Who cares what the excuse is? (I love a good parade, me)

By John Roberts 11 April 2008 02:06:00

As these things often do it started out as a quiet request, the temple that had lent us the time-keeper's gong (I couldn't persuade the mahouts to dress up as the Rank gongster) for polo had had one of their monks promoted and were to hold a small ceremony to celebrate.  Did we have a spare elephant?

    Well, if it is for the community, if we can rest him enough, then my answer is an automatic yes - particularly for temples, a chance for mahout and ele alike to make merit.

    We were busy yesterday, it was such a small thing that, for the first time ever, I almost didn't bother to go to town and check all was well - but there had been some whispering that this might be larger, some folks whispered the TECC had sent up three tuskers from Lampang, staff who attend the temple had talked of abluting and attending the ceremony, all-in-all I thought I'd better go up and check.

    Hmmmm..... I'm still not sure what we were dancing in honour of (not the first time in my life) but dance we did, a quiet ceremony with Phu Ki adding decoration it was not.



...so, this was the sight that greeted me on arrival in Chiang Saen, the first inkling that this might be something larger, Phu Ki is at the back with war saddle...



...the TECC's big tusker with ancient Wat Pa Sak in the background...



...Phu Ki and Khun Bat from the Four Seasons camp draughted in as a foot soldier...



...before we formally enter Chiang Saen gate, the embodiment of King Meng Rai in the war saddle, K. Chaa driving, K. Ke, K. Bat, K. Rat as foot soldiers of the royal guard - for those with long memories, the guy in the hat is K. Tawat from the early days of the TECC eles at the Anantara camp...



...Phu Ki and King Meng Rai successfully enter the city walls...



...the monks watch the eles, watch the monks, watch the eles go by!



...immaculate... ermmm... balance.  Think that was the excuse for this shot!



...even a royal escort elephant deserves a chance to cool off!



...the big tusker got to escort the H.M. the King...



...the monk we were honouring is the gentleman responsible for the famous Monks of Horseback of Mae Chan and they turned up to parade...



...his martial art Muay Thai monks were present to provide escort too...



...the ambulance, recently donated from last year's King's Cup Elephant Polo money, was present to back up the TECC operation...



...and I noticed, for the first time, the emblem of our local guarding infantry unit - what with our elephants at the Tri-athlon, the Elephant Polo, yesterday's parade and our up-coming "Songkran with the Elephants" celebration Chiang Saen is becoming a bit of an ele town!

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