MJP Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 That is why one should have a little idea of Thai customs. What they are showing you is a ceremony all Thai young men undergo around age 19, they become a monk and there is a party paid by the parents to invite all family and friends. Their picture could be one of a couple of meanings. 1 They were inviting you to the party, 2 It also could be that they were asking you to drive your truck at the occasion, but that is normally the duty of the parents. 3 As you say they were elderly and the young and middle aged people usually dance all the way to the Wat (temple) They may have been asking you if they could ride in the back of your pick-up to the Wat and back. I have been to many of these "monkhoods" The picture shows the young man in the pick-up ( not yours) his head is shaved as, well as the young boys in the family that were chosen to accompany him. It is tradition that he rides under the umbrella. They are not asking you to pay for anything, envelopes are usually given out to the invited guest, and we deposit 100 baht in it and give it to the family at the dinner after the ceremony. If it is a close family member we give more. It is my guess that they are asking you to drive them to the wat in the cars that follow the one taking the Monk. Cost to you is the gas to go to the Wat, and 100 baht if you go to the dinner. That's all. Cheers: Jolly good show then. Fortunately, they're 16 years too late. Definitely me in the back of the truck mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerboy Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Jolly good show then.Fortunately, they're 16 years too late. Definitely me in the back of the truck mind. Sounds like you're of the mind to help out, but if you really, really didn't want to help out, you could always pull the rotor from under your truck's distributor cap and then the truck won't start. If you do decide to go, bring earplugs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a2396 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 So. why don't you ask them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mosha Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Also find out how many days/weeks/months you'll be at the Wat. You may need to cancel some arrangements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJo Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Tell them you received a call from your old mother and apparently her buffalo is sick thus you need to fly back to UK urgently to help your family in the fields. Spend a week down in Bangkok or Patters or to enforce the effect of long trip back to UK ask then to drop you off at nearest airport and fly to Phuket for some R&R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharecropper Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) Sorry hiding is not an option........you may have a few shots to dull any pain.....then in the best interests of TV followers you must go through whatever is planned and report back.......Just in case we too are confronted with such a drawing...... Look forward to reading your report... . Yeah. Now you have piqued our interest, this is one you will definitely have to take for the team and report back comprehensively! It could turn out to be a Colonel Kurtz scenario, where you are raised up and worshipped as a deity. Who knows. Good luck! Edited January 24, 2010 by sharecropper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slip Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 What's going on with the character at the back of the line of dancers? Have they tied him to a post? Maybe that's the OP- Definitely worrying if you ask me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharecropper Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 What's going on with the character at the back of the line of dancers? Have they tied him to a post? Maybe that's the OP- Definitely worrying if you ask me... It looks like he's indulging in the ancient Isaan art of snake-throwing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEENTHEREDONETHAT Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 When I looked at the drawing I was not sure if they wanted you to play the piano or if they were going to hang you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManilaLover Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 the drawing seems made by a 3 year old... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tijnebijn Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) Strange story you gave us here , First of all if it is you who they want to take on a parade , why didn't they consult you if you would go along with it ? Are you a type of person who can't say no ? Are you afraid those locals will dislike you if you cancel it ? Perhaps they assume you Thai is excellent and you understood everything which you do claerly not ? many questions but normal I would guess if it was me in your position , my advise would be to take along someone who does speak perfect Thai or at least can get along better with the language , and then you politely explaining you understood it wrongly ( if it is you on the truck ) . So get someone over there asking them what they want , cause you don't understand it ( you don't ) , even if you do understand it .... And whatever if you don't like the outcome of it , let the person in question make them understand it , might be a very nice gesture of them but that you don't feel like doing it , say sorry and don't say anything more about this whole thing never ever again . Problem finished . I stay in such a village long enough to just don't get invloved with the locals too many because first of miscommunication , and not wanting them to get in my private life as much , its the only way to stay comfortable in the outback . But they all know me , like me smile with me and sometimes hang out with some of them , but never go to any party especially the Wat . Why ? cause we grew up not the same , do they care ? Not at all . Its all up to you OP ........ Edited January 24, 2010 by tijnebijn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawthorne Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 You gotta go bro!!!!! Have friend video the event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kikoman Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 (edited) That is why one should have a little idea of Thai customs. What they are showing you is a ceremony all Thai young men undergo around age 19, they become a monk and there is a party paid by the parents to invite all family and friends. Their picture could be one of a couple of meanings. 1 They were inviting you to the party, 2 It also could be that they were asking you to drive your truck at the occasion, but that is normally the duty of the parents. 3 As you say they were elderly and the young and middle aged people usually dance all the way to the Wat (temple) They may have been asking you if they could ride in the back of your pick-up to the Wat and back. I have been to many of these "monkhoods" The picture shows the young man in the pick-up ( not yours) his head is shaved as, well as the young boys in the family that were chosen to accompany him. It is tradition that he rides under the umbrella. They are not asking you to pay for anything, envelopes are usually given out to the invited guest, and we deposit 100 baht in it and give it to the family at the dinner after the ceremony. If it is a close family member we give more. It is my guess that they are asking you to drive them to the wat in the cars that follow the one taking the Monk. Cost to you is the gas to go to the Wat, and 100 baht if you go to the dinner. That's all. Cheers: Jolly good show then. Fortunately, they're 16 years too late. Definitely me in the back of the truck mind. How can you tell in your infinite wisdom, that is a picture of you in the back of the truck? To me it looks like Ton, a young man from the village, I live about 5 blocks from the local Wat and see these happen at least 25 times a year. If it is a local youth. everyone dances from the youths home to the Wat accompanied by all the locals that like to dance,also the ever present Thai marching band. I have danced in a few for friends and family members.If it is from an out side village all come in trucks, with a large truck to accommodate the dancers. I re-examined the picture and can not tell how you can definitely say that it is a picture of you in the back of the truck. It just is a picture of a stick drawing. Saying that is you in the back of the truck, makes one wonder of the sincerity of you post. Cheers: Edited January 25, 2010 by kikoman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothertorres Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 dude. you MUST go along with this. we must all band together for MJP's support in this time of crisis. regardless of what he's being brought into, he must go. there is no saying no. i think most of us have been in this situation of "oh shit, what did i just agree to" and saying "no" is rarely a viable option. i spent a night in Galasin not too long ago. fuc_k that shit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slip Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Aaw MJP- You didn't follow through! What eventually transpired. (I hope it didn't involve actual follow through though). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricardo Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 "from what I can make out, I'm to be put on parade"looks to me like they want to marry you off ... Perhaps they plan to auction you off, and have a grand party, on the proceeds ? Or, given the umbrella, could you be the star target attraction, in the local Songkran-parade ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billythefish Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 (edited) It appears that they want you to take them to the Red Shirt Rally planned in Bangkok next month, suggest you get a red shirt or a pair of balls! (by the way, they will expect you to foot all fuel bills and food bills for the 40 or so they cram in your pick up...you might get a free red shirt though!) Edited February 25, 2010 by billythefish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billythefish Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 That is why one should have a little idea of Thai customs. What they are showing you is a ceremony all Thai young men undergo around age 19, they become a monk and there is a party paid by the parents to invite all family and friends. Their picture could be one of a couple of meanings. 1 They were inviting you to the party, 2 It also could be that they were asking you to drive your truck at the occasion, but that is normally the duty of the parents. 3 As you say they were elderly and the young and middle aged people usually dance all the way to the Wat (temple) They may have been asking you if they could ride in the back of your pick-up to the Wat and back. I have been to many of these "monkhoods" The picture shows the young man in the pick-up ( not yours) his head is shaved as, well as the young boys in the family that were chosen to accompany him. It is tradition that he rides under the umbrella. They are not asking you to pay for anything, envelopes are usually given out to the invited guest, and we deposit 100 baht in it and give it to the family at the dinner after the ceremony. If it is a close family member we give more. It is my guess that they are asking you to drive them to the wat in the cars that follow the one taking the Monk. Cost to you is the gas to go to the Wat, and 100 baht if you go to the dinner. That's all. Cheers: Jolly good show then. Fortunately, they're 16 years too late. Definitely me in the back of the truck mind. How can you tell in your infinite wisdom, that is a picture of you in the back of the truck? To me it looks like Ton, a young man from the village, I live about 5 blocks from the local Wat and see these happen at least 25 times a year. If it is a local youth. everyone dances from the youths home to the Wat accompanied by all the locals that like to dance,also the ever present Thai marching band. I have danced in a few for friends and family members.If it is from an out side village all come in trucks, with a large truck to accommodate the dancers. I re-examined the picture and can not tell how you can definitely say that it is a picture of you in the back of the truck. It just is a picture of a stick drawing. Saying that is you in the back of the truck, makes one wonder of the sincerity of you post. Cheers: It actually looks like some scribble from someone with a severe disability and absolutely no skills at drawing! If it is supposed to represent a young boy leaving the village for the temple life, then I don't seem to see the bag of Ya Bah pills, the Lao kao, or the Karaoke machine...Dahli was often misinterpretted too! so you never know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyman Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Looks like a trip to the ATM is coming up Run! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witold Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Is that an anarchist sign on the pickup door? Be careful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maizefarmer Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 No doubt about it ....... the hint is crystal clear: monkhood is been suggested. Go for it: been there done that - its a great experience. Okay, clearly little point if your here just on holiday but if you're here to live, a few months in robes will be a big plus point and respect earner - and you might just learn something from it. 3 months is plenty plenty long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJP Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 No, it was just a festival in the local town. Nothing more than that. Genuinely was very ill that weekend and missed it. No doubt about it ....... the hint is crystal clear: monkhood is been suggested.Go for it: been there done that - its a great experience. Okay, clearly little point if your here just on holiday but if you're here to live, a few months in robes will be a big plus point and respect earner - and you might just learn something from it. 3 months is plenty plenty long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yabaaaa Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 OK Ive fixed the problem for you, tell them your copy of the drawing did not have you in it and show them this, no payment required !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJP Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 Nice one! OK Ive fixed the problem for you, tell them your copy of the drawing did not have you in it and show them this, no payment required !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carib Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Tell them you already are a roman catholic priest.... in hiding... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longstebe Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 the drawing seems made by a 3 year old... You think it's that bad, Thats what my drawings look like at the age of 34 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJP Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 I never got the hang of drawing or art. the drawing seems made by a 3 year old... You think it's that bad, Thats what my drawings look like at the age of 34 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Looking at the picture it appears to be the traditional Thai holiday of " Wan Kim Off " where local amputees are attacked by a flying snake as the Puu Yai Ban drives a vehicle based on the one driven by Tina Turner in " Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome " I'm sure one of our resident Thai experts can confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.png.3b3332cc2256ad0edbc2fe9404feeef0.png)
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now