Wotta lotta monks

She who must be obeyed knows exactly how to handle me. Mindful of my hatred of early mornings, we have the following phone conversation:

She: Would you like to photograph some monks?

Me: But of course, light of my life.

She: I will register you as a photographer at this special event then.

Me: Thank you, oh reason for my being.

She: So you are OK to do this?

Me: Definitely, my sweetness.

She: Good, we have to get up at 0600.

At which point she puts down the phone before I can change my mind.

Turns out it is to be a repeat performance of the 2,000 monks in Pattaya, only this was in Sattahip, and only 1,000 monks were planned.

The arrival of the monks was keenly anticipated…

..and after waiting for nearly an hour, they arrived:

Monks have photogenic faces:

She who must be obeyed had brought along a trolley loaded with gifts for the monks, which she duly unloaded into the proferred bowl, which in turn was then emptied into a big sack carried by an assistant.

All in all, a pleasant experience and worth getting up for. Merit made, she who must be obeyed is in good form and regales with monk related stories from her youth, all the way back to Pattaya and morning coffee.

What a fine country this is to live in.

Comments 🔗

2009-06-27 | Billy says

Yes, enough to make the heart glad - Buddhism seems to indulge far less in oppressing its own followers and making war on others far less than its competitors.

2009-06-30 | The Son says

Superb pictures, 5th down is my favorite

2009-07-01 | Jamie Monk says

Can I ask - what camera do you use?

I’ve added a link to your blog into the blog list on my Phuket blog.

Cheers Jamie Phuket

2009-07-01 | Spike says

These were taken with a Canon 1D Mark 3 with a 300mm F2.8 lens. I like to get up close to the faces, they are always interesting.

2009-07-01 | Billy says

Well, I guess no one wants to talk about religeon’s place in place in fucking up world order … I love the Canon 1D Mark 3 with a 300mm F2.8 lens

2009-07-02 | Spike says

The problem is that your initial comment summed up the situation so succinctly for our readers and tne entire editorial team here at PattayaDays; such that any additional remarks would be superfluous.

So we moved on to more secular matters, such as the stellar quality of the Canon 300mm F2.8 lens, the best lens Canon has ever made and the fastest focusing lens in the world. It’s so good that I think I will build a religion around it.

2009-07-02 | mart says

Can we include Mama Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum noodles and 7/11 ham-cheese sandwiches in the list of things your religion will worship?

2009-07-02 | Billy says

See …. 7/11 … another disaster caused by religeon … though why they would name a ham-cheese sandwich after it is beyond me ….

2009-07-02 | Billy says

including Mama Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum noodles sounds a very good idea though … no trace of religeon at all in that ….

2009-07-03 | Spike says

Yeh verily, I hereby proclaimeth Mama Shrimp Creamy Tom Yum noodles and 7/11 (no relation) ham-cheese sandwiches to be the official cherubim and seraphim supporters of the Lord 300mm F2.8 (image sharpness be upon him), particularly when I am knackered after a long shoot.

7/11; not just religion; but British colonial and foreign policy over many years. Amen.

2009-07-03 | Nok 13/1 says

you tink too mut

2009-07-03 | Billy says

The FCO is of course entirely staffed by those who pray to God on Sundays and prey on the rest of us for the other six days …

2009-07-03 | mart says

Good news! I’ve just checked, my fridge is FCO-free.

2009-07-03 | Spike says

Mart, it’s good to have you back, and your close personal friend, Nok. Missing Grandma though, has she passed over to the great 300mm F2.8 in the sky (all contrast be upon him)?

2009-07-03 | genuine j says

Mart, FCO is Fiumicino airport in Rome. Why would you expect to find it in your fridge? Have you got a particularly large one?

2009-07-03 | Spike says

It’s also the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London if you are Billy, and something nasty in old fridges if you are Mart and slightly confused (possibly), slight drunk (probably), or out to be witty (definitely).

Or perhaps it’s a type of cheese.

2009-07-03 | mart says

Thanks Spike, it’s good to be back too. Grandma’s still fit. She got tired of the Soi Chayapoom pubs recently and left for a small village in Nepal where she’s probably enjoying the combined benefits of pure air and a 300mm F2.8 chillum. I bet it won’t take too long until she comes back though.

No, unfortunately, no cheese here. That was the (steep) price to pay to ban all sorts of Som Tam dishes and nasty smelling fishes from my fridge too.