Alms ceremony — monks at dawn






I woke up at 5:00 am to join two hostel mates to see the Alms ceremony — monks at dawn collecting alms of rice from kneeling villagers and tourists, along Sakkaline Road near Wat Sensoukharam.

The vendors laid out a long row of rice baskets and stools for tourists who have paid for the privilege of giving alms. Seeing these tourists, who make up the majority of the alms-givers, seated on plastic stools participating out of fun rather than sincerity definitely reduces the authenticity of the moment. Out of respect to the monks, we only watched this old tradition from a distance.

Before leaving the hostel to catch up their flight to Hanoi, my hostel mates invited me to consume their shares of breakfast for them, so I did without the breads.

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