This evening we returned via Nok Air to Bangkok. The flight was delayed for 4 hours so the only exciting thing we did was go to Mass this AM. It was in Thai and held at the cathedral in Chiang Mai. I am not sure what was going on but there were 20 priests and it looked like a high Mass. They seemed to introduce each priest and each got a round of applause. Maybe their anniversary? There were about 1000 peopole in attendance and halfway through there were 2 baptisms. This is unusual in this country which is 94% Buddhist and only 1% Catholic. I think they were all there today. At the kiss of peace we all bowed to each other. There were lots of other nice touches as well. This was a nice juxtaposition from yesterday when we attended a "monk chat" with a Buddhist monk. He explained Buddhism and answered our questions for about an hour. I am not sure I agree with them- I am sure I do not- but he was earnest and sincere and had a good way about him. He did seem excited to know that Protestant ministers can marry and he joked that maybe he would convert as monks are celibate. In the early AM- before dawn- we went out to give alms to the novice monks who collect the food in metal baskets and chanted over us. Very moving. you meet them on the side of the road outside their temple and kneel in front of them barefoot. We have seen and done so much these 2 weeks. I have not mentioned our fellow travelelrs but we all have gotten along pretty well. One of the men was bitten by a pack of dogs and has started rabies treatment. Rosa, one of the ladies travelling alone injured herself in a fall the first day and has developed cellulitis in her leg. My RN skills have come in handy every day.
Tomorrow we go to the Golden Temple here in Bangkok and finish this part pf our trip on a dinner boat ride on the Chao Phraya. Next day off to Cambodia on our own.
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