Sukhothai: Buddhas, a 10K, and the King's colors...

Sukhothai, capitol of the first Thai Kingdom and a World Heritage Site. Buddhas and ruins galore. Truly remarkable and awe-inspiring. I'll post more pictures when I'm on a faster computer.








And a 10K run (why not) with Bu. The race was in celebration of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai (1300's) credited with creating the written Thai alphabet and expanding the Sukhothai. And the pink shirt (given with registration to the run) in honor of the current beloved King of Thailand.



For years the King's color was yellow; and you can still see many yellow King shirts around every town. But after a recent illness, an astrologer told the King that it was too much yellow that was partially responsible for his disease, and he should be surrounded by more pink. So the yellow shirts with the King's insignia are now on sale (really) and pink ones for sale everywhere at full price, being worn by men and women.

Since the King's sister's death about a week ago at the age of 88, however, black is the official color of mourning for 100 days. All public servants and teachers and t.v. reporters are wearing black blazers to honor her memory. And black shirts are now being featured at every store front.

Mama's "Chew"

After dinner, people dispersed, but I watched as Mama (who was toothless) brought out a basket and carefully opened it and several pouches inside, creating a careful mix for what looked like a handrolled cigarette, but it was some sort or chew. Hm. And below is a picture of her before the ceremony and dinner; a beautiful woman!

Dinner at Vanh's & Bacci Ceremony

Vanh's sister preparing dinner in the kitchen. And below we're in the midst of a Bacci ceremony honoring Mama, a young girl who had survived a serious illness, a couple who had been away from the village for a long time, and me! the newcomer to the home. Vanh is next to me; Mama in the white sash. We blessed the altar which had the strings, and then tied them on one another's wrists with blessings (I don't know what blessings they bestowed on me, but there were a lot).

Laos, Laos, Laos

Over the Mekong River, geographically so close, yet worlds away. This picture is of Vanh's brothers house, as we sat on the front porch of her mother's house. Vanh is a waitress in the cafe where I had breakfast my first morning in Luang Prubang. After several short conversation clips as she passed by my table, she invited me to "her mother's party". Ok! Little did I realize that it was a Bacci ceremony in the countryside with her entire extended family and many others from her small village. (I continue to be SO lucky with the people I'm meeting and the invitations I'm receiving!)

Without the help of photoshop, I don't know how to shrink and rotate pics, so more will have to wait until Chiang Mai or a greater dose of patience with figuring this out.