The Month of Lightings

December is the best time to visit Thailand. The cooling weather makes travelling so pleasant and easy. Everybody greats you with beautiful smiles as festive decorations fills them with delightful moods.

December 5th is the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. In celebrating his 81st birthday, the street along the palace are all decorated so beautifully. During that period, on the way back from work, my taxi would ask if he can take the palace route because the ride was simply pleasant. Although it might be further to take the route, I'd agree because I enjoyed the lightings and the well kept surroundings of the palace.

I had a chance to go to the parlimen house, where they light up the whole building and it's like a big picnic place where lots of people spent time with friends and family infront of the building. It's beautiful.

There are lots of food and drinks vendors along the street, as we say.. We can find food everywhere in Thailand..

I really need to get a tripod so I can capture a better night pictures. Some idea of the beautiful lighted street along the palace. It's perfect for the King's birthday celebration as well as Christmas and New Year seasons.

Thai Ceremony

Thod Kathing, a ceremory I've attended together with my fellow coworkers during one of the weekends, was a pleasant experience. Wat or temples, can be seen every corners in thailand. Majority of the Thais are Buddhist and they practice Buddisim, Taoism or Hinduism.


At east once a year, my company will organize trips to temples outside Bangkok for praying, donations, volunteering (tamboon) to get blessed for the company. This 'Thod Kathing" event has several ceremonies. We have to walk in a circle with chant, music and dance and meditate in the temple after the parade.

During the ceremony in the temple, the monk started chanting and a sacred thread , called Sai Sin was passed through the monks' fingers before passing the ball to the next. This ceremony will bring blessings and harmony to the people in the temple.

The backlight from the windows creates nice silleutte of the monks

The chant was smoothing and I felt peace. Everybody closed their eyes and meditate while the ceremony went on for about 30 minutes. Although I do not really understand the whole process but I did enjoy the experience.