Dec
4
Blessing of The Hut
December 4, 2007 |
So the day arrived. Nan tickled me out of bed around 6:30am, pushed me into the shower and then we had breakfast and cleaned the house. Tui and Pun arrived soon after, and we motored down to Satuek to do some food and drink shopping for the party.
At the market in Satuek, we got enormous quantities of vegetables, pork, beer and some bottles of Lao kao, loaded it all on to Tui’s pick up truck and headed home. But Nan worried that we had not bought enough meat, so we made a couple of roadside stops to get some more on the way home.
Back home we arrived to find the yard full of people, ready to chop vegetables and meat and start the cooking. As usual in these village parties, the cooking and the preparations are half the party. With people coming and going, helping out for a while, having a beer, trading gossip and generally having loads of good old fashioned sanuk.
So soon pots where set up over fires, and the barbecue started, bottles of beer and lao kao where opened, and the place was a beehive of activity.
While we where away, people had set up prayer flags on all corners of the house, and gone to the village Wat to borrow all the pots, pans, glasses, spoons and everything else needed. It was fascinating to see. Almost like a well oiled machine. These people know how to work together, and everyone had a role, and knew what to do. While I basically just wandered around, helped with some lifting here, and carrying stuff there. But mostly was in the way.
Just before 5, a bunch of the menfolk started up their motosais, and took off to bring in the monks. Who arrived shortly after. Me and Nan had a quick shower and change, and when that was done the monks were already seated and ready. So we plunged right into the first part of the ceremonial stuff.
At that time there was about 50-60 people seated inside and outside the house. This part of the ceremony was over fairly quickly. Some chanting by the monks that went on for about 15-20 minutes. And then they all left, going to the village Wat. We made no offerings now, as the Monks can’t eat anything after 12am.
Anyway, the party continued, and after the monks left, it was food time. It was all delicious, and I don’t know how many different dishes, as I was stuffed after about 3 of them. As usual there was lot’s of laughs as I ate, and surprised faces as people discovered that the farang is eating Isaan food!
After eating one team started cleaning, while another wen’t one with the cooking for the next day. While the good old boys, when not press ganged by the women to carry stuff, or slaughter a chicken, sat down around the fire and had some more Lao Kao.
Around 8pm, it was time to get the kids in bed, as they had to go to school the next morning. So I was assigned that job. Now getting a bunch of 6-10 year olds to actually do that is no easy task. Especially when they are hypered up on coca cola, chocolate and as many cartoons on TV they can manage.
But surprisingly it was just to switch off the TV, make some teeth brushing motions, point at the bathroom, and in no time the 6-7 kids that where sleeping over here where in their night stuff and under blankets. Well, Heart did voice his opinion, but one stern look from mama Nan who came in to see how I was doing, stopped him in his tracks. So soon the kids where all sleeping.
The cooking continued though for a while longer, but around 10, Mae herself announced that she was tired, and some of the Aunts soon retired into the house to sleep. And people went home. Me and Nan had a quick shower and also wen’t to bed.
At 3 am my alarm clock wen’t off, and we woke up to a house with sleeping people everywhere. But before we had brushed our teeth, cooking fires where restarted outside, and sleeping kids where moved to our bed and the sofa, so floors could be cleaned. The Monks where due to arrive around 6.30am to do the actual blessing of the house.
Which they did. So again there was a lot of people. Even more than the day before. With lots of ladies sitting outside with rice offerings to the monks.
Anyway there was a short chanting session, then we trooped outside where the monks alms bowls where set up on a table.
Me and Nan started the alms giving by putting some banana leaf wrapped sweets, a banana and a coin in each alms bowl lid, and some rice in the bowl itself. Then it was inside where we offered an envelope with some money and a bucket filled with torches, soap, sweets, shaving kits etc to each monk. They were also served their breakfast
After that it was again to kneel in a Wai position, while the monks sprayed us, all the guests and every room in the house with holy water. I think they did the same outside. This was followed up by another chanting session. And that was it. The monks wen’t home, and the hut was blessed.
Now it was time for some serious breakfast eating. And everyone ate with a gusto. The best breakfast I’ve had since I came here.
It was all over by 10am, and within 30 minutes everything was cleaned, and stuff borrowed from the Wat carted back.
Right now Nan has passed out on the sofa. And I think I’ll join her.
That’s it!
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Comments
1 Comment so far
Hey Rune. Great blog and great pictures as well.
Sounded like a really good two days and all went really well.
I hope you enjoy a few days relaxing in your newly blessed house.
You actually didn’t say too much about how much you had to drink. Must have been a good boy, on your best behaviour for Miss Nan.
Luckily your Aussie mate wasn’t there or it would have been colourful and interesting I am sure.