go to a funeral in the west and its a morbid affair.

Go to a funeral in Thailand and after a small ceremony, a fine party of food, karaoke, whiskey and playing cards. Funeral parties in Thailand almost seem like a celebration of some kind!! Lotsa fun!!

The funeral service in both Thai and the west are formal and sad. I don't like the use of the word "morbid" to describe them.

The jazz funerals in New Orleans are full of life.

The wake is a lively affair for both cultures. "Celebration," "Lotsa fun," definitely.

Very little difference from what I have experienced.

I attended the official Khao Lak evening Tsunami ceremony. In many eyes, it was a media circus - but appreciated by Thai and foreigners in kind.

According to critics and some participants, the Khao Lak and Phuket ceremonies were a successful attempt at appeasing thousands of visitors who made the trek from all over the globe in order to find emotional and psychological closure to one of the most traumatic years that humankind will ever witness.

Some 5000 people - both Thai and foreigners - attended the final ceremony in Khao Lak, Phang Nga , Thailand on the evening of 26 December- where approx. 5700 victims were declared dead and a further 3000 reported missing.

At the ceremony, a beloved member of the Thai Royal family, the Prime Minister and international and Thai youth ambassadors, made speeches on behalf of the thousands of loved ones lost to the 2004 tsunami.

The ceremony was beautifully tasteful, according to all sources.

After formalities and the magnificent release of 5000 lanterns into the evening sky, all non-VIP guests were left to walk 3 km to the main highway from the official ceremonial site. Somebody forgot to organise the exit shuttles.

This writer personally witnessed a physically disadvantaged male hobble 2km on calibres to the nearest possible transport point - while an associate screamed hysterically at Thai volunteers. In the meantime, international ambassadors zoomed by in limousine coaches - the end was bitter sweet.

I attended the official Khao Lak evening Tsunami ceremony. In many eyes, it was a media circus - but appreciated by Thai and foreigners in kind.

According to critics and some participants, the Khao Lak and Phuket ceremonies were a successful attempt at appeasing thousands of visitors who made the trek from all over the globe in order to find emotional and psychological closure to one of the most traumatic years that humankind will ever witness.

Some 5000 people - both Thai and foreigners - attended the final ceremony in Khao Lak, Phang Nga , Thailand on the evening of 26 December- where approx. 5700 victims were declared dead and a further 3000 reported missing.

At the ceremony, a beloved member of the Thai Royal family, the Prime Minister and international and Thai youth ambassadors, made speeches on behalf of the thousands of loved ones lost to the 2004 tsunami.

The ceremony was beautifully tasteful, according to all sources.

After formalities and the magnificent release of 5000 lanterns into the evening sky, all non-VIP guests were left to walk 3 km to the main highway from the official ceremonial site. Somebody forgot to organise the exit shuttles.

This writer personally witnessed a physically disadvantaged male hobble 2km on calibres to the nearest possible transport point - while an associate screamed hysterically at Thai volunteers. In the meantime, international ambassadors zoomed by in limousine coaches - the end was bitter sweet.

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Excellent points, stevesuphan! I've been to a few Thai funerals myself and, yes, they differed from the west. I think the west would do well to understand death in a different, truer light. It's not the end all but a new beginning. With proper understanding the morbidity would be completely released and the idea of celebrating it instead would not seem like heretical concept. It does now, though!

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Went to Wat Doi Saket one day and found ourselves at the start of a funeral service for a monk. We were invited to hold onto a rope held onto by 200 other folks to walk body out to the pyre. Seemed a happy event for most folk, food for sale etc

As always things done by other cultures fascinate me

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Excellent points, stevesuphan! I've been to a few Thai funerals myself and, yes, they differed from the west. I think the west would do well to understand death in a different, truer light. It's not the end all but a new beginning. With proper understanding the morbidity would be completely released and the idea of celebrating it instead would not seem like heretical concept. It does now, though!

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Went to Wat Doi Saket one day and found ourselves at the start of a funeral service for a monk. We were invited to hold onto a rope held onto by 200 other folks to walk body out to the pyre. Seemed a happy event for most folk, food for sale etc

As always things done by other cultures fascinate me

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Yes well how fascinating.... thousands of mourners of many religions and non-denominational philosophies joined together for the purpose of releasing their grief .... how bloody fascinating!!!!!

This thread is dedicated to all of these thousands of people from around the planet and those left behind to live the best future lives possible. Thankyou!

Went to Wat Doi Saket one day and found ourselves at the start of a funeral service for a monk. We were invited to hold onto a rope held onto by 200 other folks to walk body out to the pyre. Seemed a happy event for most folk, food for sale etc

As always things done by other cultures fascinate me

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Yes well how fascinating.... thousands of mourners of many religions and non-denominational philosophies joined together for the purpose of releasing their grief .... how bloody fascinating!!!!!

This thread is dedicated to all of these thousands of people from around the planet and those left behind to live the best future lives possible. Thankyou!

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I thought your reply was fascinating . . .

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Ditto

Misery loves company.

Misery loves company.

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I guess. But why be miserable when you don't have to be???

By the way, misery needs comfort........... in just a few days, the immense effort and global warmth that we have felt has been a huge comfort in healing the scar! Thankyou all who helped in the process...