Alms for the monk

Every morning, a monk comes up the Mae Klong River and stop at established points to receive alms from the laypeople that they will take back to the temple and share with the other monks.  Monks can't get food or money themselves... it has to be given to them.  One of this monk's stops is our hotel, so we waited for him to arrive so we could offer alms to him.  All of our students were able to offer alms.

The monk is shepherded up the river by a motorized boat so he doesn't have to paddle all the way.

Then he breaks away and heads for the point at which people are waiting to give him alms.  Many Thai hotel guests went first and gave alms, which our students were able to watch so they knew the proper etiquette to be able to be respectful and give alms to the monk.  Everything was in Thai, of course... except that he thanked our students in English with a seemingly out of place "thank you" mixed in with all the Thai.

 Bryce

Lyndi

Clarke

Morgan

AT

Schmidty

After all the alms were received, the monk chanted some prayers and blessings for everyone.  Then he moved on to the next stop.