Tuesday 17 March 2009

Today It Was Juu's Birthday And He Was Getting His House Blessed,

we arrived just before the monks, in case you do not know 9 monks are the usual number to came to a house blessing or birthday, as we arrived the spirit house had been carefully decorated,
then the monks arrived and began chanting,
Juu, family and friends all praying in Juu's living room,
the ladies of the house start cooking food for the monks and guests before first light, tables full of food,
the chanting lasts for a couple of hours,
I sort of liked this shot, the sunlight is lighting this monks back and then reflecting against the wall, the trouble is I did not want to use a flash and I guess if I did to lighten the monks face I would have lost the back light, I really needed a tripod and a 5 shot under/over exposure bracket of shots then combine them in Photoshop,
after the chanting the abbot goes outside and puts blessings over the doors to bring I guess good luck to those that enter and/or live here,
gold leaf and white paint are applied by hand,
double doors so both sides have to be done,
close up of the blessing,
Diana beneath the double doors,
both blessings,
then after the monks had finished eating the guests were servered, lots of food!
Diana by the fish pond,
these are new to me, friends of Juu's from his home town brought them down, I do not know what they are called but they tasted like newly shelled green peas, very nice as I have always like eating fresh green peas!
of course a lot of the boys and girls from Champions called in,
to wish Juu well and have a game or two of pool,
but it was only a matter of time before Mr. Sleep paid a call,
or two!
then a long time friend Marcel called in to wish Juu a happy birthday,
in and outside of Juu's home there are lots of these murals that he has brought down from Korat, well we had a lovely day at Juu's then it was home to 388, happy birthday Juu!
before we left Jay and Precil called so it was a few more drinks at 388, "Cheers!"

No comments: