Daily Archives: November 23, 2005

How to Have Thai Manners 1

These pictures were taken at Sriwittayapaknam School in Samut Prakan. The students were taking part in a competition for Thai Manners. In this first set of pictures, the students are demonstrating the proper way to show repsect to a Buddha image. This is done in three stages.

In the top picture, the students first kneel down in front of the Buddha image and bring their hands up to chest level. They then bow down bringing their head towards their hands. They pause here for a second. Next they go all the way down placing their hands flat on the surface. This is then repeated three times.

In this second group of photos, the students are demonstrating how to receive a gift from an adult. First they sit on the floor with their left leg tucked under the right one. They then prostrate down to the floor with their hands together in a prayer-like gesture. Notice the position of their elbows on the ground.

This is then held for a few seconds before the hands are clasped together like in a handshake. Next they sit back up straight with their hands on their laps.

To receive the gift, the left hand stays on the thigh and the right hands reaches forward to receive the gift. Like any movement, this has to be done gracefully. They reach out to hold the gift, pause, then bring it back. They don’t just grab it. This gift is then put down on the right-hand side. The students then prostrated to the floor again as in the above photos.

Pardon My Turkey

Thanksgiving is only a few days away. Kicking it here on the high rise in the middle of the other City of Angels, and working hard *ahem*, I came across the news about President George W. Bush pardoning the turkeys.

Every year, the President of the US pardons a turkey or two. This year, two turkeys are not only pardoned, but the lucky turkeys will be shipped off to marshal the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Disneyland.

Not one. But two. Oh wow!

All of the nearly 50,000 turkeys to be served up in homes across this great land, 2 are pardoned. Good for you, Marshmellow and Yam.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which in the past has been critical because presidential turkeys have been sent to a working farm rather than an animal sanctuary.

Why am I bringing up turkey on THAI-blogs? It’s the presidential pardoning of the turkey that get me thinking.

My memory is a little foggy amidst the low fever and antibiotics, but folks, do jump in and help me clarify this if I’m wrong in anyway about this part.

I believe for the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Thailand, the King pardons a large number of cows, oxen, and buffalos. (I can’t be sure, but I’m pretty certain the number of animals is some kind of an auspicious ones, say, 999.) These livestocks are then given to farmers throughout the land who will take an oath to never kill the animal for meat. These cows and oxen will be working on the farm, providing milk and baby cows, and not fillet mignons.

The King is not just showing mercy on the lives of the poor animals, but to his people as well.

And I’m sure there will not be any beef in the King’s diet on such an auspicious day.

Doesn’t that make more sense that sending 2 turkeys to Disneyland? And the President still has turkey for Thanksgiving.

Just a random thought for the day. Gobble, gobble, y’all!