It is a tradition In Thailand that as many as possible of the family return to their family home for the New Year break. Apart from creating havoc on the roads to and from Bangkok it is a must do occasion. We live in Buriram and my wife’s home is in a village some 28 kilometers out of town. So a few days before, I was told in no uncertain terms that my presence on New Year’s Day would be expected in the village, as family members from various destinations would be making the annual journey.
I was delegated the task of buying a pig as the family like to have a barbequed Spit roast for the gathering. So off we went with a few helpers to the pig farm to select our New Year’s Day lunch. After some deliberation a suitable porker was selected and loaded on to the back of the pick-up, and transported for his last days to the village.
Although we ex-pats do share the odd joke about our visits to the “village” I have to admit that over the years I have come to enjoy these occasions. The secret is to sit back and enjoy the sheer madness of the day.
By the time I arrived the pig had been dispatched and was roasting away on the spit.
There were in excess of 20 people of all ages at the house and as you looked down along the street it was clear that there were another half dozen similar parties taking place. It is complete pandemonium as everyone is speaking at the top of their voices and the only time it stops is when everybody is falling about laughing. I must admit that I didn’t get every joke but you can’t help laughing anyway.
So everyone eats and drinks to excess with loads of hugs and kisses going on all day. The family is a very important part of Thai life and I felt privileged to be part of a most enjoyable day.