KIKI’S THAILAND TRIP

(And something about getting up at 5 for monks)

My alarm went off at five this morning. Five o'clock. Now that's something on a weekend. But, it must be said right away: everything for a reason. I am actually in Thailand for the freaking first time in my life. A country that has been high on my list for years, but somehow I never made it there.

Currently, I find myself in the Loei region, the unspoiled north where hardly any tourists are, so extra nice. But why the alarm, you might wonder? I was sitting outside at six o'clock in front of The Old Chiang Khan Boutique Hotel (with only eight rooms and the most beautiful view ever of the Mekong River) to make an offering to the monks. And that was perhaps one of the most special experiences of my life. Here it comes.

It was still dim outside. I had puffy eyes from sleep and instant breakfast hunger, but the thing is that you undergo the ritual soberly, so I had to endure some grumbling on that little mat on the ground. And suddenly they arrived. The bosses of the city. Instantly recognizable because: no hair, bare feet, and an orange robe. How does the ritual go? You sit on a carpet in traditional attire and next to you is a wicker basket with sticky rice (or sticky liiiiice, as it is somewhat pronounced here). Every time a monk stops in front of you, you thank him for coming, take a bit of rice, and place it in the bowl he is walking with. Once you’ve dropped the lump of rice in the basket, the monk starts reciting a kind of mantra after which he wishes you all the happiness in life (nice, right?) and then he moves on to the front door of the next house, where again all women are sitting on their knees offering rice.

Of course, I was already sweating at the thought that I couldn't pull my lump of sticky rice apart properly, that it would be too exaggerated or just too ‘stingy’ in terms of portion for a really nice offering in the bowl. Or because I might accidentally touch the monk's hand (that's not the intention, no, read here why not). Or worse: I would burst out laughing from the tension because it was all very serious. But thank god: I succeeded. And now I feel somewhat blessed. You should know that a different person speaks here. No, okay, all jokes aside: it's just that the expression of a monk is unreadable, but otherwise, I would swear that I have a few new buddies.

If you can say anything about the Thai, it's that they are dedicated people. The most remarkable thing is that this ritual takes place EVERY DAY from six to half past seven in the morning and the women believe wholeheartedly that it is their duty to repeat this act every morning. You read that right: no sleeping in. As an outsider, it might look a bit airy-fairy, but once you participate, you realize what an intensely special ritual it is. Especially loving and respectful how the people in Loei treat each other.
So, if you're ever looking for a different kind of vacation or trip to Asia, just give me a call. I'll grab a coconut cocktail now and soon you'll hear much more about Thailand and Loei. Promise.

Photos: Manify (Roel van der Krabben)