Wat Chalong Temple Fair 2014

What is a Temple Fair?

The Temple Fair is something which has grown from a tradition where the temple opened  their lands to the General Public to rent for a short period of time - the money made from this would then be given to the temple and they would be able to perform a number of necessary things, from painting to building and preservation.

It is clearly a good opportunity to make money because it was a very busy place last night  (opening early as well). It was even organized with parking for cars and motorbikes - a simple way to collect money.

I was immediately welcomed to Wat Chalong by the noise of praying monks - as I wondered in I was pleased to see that the first temple on the left had a collection of people outside it who were praying with the monks and they were also physically to the attached to the monks by the white string which is always unravelled.

This string was also wrapped around the elephants which stood outside the temple which was opposite - but visitors were allowed in this temple to pay their respects to the Buddha - Friday 31st is actually Buddha Day.

Then we wandered slowly and there was too much food to choose from - I started with the 'Old Man's Hair / Roti Sai Mai' which I love and written about here previously.

There was a number of places where you could purchase your insects. But I am not sure what all these ones were though - I haven't tried them all yet, but here's a list.

Then there was the cashew nuts cooked in sugar and then placed on a leaf - but i did not know that you were not supposed to eat the leaf and I was hungry!

Then came the clothes and the items - so much to see - it was almost like I was at the Weekend Market again! 

Then the walking sticks the same as the stairs.

Jemma was wearing a new dress for Chinese New Year so we said 'no' to the Bouncy Castle so yes to everything else.

The rollercoaster was a bit scary!

Then there was the peculiar animals - the mermaid

the 'snake girl'

the girl with only a head

Then a real crocodile!

and a real monkey?

I was glad that Jemma showed no interest in the Haunted House and going on another rollercoaster.

Then it was time for a plethora of games to try to won a prize - darts, fishing, throwing balls and...  - we didn't win anything though...

Then the fireworks exploded - much to the shock of us all.

Then it was time for an Issan sausage and they were delicious - I cannot remember what else I ate on the way home but it was all great food...

There were also the people selling the lottery tickets - they seem to get everywhere - i wonder if there is more luck if the ticket is purchased in the grounds of a Temple?

It was interesting to note that there was a sign to indicate that you were not to hug the Buddha - was there a problem with them taking photographs of them embracing a Buddha? This was also mentioned on foursquare.

I was looking forward to another location for a Twin Palms / Bake being open for a coffee later but it was closed at 6:30pm - - does it always close a this time?

This was the Wat Chalong Temple Fair in February 2013.

This was the Wat Chalong Temple Fair in January 2012.