Page 60 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2025 THAILAND

We repeated that symbolic act the next
day as we joined a family’s Songkran feast
at their home near Baan Ph Tanod village,
where OAT’s Grand Circle Foundation
helps support the local school. One son,
who works for OAT in Bangkok, was home
for the holiday to join generations of his
family in a traditional meal and show re-
spect for his elders.
Welcomed with introductions all
around, we joined in final preparations,
including folding peppery leaves around
a spicy peanutty filling for a snack
gulped in one bite. Then we took our
seats at long tables, and passed platters
of traditional curries, egg rolls and stir-
fries. Our festive beverage was brilliant
blue-purple butterfly pea tea.
We were sated and happy, but the fun
was only beginning. A karaoke machine
spun out some pop classics and soon we
were singing along with our Thai hosts.
When the music changed to traditional
Thai rhythms, we jumped up to join them
in a dance. The matriarch demonstrated
elegant classical hand gestures where fin-
gers stretch impossibly backwards, but
Mary’s wouldn’t cooperate. We did learn
quickly how to move our feet to the beat,
laughing and smiling as we two-stepped in
a large circle, like the one big family we
had become.
Before leaving, blessings were shared.
After pouring scented water on the home
altar Buddha, our hosts poured water on
our hands, a sign of respect.and gratitude,
and patted our cheeks with a white paste
of limestone talc, to protect us from evil.
We were grateful, in part, because we
could see the family youngsters gathered
outside, between the front door and our
waiting bus. In their hands? Water guns of
every size and shape. A modest drenching
was in store, a prelude to soakings to

60 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2025