Thursday, April 5, 2012

Reunion

My 1967 Senior Class Photo

This year my graduating class of 1967 at Robert E. Fitch Senior High will be having its 45th Reunion.

The opportunity of attending this reunion has presented me with a dilemma.  Why should I make an effort to attend an event with people who I have not seen or communicated with in 45 years?  Obviously these are people that have meant very little to me and I have meant very little to them over the years for if we had, we would have maintained some contact.  On the other hand, the reunion does present an opportunity, perhaps the last opportunity for many, to express my appreciation and regards to people who shared events and experiences from a critical time period of my life.  Perhaps more importantly a reunion provides the opportunity to pay some respects to fellow classmates who are no longer alive.

Perhaps many of us did not turn out the way that we were supposed to or were expected to.  Life has a habit of presenting opportunities and challenges to the path that we start upon or the path that we prefer to travel on our life journey.  However it is our decisions and manner in which we cope with these opportunities as well as challenges that makes each life so interesting and rich.  At the events like this, we learn that we are not alone ... alone in the suffering, joys, triumphs, and disappointments of life.  We are not alone in having shared many of the world events that have shaped history over the past 45 years.

Attending a reunion is not a matter of seeking vindication for the choices that we have made or giving vindication to others for theirs. Rather it is an opportunity to share those choices and to perhaps better understand why we are who we are today and to understand better where we came from.

I have addressed the fear of perhaps being on my death bed and wondering back upon my life and questioning "What would my life had been like, if back ... I had ..."  I did not want to be in that situation, so I made a decision to take that branch off to the side of the road and discover what lay down that road.  I do not regret having done that for my life is richer and more complete.

So after discussing it with Duang, I agreed that we will attend the reunion.  I don't want to regret at some point not having attended.  It will be an opportunity to thank some people and express appreciation to some people for the influence that they had on me so long ago.  Attending the reunion will also be an experience for Duang to learn a little more about American culture, my past, and to enjoy a night out.

Duang and I have traveled many miles to encounter and interact with peoples of very different cultures.  We have enjoyed the opportunity to learn and experience what other people are like.  We have never been disappointed.  Having done that and our intention is to continue doing that, it is only logical that we would cross the river to spend some time with some people that I went to school with.

I will return to Groton from Thailand on Thursday night, so after 30 hours of travel and 13 hours of time change, it should be even that more interesting for me on Saturday night.

It is far better, in my mind, to be curious than to be sorry.  One thing that I am certain of, there will be no 90th Reunion.

Give MeThat Ol'Time Religion


Easter is coming upon us.

We recently attended a Roman Catholic funeral.

I am preparing to return to Thailand for two weeks to take care of personal business.

These three events got me to thinking about devotion, ritual, and faith.


Several times I have written about Buddhist rituals that I have attended and I have remarked how similar they were to rituals of the Roman Catholic Church.  The similarities were the importance of candles, statues, incense, chanting, praying in a common old language of the faith, and blessing with water.

Well I should clarify that the Buddhist rituals that go back over 2,500 years ago are similar to the RC Church rituals of my youth.

Changes have occurred in the Parrish of my youth.  There is a crucifix over the altar with a less formidable Jesus in front of it.  He is clothed in a long robe and does not have a crown of thorns.  There are no visible wounds, no outward signs of sacrifice on the statue of Jesus. 

The church was devoid of any other statues.  There were not any trays of lighted candles or to be lighted.  There were no prominent confessionals where people go to admit and confess their sins.  The church did not have any odor of burning candles or of smoke impregnated wood from countless prayers sent towards heaven on wisps of burning incense.

The funeral Mass was spoken in English rather than Latin of the early Church.  The old songs have been replaced by newer music.  All in all, to me, it seemed very modern, antiseptic, and lacking in passion.

Back in Thailand and other countries, some people demonstrate their faith with passion, pain, and some suffering.

Last year I was planning on Duang and I attending the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia but our need to be in the USA superseded my wish to witness one of the great religious spectacles..  The festival celebrates the birth of Lord Murugan, the God of War and Fertility.  In Malaysia and Singapore specifically. the festival is very intense with hundreds, if not thousands, of participants march to a shrine with


Some Shi'ite Muslims march in large processions in Iran and Iraq each year flogging themselves on their backs with chains, knives, and sword blades to commemorate the martydom of Hussien, the youngest Grandson of the prophet Mohammad.  I would love to witness and photograph this demonstration of faith but the realities of politics and religious sensitivities means that I will most likely never get there.

Some Christians in the Philippines and South America self-flagellate in commemeration of the Passion of Christ.  Someday I would like to travel back to Peru and witness the religious fervor and passion of the local celebrations of Holy Week.



The last of the major religions of the modern world, the Buddhists, also have a festival where adherents practice mortification of the flesh.  In Thailand, the "Nine Emperor Gods Festival" known more commonly as the "Vegetarian Festival" is a time where hundreds of men as well as women pierce their bodies with all kinds of objects in a demonstration of their faith and power of their Gods.  We have attended two of the Phuket Vegetarian Festivals.  The Phuket Vegetarian Festivals are unique and extremely interesting.  Like most and interesting things, you learn a little more, appreciate a little more and hopefully understand a little better each time that you experience the event.



The piercing of the body of the holy warriors, "Mah Song", is not exist in China so many people believe that the Mah Song tradition of the "Nine Emperor Gods Festival" is a Thai adaptation of the Hindu Thaipusam Festival practiced by Indians and their descendants in nearby Malaysia.



Duang and I will return to experience the Vegetarian Festival again for sure.



In this age where passion seems to be frowned upon by so many, I, personally am relieved and comforted to know that there are still places where and people who still practice that old time religion, no matter what faith that may apply, with passion, suffering, pain and sometimes blood.  Places and people that maintain their links to their past and respect their heritage, as different as it may be from ours.




Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Rocket Season Is Almost Here ... Well; Actually There

Ban That Rocket Festival
May is a busy month in Isaan.  It is the typical end of the dry season and the start of the rainy season.

With the onset of the rainy season, the Lao Loum people can commence to focus on planting this year's crop of rice.  For many people this is not merely job opportunities but a matter of survival.  If they do not grow rice this season, the family does not eat for the next year.


Launch Crew Preparing A Smaller Sized Rocket

Traditionally the return of the rains is facilitated by launching homemade rockets into the sky in merit making activities called "Bun Bang Fei".  Bun Bang Fei range from launching a hand full of relatively small rockets from the local Wat on any given afternoon to internationally known  three to five day festivals where some of the rockets contain up to 350 pounds of gunpowder.

With this being Isaan, the festivals are always a great party complete with parades, morlam shows, pageants, religious rituals, carnival rides, drinking, dancing, drinking, foods of all sorts and drinking.  They are definitely culturally unique events and a photographer's delight.



The Launch Is Underway!

The biggest and most internationally known festival is held in Yasothon at Phaya Thaen Park.  This year the festival will be from Friday 11 May to Sunday 13 May.  The rocket competition will be on Saturday starting in the morning until the late afternoon.


Rocket On It's Way To Some Rice Paddy

I will be back in Thailand during that period but my wife does not want me to drive so far from our home so I am hoping and trying to determine if the Ban That Rocket Festival will be held while I am back in Isaan.  We have attended the Ban That Festival before and enjoyed it very much .  It is much closer to our home so I have clearance to go to it.

Not All Launches Are Successful But They All Make A Big Bang!
I suspect that besides worrying about me driving a long distance alone along Thailand's country roads, Duang is concerned about my personal safety.  Often people are injured at these festivals due to exploding rockets.  Sometimes people are killed at these festivals.  Yasothon Rocket Festival since it traditionally launches the largest rockets presents a greater danger.

At the Ban That Rocket Festival, a rocket exploded on the launch pad in front of me.  For me it was exciting and a chance to get a close-up photo of the fragments around me. The rocket that exploded probably had around 20 to 25 pounds of gunpowder in it unlike some of the 300 pound monsters launched in Yasothon.  Duang came running over and was quite concerned.  I was there after relegated to vantage spots further from the launch pads.

What Went Up, Came Down In Some Far Away Rice Paddy
Yeah, it can be dangerous but it is always exciting and definitely interesting.  I can not imagine such festivals being held in the USA.  How on Earth could you get permission from the Dept of Homeland Security to have such fun?  How many governmental agencies would have to review and approve such a festival? 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Poi Sang Long - 2012

Poi Sang Long


Poi Sang Long Procession In Mae Hong Son
 Another year has passed and the cycle of festivals in Thailand continues.  Soon, one of our favorite festivals will be held in the Mae Hong Song area.  From April 1st to April 15th, the people of the area will be celebrating Poi Sang Long.

My wife and I attended the festival in 2009 and plan on returning someday, hopefully some day soon.
Poi Sang Long is a Buddhist ritual celebrated by the Shan people.  The Shan people, also known as the Thai Yai, originated in Myanmar which was once known as Burma.






Each year young Shan boys are ordained as Buddhist Monks, actually Novices, in an elaborate ritual that commemorates Buddha's son becoming a Monk.

The air around the Wats during Poi Sang Long, is filled with the sound of clanging cymbals and drum beats. The cymbals are banged in a staccato three beat grouping, the number three is very important in Buddhism in that it identifies the The Buddha, The Teachings of Buddha, and the Buddhist Religious Community (The Sanga). The drumming is not in any noticeable rhythm that I can detect but then on a good day I can only distinguish 3 of the 5 ways to pronounce the Thai word "kohn".

Each Wat conducts the ritual for the young boys at different times during the prescribed period for the festival.  In 2009, we attended the festival in Mae Hong Son for Wat Jongkum Jong Klang (actually two different Wats that are adjacent to each other in the center of Mae Hong Son on the lake).

A stage had been built in front of the Wat on the temple grounds. Some people were occupied placing colored bunting on the stage. A canopy had been set up underneath one of the large trees on the temple grounds. Underneath the canopy, several young Monks, around 16 years old, were busy banging gongs and clanging cymbals. These young Monks would later take part in the hair cutting and head shaving ritual of the young Shan boys who would be ordained as Novice Monks. They are following Buddha's son, Prince Rahula's path in becoming Monks at an early age. Removal of their hair symbolizes renouncing worldly possessions and goods - in olden days long hair was symbolic of royalty.




Around 16:30 of what I call the first day of the festival, the head shaving ceremony gets started. There are pamphlets that are available with a schedule of events but they are not necessarily complete or even accurate.  It is best to check, double check, and then check once again to determine what is happening and when it will be happening.  Hotels are a source of information, the Monks at the Wat are helpful and of course families of the young boys are very good sources of information - even m ore so if you speak Thai or are with someone who does speak Thai.  I would also recommend that you arrive early just to be sure that you don't miss out on anything.  A young boy is seated in each of the plastic chairs - 40 boys in all when we attended in 2009. Each boy is surrounded by his family. After a little speech from the Abbott and a blessing, the ceremony started. The first part of the ceremony is cutting the boy's hair.



The boys wear their colorful super hero or cartoon tee shirts and short pants and sit rigidly in their chair. These boys were about to take a very important step in their religious and temporal life. They are now the center of attention and the representatives of their family. Although these boys are seven to fourteen years old, it is obvious that they were trying their best to bring honor to their family. It is also entertaining to see some moments when the boys were busy being boys such as sharing their hair clippings with their friend, or grimacing at the irritation from their shorn locks.

The boys sit with a large lotus leaf in their lap. Using regular scissors, relatives take turns snipping off locks of hair and placing them into the lotus leave. It is considered an honor to cut the hair and the relative order in which a person cuts the hair is indicative of the respect as well as esteem that is held by the family for the participant.




The Abbot patiently makes his rounds ensuring that he cut some hair from each of the young boys. Many people were mingled amongst the family members photographing or filming the ritual.

After family and friends have had their opportunity to cut some hair, it is time to shave the boy's head. Prior to shaving the boy's head, family members usually a mother of grandmother pours water on to the boy's head. Some waters are scented with flowers or perfume. There is no shaving creme, gel, or foam in sight. Some boys may have some soap rubbed into their hair. It is during the head shaving portion of the ritual that the demeanor of the boys changes. It can be seen in their face - a look of seriousness and in some cases trepidation. These feelings are visibly mitigated by the close and tender attention given to the boys by their family and the Monks. It is a special ceremony that reinforces family, religious, and community ties.

The shaving of the heads is a time consuming effort shared by men, women, and Monks. Just as in the case of the hair cutting, the Abbot makes his way along the lined up chairs to shave a little of each of the forty young heads. The other Monks of the Wats join in to help shave the heads. The Monks shave about one-half of each head with the remainder done by family members.

After their head had been completely shaved, inspected and accepted the boys are washed off with buckets and bowls of scented and unscented water. Many boys have a pomade of powder and water applied to their newly bald heads. The boys retire to the inner areas of the temple complex to spend the night and await the next step in their ordination the following morning. Snippets of hair and shavings are gathered up and removed by some younger Monks.

The forty boys, soon to be Monks, have completed the first step in demonstrating their renunciation of their worldly possessions by having their heads shaved. They have started their individual journey in following Prince Rahula's footsteps.

The next morning around 5:00 A. M. there is continued acrimonious clanging, banging and beat of the previous day's music. As long as this music is going on, something is happening. The Bot is filled with family members attending to their young boy. This morning the "Sang Long" (jewelled sons) will be dressed up in fine silks, brocades, jewelery, and complicated millinery. Their mothers, sisters, and aunts apply makeup to the boy's face that would be the envy of any Bangkok or Pattaya Kathoey (Lady Boy). In fact I suspect that many American women would love to be made up and look as elegant as these young boys do. Each family sets up their spot on the floor in the Bot. Outsiders are very welcomed by the families and the atmosphere is free and relaxed.



The boys are made up to resemble Princes. When the dressing and makeup have been completed the boys look like they are little Maharajahs out of some Rudyard Kipling story. This is not a Halloween masquerade type skit but a financially taxing attempt to emulate royalty. Some of the clothing cost upwards to 10,000 baht ($300 USD). The clothing is colorful, intricate, and very fancy. Dressing up your son for his ordination is very analogous to the tradition and social pressures in the USA for having your daughter get married. To suitably impress the relatives, neighbors, and friends, families take on a large financial burden. Almost $300 for a child's outfit even in the Western World is not a trifle amount. Here in Thailand the average farm worker makes 100 baht ($3.00) a day. To stage this family celebration many families pool resources and many end up borrowing money to finance the spectacle. Peer pressure is very strong for every family to somehow and someway to come up with the money to participate in the tradition.



The fathers focus their efforts on dressing their son in all the various articles of clothing. The proud fathers also give their sons words of comfort and guidance. Other male members of the family sit next to the young boy. In many places, hired men also sit next to the jewelled princes. Once the boy has had his head shaved, his feet no longer touch the ground. The jewelled prince is carried upon the shoulders of his father, grandfather, uncles, and older brothers. To supplement the contingent of male relatives, some families hire men to carry their son on top of their shoulders during the rituals and parades. In many cases the porters for a particular boy are smartly dressed in pastel tailored traditional Shan outfits. Several men are required to carry the boy along the parade route. As a man becomes tired, the boy is transferred to a fresh man for his turn to carry the jewelled prince. Some of the porters with a great deal of energy from the clanging and banging music or perhaps the whiskey that you can smell on their breadth, danced enthusiastically with the boy on their shoulders. A couple of the porters may have a de facto contest as to which one of them can get their prince lowest and most parallel to the ground without dropping him.  The mothers complete the outfitting of their princes by placing their gold chains around their necks and placing gold rings on their fingers. It is interesting to watch combinations of tape and yarn being utilized to ensure that the family jewels stayed on the boys small fingers.



After all 40 boys had been prepared, they eat a small breakfast of fried rice and plain water. They are carried outside to be organized into parade formation. Outside family members congregate awaiting the start of the early dawn parade. A small Asian breed of horse waits outside to lead the parade. The horse is immaculately groomed - to the extent that its mane is cropped where a large garland of flowers is carefully placed around its neck. Two men wearing traditional Shan clothing tend and lead the horse. Another man who appears to be some type of shaman leads the parade along side of the horse. He is dressed in white pants and tunic with his head covered in a white turban. He carries a ceremonial offering bowl.





The boys are carried on the shoulder of a man and are surrounded by men in waiting - waiting to have their turn at carrying the boy on their shoulders. Each boy is also shielded by a large ornate golden umbrella attached at the end of a long wood pole carried by a man walking to the side of the elevated boy. The umbrellas are very ornate and decorated with flowers, garlands, and intricate decorations. The umbrellas are also heavy and unwieldy, so just as in the case of the boy, men take their turns in carrying the umbrella and ensuring that it shelters the specific boy.



Some families also hire "professional" musicians to bang gongs, clang cymbals, and play the unusual drum in the same style as can be heard since arriving in Maehongson for the festival. Some of the "bands" may have long mechanical racks that played several cymbals at the same time. Two men carry the rack and a third man "plays" the cymbals by moving a lever back and forth. The din of the amateur musicians along with the professionals creates quite an atmosphere.





The parade leaves the Wat complex at sunrise and heads through downtown Maehongson. The entourage stops at a local temple in the center of town. The purpose of the stop is for the boys to let the spirits know that they were becoming Monks and to ensure that the boys had been forgiven for any previous unacceptable actions, thoughts, or words. The parade then moves through the airport on the edge of town to visit a Buddhist temple. At this location the boys request forgiveness from the Abbott. The procession eventually returns to the Wat and the spectators leave only to return the next morning for another predawn procession.



If we were back in Thailand we would be attending this year's festival.  Thankfully we have our memories and photographs from a previous celebration to carry us over until we can attend once again.

Monday, March 12, 2012

My Review of Nikon Coolpix S4000 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 4x Wideangle Optical Zoom, 3" Bright Touch Panel HVGA, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Red

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon Coolpix S4000 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 4x Wideangle Optical Zoom, 3" Bright Touch Panel HVGA, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Red


Hate the Shutter delay

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

3out of 5

Pros: Good Image Quality, Great Zoom, Nice Body Color, Large Clear LCD, Small / Compact

Cons: No Viewfinder, Lag / Shutter Delay

Best Uses: Family Photos

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

I purchased this camera as a gift for my wife who is just getting into photography. It takes beautiful photographs but I find the shutter delay to be extremely annoying. It is a very nice carry around camera for a person who is not a demanding photographer.

(legalese)

My Review of Flashpoint Portable Reflector Bracket, 12-67"


Does the job at a reasonable cost

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

4out of 5

Pros: Value, Price

Best Uses: Portraits, Indoors

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

Does the job that it was meant to do for a reasonable price. It does seem to struggle a little when using a larger diameter reflector i.e. 42 inch. Not a major problem for me but could be a consideration for other buyers.

(legalese)

My Review of Expoimaging Rogue FlashBender Small Positionable Reflector


Lightweight and Versatile

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Durable, Easy to Use, Compact, Lightweight

Best Uses: Weddings/Events, Portraits

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

Another great offering from Expoimaging. I use this one in conjunction with the large Flashbender to modify light from my speedlites for environmental portraits. It is very vesatile and exhibits great quality in construction.

(legalese)