Why is “phonics” not spelled the way it sounds?_______________________________________________________________________

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?  _______________________________________________________________________

Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

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Known as “Khao Phansa”, the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation.  Buddhist monks remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out for a period of three months, starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month (in July) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October).  In former times, this is done to prevent monks from trampling upon rice paddies when they venture out to receive offerings from the villagers.

Buddhism, Buddhist traditions, and beliefs are central forces that shape the local way of life, and give rise to various festivals of religious origin which have been observed for generations.  For example, the majority of the Buddhist ordinations take place during the Buddhist Lent, when young novices enter the monkhood.  Villagers also actively engage in merit-making during this period.  Offerings consisting of an assortment of savoury dishes and sweets as well as items for daily use are offered to monks.  Items that provide light, such as candles, lanterns and lamp oil are deemed to be particularly important offerings as it is believed that they provide monks with illumination physically and spiritually.

Many of these traditions have evolved into full scale festivals featured in the Buddhist calendar and the kingdom’s official calendar of festivals and events, such as “The Candle Festival” of Ubon Ratchathani province, which features a procession of ornately carved beeswax candles of various shapes and sizes, and the “Tak Bat Dok Mai” floral-offering merit-making ritual that is unique to Saraburi province.

Exercises may be performed with or without pool equipment like foam floats such as “noodles” and weights.  They may also be held in different water depths, with some deep water classes providing float belts to assist exercises.  Generally you don’t even need to be able to swim to participate in water exercise classes.

Although generally more low-impact than land-based aerobics, these classes have most of the fat-burning and endurance-building benefits that you get from other forms of aerobic activity.  An aerobic water exercise of around 30 minutes will help you burn about 300 calories.  Classes run for around 45 minutes and include a warm-up, cool-down and stretching exercises.  The classes include things like jogging, kicking, jumping, squats, and other exercise movements and are accompanied by music.

The main benefits of this type of exercise are:

• Great for all fitness levels
• Good for weight loss/fat burning
• Builds strength and flexibility
• Excellent cardio-respiratory exercise

Water Aerobics is held at the Dusit Thani, 9:30 every Wednesday and Friday morning.  A regular group of us partake in fun exercise, and then coffee afterwards.  We would love for anyone who is keen on keeping fit and having fun to join us.  You don’t have to be a member of either PILC or of the Dusit gym.  Cost is 300 baht per session, or 6 sessions for 1500 baht.  For more information, contact Denise Bowles.

A:  In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often signed using an X.  Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document.  The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

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Q:  Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use “mayday” as their call for help?

A:  This comes from the French word “m’aidez” – meaning “help me” – and is pronounced “mayday”.

She confronts her husband and asks for an explanation.  He explains, “Every time I was unfaithful to you, I put a golf ball in the drawer.”  She figures 3 times in 30 years isn’t bad and asks, “But what about the $1,000?”  He replied, “Whenever I got a dozen golf balls, I sold them.”

“Outstanding,” Fred replied.  “They taught us all the latest psychological techniques – visualization, association – it’s made a big difference for me.”

“That’s great!  What was the name of that clinic?”  Fred went blank.  He thought and thought but couldn’t remember.  Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, “What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?”

“You mean a rose?”

“Yes, that’s it!”  He turned to his wife.  “Rose, what was the name of that clinic?”

photo by sir_watkyn

Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in more than 46 countries around the world, though at different times in the month of May, and in some countries, like Thailand, it is celebrated in entirely different times of the year.  In the present time, Mother’s Day has come to be internationally recognized as the day to honor all mothers, and thank them for the services they impart for the benefit of their individual child and consequently to the development of mankind.

The origin of the Easter Bunny can be traced back to the ancient Pagan settlements.  They regarded rabbits as symbols of fertility, because the animal gives birth to multiple offspring at a time.  Since rabbits were fertility icons, they became symbols of the rising fertility of the Earth.  Ancient tribes celebrated the beginning of spring at the Vernal Equinox by blessing seeds for growth and placing colored eggs on an altar.  Therefore, it can be said that the Easter Bunny has its origin in the ancient Pagans.

Another story, connected to the origin of the Easter Bunny, is also related to an ancient Pagan legend.  As per the legend, Goddess Eostre – the most worshipped Pagan deity – retrieved a wounded bird in a snowy forest during a winter season.  To help it survive the chilly winter, the Goddess turned it into a rabbit.  However, it was not a complete transformation of the bird to a rabbit and hence, it continued to lay eggs.  To extend its gratitude, the rabbit decorated its eggs beautifully and presented them to the deity, every spring.

However, many historical records suggest that the Easter Bunny originated in Alsace and Southwestern Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1600s.  The American folklore was acquainted with the Easter Bunny when the German settlers, who arrived in Pennsylvania during the 1700s, introduced the legendary character to them.  It was termed as the arrival of ‘Oschter Haws’, which was considered ‘childhood’s greatest pleasure’.  The small kids believed that the Oschter Haws would lay a nest of colored eggs.

The Thai people celebrate this festival with water.  Everyone gets soaking wet, and since it is the hottest season of the year, the custom is quite refreshing.  Songkran is a Public Spring Cleaning Day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner.

During the afternoon of the 13th, Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony.  Young people pour scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking the blessing of the older people.  In ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year.

Until recently Thailand was almost entirely an agricultural society, and this has been a perfect time to take a break from the business of earning a living.  The rice harvest is in, and replanting has to await the coming of the rains.

It is an old belief that the Nagas, or mythical serpents, brought on rain by spouting water from the seas.  The more they spouted, the more rain there would be.  So, one might believe that the Songkran custom of throwing water is actually a rain-making idea, but it seems that the Thais don’t really bother about why they celebrate Songkran – they just do it for having a great time!

Join in the fun, and be prepared to get wet, very wet!

photo from Wyndham