Although my stay lasted only 10 days or so, I couldn’t help but feel like I had been living there for a while. I was able to spend a lot of time with all of the kids, John, and his mother.

Although I only gave 2 English lessons, my hours were filled with playing all sorts of games and craft-making with the kids: Soccer, badminton, biking, origami, music, and a game known to the kids as ‘Ip.’

I had very little idea of what my stay would be like in Thailand. I had been living in Korea for several months and accepted my friend’s invitation to travel to Thailand.

Because I had some additional time off, I decided to head out early and volunteer. It was an opportunity to get to know the country more intimately. Rather than focus on simply touring Thailand, I would have the chance to help out at a local charity while getting to know the children and the founder. I figured it was the least I could do for all the privileges I’ve been given in my life and a good experience for my future travels. It turned out to be much more than I had imagined. I was able to share all of my meals with the family. Simple, yet delicious, home-cooked meals. I was given a comfortable place to rest at night, and the freedom to read, think, and interact with everyone, including five interesting dogs.

I was amazed at how responsible the kids were. Without much complaint, they would set the table, clean up, and generally help each other out. One of the cutest and most amusing sights was seeing the little ones march around mopping the floor–especially little May, Yong, and Som. One weekend the Home was invited to ride elephants. As a guest, I happily went along and enjoyed the trip, as it was my first time seeing elephants in person. Another day, I joined John and his mother in visiting a school under construction. It was artfully crafted with bamboo and rammed earth packed together. These are not trips I could have foreseen before coming to Thailand, but gave me an introduction into the culture of Thailand.

I want to thank Mr. Cope for his generosity and wish him the best of luck. I hope to visit Mae Salaab again.

He did stay for the Tamboon ceremony that was held at Stratton House over the weekend. This is a special Buddhist ceremony where Monks are invited to the home where they perform special blessings in the presence of friends and neighbours.

On Saturday the head lay helper from Wat Mae Salab came with others to help us make the correct preperations.

White string was tied from the entrance gate all around the property, back to the gate and then back to the house.

A special blessing and offerings were made close to the properties water well.

Inside the house the living room was prepared with mats on the floor and items brought from the Temple, in readiness for the Monks arrival the next morning.

The word was sent out inviting all our near neighbours and other friends to.

The children we very well behaved and in the afternoon I took them to the playground in Mae Salab school as a thankyou.

The next morning there was more last minute running around making sure everthing was properly prepared.

This is an important cultural ceremony and I was at pains to make sure we did everything right and am very grateful for all the local understanding and support we received. Wasanaa worked very hard in the kitchen, with help from some local villagers, preparing the food.

There was a great turn out of local well wishers, as well as our landlord and also my good friend Ally and her partner Pee Took, who is a fellow Director of The Stratton ABC Foundation, with a couple of their close friends too.

At 9.30am myself and Somboon walked to Wat Mae salab to collect the four Monks and one Novice Monk , who would all perform the blessings for us.

Somewhat nervous about performing my own duties in the correct manner I was taken by the feeling of serenity that took hold as I walked beside the Monks to our home.

There was a slight delay as the Head Monk was held back for a short while to accept merit giving by some Temple visitors.

Once he arrived proceedings began with me lighting candles and incense sticks on the prepared ‘altar’ and paying due respect to the teachings of The Lord Buddha, his followers and to The Buddha himself.

There was then a series of chanting performed by both the Monks and also the lay followers and all Thai visitors in the room. I would have loved to have joined in the lay peoples chants but was concerned that unpractised repetition, with possible wrong tonal inflection, may cause offence, so I sat in respectful silence. Although I cannot deny extreme discomfort whilst kneeling or sitting cross-legged, and being unable to prevent a degree of fidgeting, I did mangae some prolonged periods of stillness and once again experienced profound serenity as the Monks chanting took me into a meditative state.

Indeed Somboon had to gently nudge me out of this state when it came to me to perform more duties, passing gifts into the hands of the Monks.

The Chants and blessings went on for approximately three quarters of an hour and throughout the blessings the Monks held the white string that now led into the house from outside. In this way, I understand, the blessings are applied to the whole of the property.

The children present looked on with keen interest and Jack even came to sit beside me and joined in with the lay persons repetitions of the chanting.

It was then time for the personal blessings for all present where white string is tied around the wrist, before the feeding of the Monks, which had to be done before 11a.m.

Most of the visitors went to our kitchen/dining area outside.

The Monks ate at low tables set out in the living room and before they left I was able to chat with them for a while. Thankfully the head Monk spoke good English and I thanked them for their blessings and talked of my love for Chiang Mai, its people and its culture. They in turn thanked me for the respect shown and wished The Foundation every success and welcomed us to the village.

Although the Monks left shortly after 11 , many people remained to enjoy the prepared food and drink and , like the Monks, they welcomed us warmly and wished us success, some placing their own personal Tamboon to us in our collection box.

The day was not about money, but about acceptance within our local community and proper respect to the local culture which happens to be genuinely close to my heart.

I hope and believe that the day was a great success and certainly left me an ever growing confidence about the future of The Stratton ABC Foundation here in Mae Salab, Sarapee,Chiang Mai.

For more Tamboon photos please visit our photobucket album here.

Impressed by the childrens patience and behaviour throughout the ceremony, a tired crew made the effort to reward them with a trip to the popular waterfall picnic area a quarter of the way up Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai, later in the afternoon.
For more picnic photos please visit our photobucket album here.

Thanks again to all who attended.