• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Asia, Travel
/
April 22, 2015

Almsgiving to the monks Chiang Khan

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

There is one vivid memory that has stayed with me since my return from the small Northern village of Chiang Khan in Thailand.

It’s of the morning when I had to get up around 5 to prepare myself for the ceremonial offerings to the monks. Chiang Khan is not a particularly bustling place, especially during the early spring nor is it hot in temperature. In fact, the morning air was chilly – or rather, comfortable for me, chilly for the locals, and the streets were quiet.

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravelChiang Khan in the early morning.

As I walked out of my hotel, I could see small groups gathering with their offerings. Some vendors lined up to sell them, though many locals simply cook their own.

Thailand_GirlGoneTravel Thailand_GirlGoneTravelThis is a daily ritual, one that takes place at dawn. The food or alms are giving as the monks make their way to the temple. Residents line up along the path and wait for the monks to receive their offerings and in exchange, give them blessings.

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

They walk in order with the eldest monk, or he with more years in service, in the lead. They carry with them tins often wrapped in the same cloth and color as their robes. The monks don’t cook or shop, as their commitment is to prayer, community service, and learning. So it is the role of the community to provide for them in this way.

Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

Though offerings often consist of rice or fruit, there are times when they will receive something more unique; an offering that speaks more to the tastes of a departed beloved in exchange for a prayer and a blessing from the monk in that person’s honor and memory.

There’s a lot of waiting around at first.

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

But when you hear the bells and chants, something in the air shifts and the energy changes.

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

I thought it an honor to be invited to take part in this ceremony. I couldn’t understand the blessings that the monks bestowed on me, but it felt rewarding to give back a little something to a community that opened itself up to my experiencing their culture to the fullest.

Thailand_GirlGoneTravelI highly recommend taking part in this experience when visiting Thailand. It might also help to ask a local guide to explain and maybe teach you what to say during the offering, as well as after, and to give you a translation of what the blessings are. But, even if you don’t have access to a guide, do take the time to take part. One other thing I noticed was how grateful the locals present were with the gesture. And there’s nothing more rewarding than that.

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

Monks in Thailand_GirlGoneTravel

 

Photography is property of the publisher and may not be used without consent of GirlGoneTravel.com

 

Disclosure: My first trip to Asia was sponsored by Thailand Tourism and their partners, and I was invited to experience what they have in store for those planning to attend this year’s TBEX Asia conference in October of 2015. All opinions are my own.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
2 Comments
  • thebritishberliner
    April 25, 2015

    Lovely photos Carol and how lucky that you were able to see it.
    The art of giving and sharing with monks is taken very seriously in Thailand. We went to Chiang Mai and even though we weren’t able to take part in this particular ceremony, we did go to various temples and were shown how to pray and participate in some of the rituals.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      thebritishberliner
      April 27, 2015

      Thank you! I was very lucky to have experienced it.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Visiting Thailand and Cruising the Mekong River
Next Post
Getting a Trademark: The Why and How

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America313 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

Around this time last year we secluded ourselves i Around this time last year we secluded ourselves in our half renovated home in the Finger Lakes unsure of what the future held for so many of us and our loved ones. In a way, we felt isolated from the world...but also from our friends and family.

So much has happened in a year. So much to reflect on. So much gratitude.

Not sure how to process a year of this so I’m just holding on to all the positives - the closeness we’ve nurtured as a family. The incredible rediscovery of friendships, and the fierce protection of the same. The reminder of what matters most and the vulnerability of life.

The incredible fortune of this beautiful place of serenity and solace. Though I am eager to share it with friends again soon.
.
.
.
#lifeduringcovid19 #fingerlakes #myflx #countryliving #farmhouse #upstateny
Today we found out that Centerway Square, Corning, Today we found out that Centerway Square, Corning, NY’s public square was voted Best Public Square in the U.S. 2021 by USA Today @10best.

It felt appropriate to go and enjoy it on this beautiful evening. The added treat however, was in the amazing food and wine experience at the newly opened @thequincyexchange bistro only steps away!

The ambiance, the food, the service, the wine. 😚👌🏾

There’s so much awesome happening in the region, and I love how Corning is catering to both the local and visitor experience.

Make sure you stop here when visiting our beloved NY wine country.
.
.
.
#myflx #corningny #winecountry #fingerlakes #roadtrip #bestintheUS
Another snowy day. I do have to say, I love them. Another snowy day. I do have to say, I love them. I think they are blissful and pretty, and inspire me to want to make the yummiest dishes.
Started our day in nature and all is right with th Started our day in nature and all is right with the world.
.
.
.
#fingerlakes #myflx #countryhouse #naturelover #snowday
Our very first Valentine’s Day together was our Our very first Valentine’s Day together was our second date after we met. Up until that moment I never celebrated the holiday, even if I was seeing someone, except with girlfriends which was the only way I tolerated any of it. But this time, it felt like a thing to do because I had just met this guy that I really, REALLY liked and he had planned a night out. 

I was a single mom, and my oldest (then 4) was supposed to be with his dad - who called last minute to say he would be late. So, I had to bring him to the restaurant with me, on our second date (!) because reservations were tight (we were also going to watch a concert after).

As we were ordering dinner (to go for my kid), my ex shows up and instead of taking my son and leaving, he decides to pull up a chair and sit and embarrass me in such awful ways. After dinner, as we paid the bill, he got up, took our son, and said goodbye, pretty convinced he had done the damage he came to do.

I quietly got in the cab with @travisjcain and just broke out into ugly crying. Convinced this really nice guy, that I really liked, had seen enough and would never call again.

But he did. And he never left my side. And though on that night we both agreed that Valentine’s Day is the worst, what we had was not and it has only gotten better since. So, though we don’t celebrate, that is the V Day love story that always makes me love him more. Happy Valentine’s Day, you crazy kids. Live life never doubting you are deserving of love and kindness, however it may come your way.
.
.
.
#ValentinesDay #LoveStories #coupleselfie
Escaped to further seclude ourselves in nature and Escaped to further seclude ourselves in nature and found an even more wintery wonderland.
.
.
.
@theflxcottage #farmhouse #vineyards #fingerlakes #myflx #upstateny #winterwonderland

Copyright © 2021 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice