lottery

This past Sunday I went to a Wat near the flower garden.  I have seen it up on the hill for years and my Canadian friend said that she has hiked up but I have never gone. I had some free time on Sunday so I decided to venture out that way.  I did notice that there appeared to be quite a few cars going that way so I thought it might be popular.  
The road is not as wide as the one going to Doi Sutep, so you really can't pass.  I was going along when I came to the end of the passage up...   it is not an easy think to crawl up hill with a scooter.  I thought I was a Woodstock or they were giving away autos.
When you get to the top you are greeted with very little parking spaces and many people.  I parked the bike next to the toilet.
There are several thing you do at this Wat... you pray,..you shake sticks out of a can to get the right number and you promise lots to the Buddha if you win.  I knew the folks were very serious about the lottery since the Monk passing out the blessing and the string had no line and use an elastic string.  I was about to go for he plastic when he took a lunch break.
This Wat is very famous for having the winning numbers which re drawn 1st and 16th.  Since this was the last weekend before the 16th, people came from Bangkok to get the number and buy the ticket.
My Thai teacher tried to explain the lottery system to me.. better just try to learn Thai.  I did get that if you win you promise to bring hundreds of Jasmine which is the Buddha's favorite.
You also try to rub the gong to see if you can get a deep tone.  If you can...more luck
So here are a few pics

There is going to be a quiz.. each Wat is different but all gold and glass.  There were several buildings like this and in the last one, everyone was huddled shaking the sticks.  I did not take a picture.



In front of the building is a very large Buddha... hard to get and idea of the size.. but I would say 4 story building.

This was the sky after three days of rain.  There is still a haze and the view is toward a range of hills near the national park.  The area just belong the Naga staircase that you could walk up rather than drive the stop start road.
The building below is part of the flower park.

I am very fond of some of the unusual flowers that are found as you walk along.








This is picture I put on FB... I thought he was histerical in his sweater and baby carriage.                    Notice the scotch tape on the cheeks of this older man visiting the Wat.