From: tstil@Auspex.COM (Tim Stilwell)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai
Subject: Wun Loy Gratong
Date: 18 Nov 92 06:01:34 GMT
Organization: Auspex Systems, Santa Clara


   Sawasdee Khrup Tuk Kon

   Sorry to write so slowly.  I have been sick.  I will tell you about Wun Loy
   Gratong at Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont, California.

   The weather was good this year.  Plenty of sunshine.  Last year, it rained
   alot.

   We had many food stands.  Lots of barbecued meats, soups, and many favorite
   Isaan and Thai dishes.  I would write the names but I still do not understand
   how to write Thai words with English letters.  My friend, Khun Moddie was
   there as usual cooking desserts that look like little pancakes and still
   watching for a potential husband.  :-)   (I'm already spoken for)
   Single young men, pay attention please!  She is a nursing student AND she
   can cook and clean house!  Truly!  Imagine that!  Of course she did *not*
   grow up in America.  How silly of you to ask...

   We also had book and magazine stands.  And the man who sells Thai music
   cassettes and CDs also came.

   We had many dances.  We few boys had to argue about who would wear the
   worst colors.  I am colorblind so I did not care, but I do remember Khun
   Brian and Khun Pomp arguing about pink and green and yellow and brown.
   Khun Brian even asked his mother if they were deliberately trying to
   embarass us.  :-)   My theory is that they decided what to dance first,
   who would dance second, and what we would wear last!  Anyway, my
   dance was good.  Khun Pam's dance was the best!  She is fresh from
   Thailand and you can tell because her hands fold backwards and she
   never loses her balance and she always moves WITH the music.  Khun Tara's
   dance was held up because she had to wear a costume with silver threads
   that actually scratch your skin (Thai girls suffer so much in ways that
   Thai boys just don't appreciate) and she was slow putting on the
   headdress.   Her little sister sang 3 songs so the audience would not
   be restless.  Anyway, Khun Dang is a very good dance teacher.

   We had good music.  Khun Pilan played several songs with his Klui.
   Khun Brian and Khun Greg played 2 songs with their Kim+.  Several
   Thai mother's also played songs with their Kim+.

   We had merit-making.  Many people donated food to the monks.  And
   of course, we had the money tree!

   Lastly, we had the gratong.  Every child bought a gratong.  I bought
   an extra large one.  Khun Pam created a special one made with folded
   leaves.  It was very pretty.  Everyone walked in a single line to
   the swimming pool behind the house (yes, it IS illegal to put your
   gratong in U.S. rivers or streams) lit the incense and candle and
   put their gratong in the pool after making a wish.  This year there
   were no accidents.  Last year, Khun Matt set his gratong on fire!
   By the time someone told me and I helped to put it out, it was almost
   burned beyond recognition.  Little children should *not* play with
   matches!

   Many people came to Wat Buddhanusorn.  You should come to.  Many
   pretty girls were there also.  Khun Brian, Khun Pomp and myself
   scammed on the girls for about an hour.
   
   Too bad if you missed it!  :-(

   tim 

Newsgroups: soc.culture.thai