Songkran Day at Wat Greensboro

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We celebrated a Lao Pee Mai, Khmer, and Thai New Year at our local temple Wat Greensboro on Sunday April 14, 2013.  We had a good turnout, surprisingly more so than the previous years.

The weather was exceptionally nice, good weather to celebrate the water festival, but of course the celebration is totally different than from back home.  It’s less water splashing in the US, and more shaving cream.  Even this Persimmon tree got a little splash of shaving cream to ring in the New Year.

This is my first time seeing a Jaydee (stupas) made of rice bags and money tree center piece.

People brought in foods to offer to monks and there must have been at least 2000 tiny bowls, I should know since we end up washing the dishes.

Alms giving.

I’m happy to see so many people visiting the temple, the Alms line went all the way to the back.

Food offering to the monks.

Jaydee Cide (Sand Stupas)

Offering the money tree to the temple.

We pour water over Buddha images for blessing and cleansing the rust from our soul.

We songk nom pra or pour water over monk’s hands for blessing.

Bird release ceremony

Khmer New Year game

Live music and Lumvong (Lao/Khmer/Thai traditional dance)

There’s not that many vendors this year, I guess most didn’t expect such a good turnout and many didn’t setup their booths.

Please visit Wat Greensboro Facebook to see more Songkran photos.

All photos were taken with 5DMkIII, Canon 24-105mm f/4L lens.

A Mural In The Making

I have heard about Brenda Councill painting her Mural live on Friday and Saturday at the Hickory Museum of Art, but didn’t have a chance to see her work until Friday evening of her closing reception’s “A Mural In The Making.”

Above photo is Brenda at the lower right hand corner, she explained that you have to look side way to see the art since the finished piece will be installed that way.  One of her official sponsors were Shurtape and the finished mural will be relocated to the corporate headquarters of Shurtape. This makes a lot of sense as to why she is painting a 3 D version of tapes, to be exact frog tape.

Lee and I didn’t fit in very well, to be honest I was also there to practice shooting under low lighting situation.  I need as much practice as possible.

A small version mural painted by elementary school children.

She spent a lot of time prepping the place.

There are many folk arts for Lee to see.

We ran into the lady that did Hana Tattoo for Lee at the Oktoberfest, I was surprised that she recognized us. My sister Bee at Rodeo Chic Design made the angry bird bag for Lee’s birthday, it is definitely one of a kind.

I hope it is not too soon to post Christmas tree, I’m not surprised to see them at the HM.

This is a neat looking tree, a real acoustic guitar for decoration.

Weekend Random Photos

My mom’s orchid is budding again, last year it bloomed for 5 months.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/10sec, ISO 200, focal length 65mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

The snow was about gone by Saturday.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/50sec, ISO 200, focal length 24mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Lee and I visited the Catawba Science Center on Sunday to see the Ancient Carolinians exhibit.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/100sec, ISO 100, focal length 24mm, exposure bias -0.7step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

They were the Native Americans who came to North Carolina and thrived more than 12,000 years ago. I see fur coat has come a long way.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 3200, focal length 28mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Lee wanted to see the ancient rocks, and there are many fascinating artifacts found here.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 3200, focal length 60mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

This one made me think of the Lao mortar and pestle.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/100sec, ISO 3200, focal length 55mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

They did a great job on the animal exhibit. I finally feel comfortable taking indoor photography without using flash. I set my ISO and white balance to auto and this seems to help tremendously.

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 3200, focal length 55mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/4sec, ISO 3200, focal length 70mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Manual, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 3200, focal length 95mm, white balance auto, evaluative metering

The Hickory Museum of Art is in the same building.  They have a nice exhibit but I do miss NYC museums, I think Lee would like visiting there also.  She seems to enjoy herself here.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/30sec, ISO 3200, focal length 24mm, exposure bias -0.3step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

The Ethiopia king and queen exhibit.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500, focal length 32mm, exposure bias -0.3step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

A sumo wrestler carved out of wood. Lee asked me why is he wearing a white diaper? Interesting, I’m not sure. I’m glad she didn’t think he was Santa Clause.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 3200, focal length 60mm, exposure bias -0.3step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Small town art collection.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/40sec, ISO 100, focal length 24mm, exposure bias +1.7step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

I thought the Buddhist art of hell was depressing, this one of Christianity is also disturbing to me. This is the Angel pouring blood on the earth.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/50sec, ISO 800, focal length 32mm, exposure bias -0.3step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Another one that makes you think.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/30sec, ISO 800, focal length 24mm, exposure bias -0.7step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200, focal length 40mm, exposure bias -0.7step, white balance auto, evaluative metering

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/5.6, 1/80sec, ISO 3200, focal length 40mm, exposure bias -0.7step, white balance auto, evaluative metering