Tasty Dog in the Kingdom #32

Tasty Dog in the Kingdom: This Cambodian Life #32.  Sorry about the abrupt and explained opening chant…  It’s a famous Buddhist layperson chanting – no, it’s not an auction, though it sounds a bit like it – at the Siem Reap monastery, Wat Damnak, where a very special ceremony is in full swing.  But before getting into the bit about the ceremony, Delilah revels in the fruits of the hot season, being the literal fruits that are in season in March and April, rather than the other fruits of the hot season, including heat rash, sunburn and a general colonial type whining about the heat.  Finally, you get to hear what that three story gold stupa in Wat Damnak is for.

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And then there’s more chanting at the end.  This time it was another Achar (Buddhist layperson) who felt inspired to chant alongside a stream of 300 monks as crowds and crowds of people lined up to offer money, food and water during this special ceremony.  I joined in and was welcomed with smiles and the usual laughter.  But really, nothing compares to changing a $10 bill into a stack of 500 riel notes and then distributing it into the begging bowls of 300 monks.