Another cultural fillip for tamada's 20-odd years in Thailand. Late last year, I attended a wake for a friend of the wife's that seemed a good sort (and the bonus of giving me brownie points with the wife). It was a low-key affair that I have witnessed before, during the period where the deceased lies 'in state' whilst neighbours, kids and anyone passing by can drop in for some food, beer and gambling. It ends when they burn the body and then the road gets returned for public use.
Anyway, the wife received an invite for whatever the next phase is related to this passing away and once again she reckoned it would be good joss if I came along so I did. This was a totally different affair and I could see the fireworks on the way there and hear it before I found a place to park. Bouncy castles and trampolines for the kids, over 100 tables and a full house while the morlam stuff warming up on a huge stage. We got there about an hour late but were slotted in and fed as well as the complimentary 2 bottles of firewater. I asked he wife on the way home how much for such a shindig and she reckoned 35,000 baht. I guess that the deceased was a pretty good sort for his surviving rels to pony up this for a show. To be honest, I don't recall his name of what he looked like as they tend to paste their graduation picture on floral tributes when they kick off but I think it's a safe bet that he was called Lek.
The show was quite decent and the male singer had a hard time handling the male comedian's improv that had the crowd in stitches... pretty raunchy stuff as well. The most notable bit for me was the lass (one of 6) dancing at the far left who had the most incredible set of natural jugs that seemed locked in a perpetual struggle for freedom. Even the ladies at our table were agog with her... dynamic pneumatics? Lets just say I was quietly impressed. Very impressed. The dancers were actually quite a raunchy lot and as each set unrolled, the music got louder and more people started ramwonging in what passed for a mosh pit, these girls pelvic thrusts were getting more aggressive, including straddling speaker boxes and grinding on the scaffolding. I baled for the car around midnight as the temptation to get up and do my own 'Udon Shuffle' was becoming too tempting. Actually, I was drinking cola only and wanted to avoid the inevitable invite by the drunkest, scruffiest, toothless old bugger for me to join in. About an hour later, a thump in the bed of the pickup indicated that the first of my locally bred party animals had thrown the towel in. We were all home by 2 am... probably before the usual rumble kicks off at these do's.
A healthy sign was my soon-to-be 5 year-old tipping 20 baht SEVERAL TIMES to the dancer that I reckoned had the fittest body and best 'moves' up there. Where he got the money is beyond me.
The wake... after the wake. What's it called?
The wake... after the wake. What's it called?
In the wife's village, 100 days after the passing a tamboon roi wan is held by the deceased's family. After one, two or three years a tamboon jaak khaao or tham thaan is held that is a much bigger do-to as you have described.
The wake... after the wake. What's it called?
That's the ones! Thanks. Last night's bash was the roi wan and was a decent thrash. The wife (totally hangover-less like only a young un can be) reckons that if the family has enough dosh in 3 years time, they will have the monster tham thaan thingie.
Despite a huge falling out with her parents (Result!) she reckons that when either her dad or her mum goes first, there will be no money wasted on the individuals last rites. However, after the second one pops their clogs, she will have the wake and a huge roi wan and hope that their spirits are tormented shits whilst their next life involves being reincarnated as a soi dog in Nakhon Sawan. Sweetheart eh?
Despite a huge falling out with her parents (Result!) she reckons that when either her dad or her mum goes first, there will be no money wasted on the individuals last rites. However, after the second one pops their clogs, she will have the wake and a huge roi wan and hope that their spirits are tormented shits whilst their next life involves being reincarnated as a soi dog in Nakhon Sawan. Sweetheart eh?
The wake... after the wake. What's it called?
No offense to those who enjoy such affairs, bit I told my wife I''ll haunt her if she has such an affair for me after I die. Scatter my ashes over Khao Kho and move on. I wouldn't mind having my ashes attached to one of those Bon fai rockets and blasted off into space!
The wake... after the wake. What's it called?
Timothy Leary had 7grams of his ashes flown into space. I guess he considered it the "ultimate high" =D>