One Sunday Morning in Ratchaburi

We attended our first Sunday mass in Ratchaburi at Saint Peter's Catholic Church. Photos above were taken outside the church before mass.

The Immaculate Concepcion Seminary is located in the same compound as the Catholic church.

The compound is owned by the Catholic Mission Center of the Ratchaburi Diocese.

The grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.

We had our first Pizza lunch at the Pizza Company, the only pizza restaurant in Ratchaburi province.

Our seafood pizza.

Ham and mushroom spaghetti in carbonara sauce for mom and JM.

The Parable of the Talents

For to everyone who has,more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has,even what he has will be taken away.

Matthew 25:29

Loy Kratong Festival

This night we witnessed the Loy Kratong festival in Ratchaburi province. I looked around to see interesting kratong designs and many were uniquely made. Photos below.

Kratong or float is basically made of banana leaves and trunk, flowers, a candle, incense and a coin of any amount. Nowadays it can be made of anything, from chunks of styrofoam, lottery tickets and bread!

The kratongs above are made of bread, made attractive by food coloring and each designed artistically.

Plain looking kratongs made of bread and decorated with dendrodium orchids and marygolds.

Bread kratongs decorated with paper flowers.

A view of the Mekong River with lots of people joining the festival. Two giant kratongs were seen floating from a distance.

A giant purple,pink and orange colored kratong.

A smaller hot pink kratong.

A kratong replica of the Suphanahong, the king's boat.

JM and dad watching the lions' dance.

I saw a green tree and a . . . . .

pink tree.

More Views of Ratchaburi

Pretty wildflowers grow near the rice fields.

Evening skies in Ratchaburi with fog beginning to descend in distant hills.

JM and dad pose for a souvenir photo with the city view at the background.

Green rice fields and hills give a soothing relief to tired eyes.

The other side of the rice fields.

Here's the clock tower on top of a hill.

A view of the city of Ratchaburi with the clock tower in the foreground.

Yummy !

While touring around Rachaburi, we passed by a place famous for bats that would leave caves at around 6 PM to look for food. We didn't really wait for the show, instead the evening market caught our attention. There were a lot of goodies sold at bargain prices. And the foods on sale were tempting. My son bought crispy fried chicken for dinner and for me, I opted for crispy catfish salad and fruit gelatine. Other gastronomic delights we found were too much to bring home for dinner and below are some of my favorites :

Sushi

Pizza

Assorted Meatballs on Sticks

Fruit Gelatine (I took these home for desert.)

Donuts and

Bakery Products

Happy eating !!!

Views of Ratchaburi

Monkeys

Monkeys are one of Ratchaburi's tourists attractions. They would welcome visitors carrying bags of corn and bananas by following them and standing up on their hind legs. With the number of visitors that passes by each day, it seems they never get enough of their fill. See pictures below.

All Souls Day

Deliver Them from Purgatory

My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the Garden, in Thy scourging and crowning with thorns, on the way to Calvary, in Thy crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken; do Thou deliver them from the terrible torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in paradise.
Amen.

All Saints Day

"The glorious company of the apostles praise Thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise Thee.
All Thy saints and elect with one voice do acknowledge Thee,
O Blessed Trinity, one God!"

Antiphon at Lauds. from the Te Deum