the operation. I hope everything turns out OK. She is a wonderful kid. Anybody that can teach me something is a pretty good teacher!!

When we got home we parked by the park gate. A motorbike shuttle was used to haul the kids and old people home. I did not qualify as an old person.

We got a call from Alaska, we do not know who it was, but they spoke Thai. It was not Surinam, because Jit's dad would recognize her, maybe Lumpoo or Tassanee. I worry when we get a call from Alaska.

A really great day that could have been a big stressful mess.