Nov. 30 - Making merit with 1500 monks

Up at five to arrive at 6:00 with our baskets full of
donations to the monks. Actually it will go to the
temples in the south we were told. I guess we believe it.

Numerous and assorted civic groups attend to show
their support. These nurse students are much like
those we taught 5 years ago. Of course all our
students have long since graduated.

The main street was closed and covered with
plastic in this highly organized and choreographed
event. The 1500 monks were bussed in from Bangkok.
The public wore white.

Then they symbolically walked up the street and
down collecting donations from every person there.
The donations were placed in the monk's bowls which,
when full, were emptied into large plastic bags
handled by student soldiers in uniform. Later huge
trucks were loaded with the bags of noodles,
cans of sardines, and assorted foods. There was a
lot of rice which spilled and was enjoyed by the local birds.