THAILAND – Bangkok – Private Monk Blessing

Description

Guests can experience the essential Buddhist ritual of offering alms to monks first-hand at Bangkok’s most famous temples. Together with their guide, they will meet with a resident monk and offer a donation, an act that is believed to bring prosperity and good karma. This particular moment is the perfect opportunity to learn about Buddhist practices first-hand and participate in an important local tradition.

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

• THAILAND – Bangkok – Visit Bangkok like a Local
• Classic visit of Wat Pho or Wat Arun

Selling points

• Easia Signature activity
• An upgrade to a regular visit of Wat Pho or Wat Arun
• Suitable for a wide range of traveler profiles
• Easy to include in programs, with different options available for different budgets

Level Of The Excursion

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Economic Impact

Additional Information

Positive impacts

This activity offers a learning experience to travelers while also keeping local traditions alive.

Negative impacts

No negative.

Duration

Approximately 15 – 30 minutes, depending on how busy the monk is

Min pax

1

Max pax

6

How to sell it

• As an upgrade to a classic temple visit
• As an experience for guests that are looking for encounters and immersive experiences
• As a spiritual moment during classic sightseeing
• As an opportunity to learn about Buddhist practices first-hand

Why this activity

• To have more Easia Signature touches in Bangkok
• To have easy upgrades to classic visits
• To offer experiences to high-end and Exclusive clients

Good to combine with

A classic visit of Grand Palace or a khlong tour

Do not combine with

Other monk blessing in different places (most obvious one is at Wat Prathat Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai)

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

It is an Easia Signature activity, however, blessing by a monk can be easily arranged or copied by competitors

Pros

• Easy to include
• Not a high cost, suitable to wide budgets
• Shows our creativity on how to “upgrade” classic visits

Cons

• Can easily be copied
• Sometimes monks are busy and others will be waiting behind

Information

Wat Pho
Time : 09.00 – 10.45 and 13.00 – 17.00
Contact : 083-057-7100 / 02-2260335
Location for monk blessing at Wat Pho : small pavilion in front of Phra Viharn of Reclining Buddha.

Wat Arun
Time : 08.00 – 10.30 and 13.00 – 17.00
Contact : 02 -891-2185
Almsgiving set : We have to prepare it ourselves

Alerts

• During important Buddhist holidays the activity may not be possible. These are not on fixed dates, they change yearly depending on the lunar calendar
• If other people are waiting to offer alms, the activity may be less relaxed, it depends on how busy the temple is on the time of visit

Important information

• Alms sets are available on spot at Wat Pho, at Wat Arun the guide will need to prepare the set in advance
• There are 2 different services available in ERP: 1 for Leisure with a lower budget, 1 for Exclusive with a higher budget
• Guests need to wear polite clothing for the activity: shoulders and knees should be covered

Quotation guideline

Modules for the activity have been created in ERP already, the difference is the budget provided for the donation and the alms set. The module includes the entrance fee for Wat Pho and Wat Arun, you must delete one if you dont need it. You can find them with the following information:

Brand: Leisure

Module Name: PROD MODULE – Bangkok – Easia Signature (Leisure) – Monk Blessing (at Wat Pho OR Wat Arun) – EN

Includes: donation to temple, budget for alms giving, Easia Signature supplement, entrance fee

Brand: Exclusive

Module Name: PROD MODULE – Bangkok – Easia Signature (Exclusive) – Monk Blessing (at Wat Pho OR Wat Arun) – EN

Includes: donation to temple, budget for alms giving, Easia Signature supplement, entrance fee

Inclusion

• Donation to the temple
• Almsgiving set to donate
• Entrance fee

Exclusion

• Easia Guide
• Transportation

Important notes

• Guide needs to be clearly briefed to make sure he/she knows what to do on spot, which building to go, etc

Special Guide notes

• Make sure to check in advance with the temple to make sure a monk is available at the planned time of visit
• If there are other people who also want to offer, consider letting them go first so guests can see the ceremony, and they can spend more time with the monk afterwards
• For Wat Arun, make sure to prepare an offering set in advance
• Make sure to check if guests have polite clothes for the activity

Contact

Wat Pho
Time : 09.00 – 10.45 and 13.00 – 17.00
Contact : 083-057-7100 / 02-2260335

Wat Arun
Time : 08.00 – 10.30 and 13.00 – 17.00
Contact : 02 -891-2185

English

Private Monk Blessing

Besides their impressive architecture and historical importance, temples also play a practical role in the daily lives of the Thai people. During your visit to Wat Pho / Wat Arun you will experience this up close as your guide introduces you to one of the resident monks of the temple and explains how to offer alms. It is an extremely important ritual that is practiced throughout Thailand and is believed to bring good karma and prosperity. After the alms donation, the monk will bless you by chanting Buddhist sermons and sprinkling you with holy water.

French

Bénédiction privée d’un moine

Outre leur architecture impressionnante et leur importance historique, les temples jouent également un rôle essentiel dans la vie quotidienne des Thaïlandais. Au cours de votre visite du Wat Pho / Wat Arun, vous en ferez l’expérience de près lorsque votre guide vous présentera à l’un des moines résidents du temple et vous expliquera comment faire l’aumône. Il s’agit d’un rituel extrêmement important qui est pratiqué dans toute la Thaïlande et qui est considéré comme apportant un bon karma et la prospérité. Après l’aumône, le moine vous bénira en chantant des sermons bouddhistes et en vous aspergeant d’eau bénite.

Spanish

Bendición privada de un monje

Además de su impresionante arquitectura y su importancia histórica, los templos también desempeñan un papel esencial en la vida cotidiana de los tailandeses. Durante su visita a Wat Pho / Wat Arun, lo experimentará de primera mano cuando su guía le presente a uno de los monjes residentes del templo y le explique cómo dar limosna. Se trata de un ritual muy importante que se practica en toda Tailandia y que se considera que trae buen karma y prosperidad. Tras la limosna, el monje le bendecirá cantando sermones budistas y rociándole con agua bendita.

Italian

Benedizione privata di un monaco

Oltre alla loro imponente architettura e al loro significato storico, i templi svolgono un ruolo essenziale nella vita quotidiana del popolo thailandese. Durante la visita al Wat Pho / Wat Arun, potrete sperimentarlo in prima persona quando la guida vi presenterà uno dei monaci residenti del tempio e vi spiegherà come fare l’elemosina. Si tratta di un rituale estremamente importante, praticato in tutta la Thailandia e considerato portatore di buon karma e prosperità. Dopo l’elemosina, il monaco vi benedirà cantando sermoni buddisti e cospargendovi di acqua santa.

German

Private Mönchssegnung

Neben ihrer beeindruckenden Architektur und historischen Bedeutung spielen die Tempel auch eine praktische Rolle im täglichen Leben der Thailänder. Während Ihres Besuchs im Wat Pho / Wat Arun werden Sie dies hautnah miterleben, wenn Ihr Reiseleiter Ihnen einen der ansässigen Mönche des Tempels vorstellt und erklärt, wie man Almosen gibt. Dies ist ein äußerst wichtiges Ritual, das in ganz Thailand praktiziert wird und dem Glauben nach gutes Karma und Wohlstand bringt. Nach der Almosengabe segnet der Mönch Sie, indem er buddhistische Predigten rezitiert und Sie mit heiligem Wasser besprengt.