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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Buddhist vegetarian festival, food preparation

About this recording

Creator
Kristin Post
Date created
September 27, 2000
Duration
1:29
Location
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
File
MP3
License
This recording copyright ©2000. Terms of use

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Ani wants me to eat something, but I am hesitant to order when I learn they cannot eat. There is a misunderstanding during this conversation. I am with Hans and Ani, who live in Trang, Thailand and operate a shop selling crafts and souvenirs. They took me to a Buddhist temple in another city, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Because I was aware of the Buddhist vegetarian festival occurring in Trang, I was expecting the entire country to participate in the ten day festival. As it turns out, only two towns, Phuket and Trang, celebrate this festival at this time and in this manner.

From my journal:

Kept waking up because I was worried about being on time to meet Ani and Hans for temple trip. Still ended up being a minute late, showing up after them. Get mini bus (80 baut). Then at temple, eat lunch (60 baut), look around and shop. All day I think it’s part of the festival, it’s not. [Went to Nakhon si Thammarat, on the other side of the country!] Thai Buddhist different from Chinese Buddhist.

Transcript

Ani
you like to eat something. rice or some noodle can order.
Kristin
are you ordering something?
Hans
no we cannot eat
Kristin
Oh, you can’t eat at al…how come?
Hans
It’s not vegetarian, and this way…[inaudible.] Because for the vegetarian also everything for cooking must be special ceremony clean and not touch with other food. And this touch with everything. And also this vegetarian not we eat, but also the pot is also makes some other food. So it must be. The spoon and the fork and dishes and everything you make special clean and you only use it for ten days.
Ani
You can order some chicken or some rice to eat. You can look.
Kristin
Why is this place even here? I guess during rest of the year it’s okay to have the meat here? So that’s why they keep serving meat, even though it’s vegetarian… I’m just surprised that this restaurant doesn’t stop doing the meat for these ten days so that everyone can eat here.
Hans
No, no, here is not celebrated.
Ani
Yeah, only Trang, Phuket.
Hans
Also in Trang, in Trang you have these yellow signs, these places are clean. But in the front from the temple where we go in the evening, you can eat chicken and everything. They make bar-b-que, you smell it every time.