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It’s commonly understood that once a person is buried, it is considered a final resting place for most culture, but not for the Thai and Lao culture as I’ve heard and understood. As for this story told by Pah Un, Wat Don Cemetery is located in Sathon district in Bangkok, Thailand. It’s well known in the area, and the graveyard contains burial remains of people of Chinese heritage. It is mainly for those that pass away and have no relatives to come and claim their bodies, such as those that die of a sudden death like a car accident or any type of accident, which is considered ‘Tai Hong’, and their bodies would be buried here temporary until being dug back up again to be cleaned, and performed a final ceremony of cremation, those spirits would then consider to be rested in peace. I think it’s a bit shocking to the Westerners, but very common practice in the Southeast Asia region.
This was a story told by Pah Un…
I remember seeing something similar to this on TV, where they would take skeletons, which I remember vividly, was seeing the skull and other parts and washed it in an aluminum basin, very similar to washing vegetables, or clothing, but how they actually are doing it, I’ve never seen. I wanted to be a part of it, probably would get all kinds of ‘Boun’ (charity), as they promised in their poster, at the moment I’m just full of greed for ‘Boun’.
After putting some thoughts into it, I called and asked my friends to join me for such a noble events, to go and clean, clear a cemetery. I tried to explain the process to them as best I could without scaring them. I asked, asked, and asked; surprisingly none would volunteer to go with me. The majority would say that they are afraid of ghost, afraid that the image might stay in their mind, afraid that they wouldn’t be able to go to sleep, and even asked if I’m not afraid. I told them that there’s nothing to be afraid of because the events will take place during the daytime, but bottom line, they all told me ‘If you’re not afraid, then go by yourself!’
I think community service is a great way to give back to our local community. People become involved in community service for a range of reasons, for some, serving community is altruistic act, for others it is a punishment. I’m going to talk about the altruistic act only because I think it’s noble for someone to give up their time and energy for the benefits of others. The one person that I marvel and think should be recognize for her good deeds is Darly, the founder of Laovoices.com. Darly recently visited Laos and donated boxes of books through her Book Box Fund program to the less fortunate children in Laos, she is happy to report back to us that,
‘I delivered $800.00 to Ms. Kongdeuane Nettavong. Director, National Library of Laos for 4 LP Book Boxes. They didn’t have enough material in stock to finish the 4 boxes. I was told that they will assemble our book boxes as of Monday, February 12th, 2007. All of the book boxes will be delivered to the assigned schools with in a month. I gave a list to the following schools to have the book boxes delivered to:
One in Muang Sikhotabong, Bane Akat
One in Muang Pakse, Bane Phonsikhay
One in Muang Phone Thong, Bane Danavieng
One in Muang Phone Thong, Bane Nong Dong’
For a young person, Darly is ready to do her next project; this is what she said based on her observation of Laos’s schooling system,
‘After my visit to Laos and especially to Champasak province I want to start a new project. Since the book boxes will be delivered to the school in the area, I want to help with building a school or at least a library for the school those book boxes are given to.
It was really sad to visit the school of my cousins and to see the state of the building. Most of the relatives in our family in Champasak province are teachers and are the ones pushing for building a new school. I told them that I will help them with what I can.’
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