Yesterday was my wife’s birthday. In the west this would be celebrated by giving (and expecting) gifts and being taken out for a nice meal. Here in Thailand my Buddhist partner celebrated by feeding the 166 residents of a home for unfortunate people aged from 16 to ?? who not only have some mental problems but also no family or families that do not support them. We drove north for around an hour to get there and took our friends Cherry, Johnathan and Beryl as well as my sister-in-law and brother-in-law and distributed the “Cow mun gai” (Chicken and rice with soup), chocolate biscuits, fresh oranges, juices and water after Cherry entertained for 40 minutes accompanying here fab voice with the guitar.
Cherry Entertains
In past years we have always supported a nearby home for the elderly but the local monk suggested to Tong that this year she would do well to go to this new place because hardly anyone supported them.
Tong and Cherry
I guess this is all part of making merit in this life as a preparation for the next. Whatever the reason it was inspiring to take part and see the obvious pleasure our visit brought to these happy though somewhat deprived people.
Happy Diners
In the evening my wife prepared a buffet for the friends, family and relatives that support us in our lives at The Garden, our guesthouse/restaurant business.
All a bit different from a western birthday.
