A well known Burmese
Buddhist monk died between "three and six" years ago, everyone has a different
opinion on when he actually died. The "burning monk" ceremony, began 2 weeks ago with the construction of a paper and
styrofoam temple. For the week leading up to the cremation there was a festival like atmosphere at the temple with performances, games, food, and unbelievably loud music that we could hear from our bedrooms until
two in the morning. The night of the burning, what seemed like the entire town gathered at the temple. The temple itself was festooned in bright colors and lights. There were also streamers made of 20 and 100
bhat bills. As we entered the temple we saw the "guest of honor." He was encased in a
glass fixture surrounded by neon lights, and on closer inspection he was actually covered gold. People stood in line to approach the golden monk to pay
their and watch. The golden burning monk was an amazing respects by burning incense and offering prayers. At first, only the other monks were allowed inside the temple as they set him ablaze. Then they allowed all of us to come into the paper temple,
and none of us had ever seen a cremation before. The smoke was
beginning to get thick filling the temple. All of us will carry
a little bit of the monk with us...(in our lungs)
A well known Burmese Buddhist monk died between "three and six" years ago, everyone has a different 
opinion on when he actually died. The "burning monk" ceremony, began 2 weeks ago with the construction of a paper and styrofoam temple. For the week leading up to the cremation there was a festival like atmosphere at the temple with performances, games, food, and unbelievably loud music that we could hear from our bedrooms until 
two in the morning. The night of the burning, what seemed like the entire town gathered at the temple. The temple itself was festooned in bright colors and lights. There were also streamers made of 20 and 100 bhat bills. As we entered the temple we saw the "guest of honor." He was encased in a
glass fixture surrounded by neon lights, and on closer inspection he was actually covered gold. People stood in line to approach the golden monk to pay their and watch. The golden burning monk was an amazing respects by burning incense and offering prayers. At first, only the other monks were allowed inside the temple as they set him ablaze. Then they allowed all of us to come into the paper temple, 
and none of us had ever seen a cremation before. The smoke was
beginning to get thick filling the temple. All of us will carry a little bit of the monk with us...(in our lungs)
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