Monks and Markets

One of the wats (temples) I visited today. Visitors are welcome, but must be appropriately dressed - no shorts or bare shoulders welcome here. Once inside, some of the Thai are praying, and monks wander around, praying and blessing visitors. I learned today the reason there are so many 12-year old boys in orange robes running around: it is culturally appropriate to send young boys to study at a wat for a year during their adolescence - almost as a rite of passage. So the young robed lad I saw dutifully sweeping the temple stairs today could have very likely been playing video games in the arcade yesterday.

Inside the wat -

The monk in this picture is speaking a blessing over the visitor by tying a
piece of yarn around his wrist. He spoke a blessing and tied the yarn around my wrist as well, but using much more care - a man who has taken the monastic vows can never touch a woman.




Looking like a dumb tourist in the market...