28 MON

In Bangkok, an abbot is accused of refusing to carry out a full cremation. Payao Aomsin, 57, is holding a funeral for Pansak Tuangsri, 45, her brother, at Pradu Bangjak Temple. After four days of the ceremony, Payao receives a phone call from Maytee Waranuwat, the temple’s abbot, who tells her that he is unable to complete the cremation as the cremator has broken down, leaving only half of the body burned. However, Payao is convinced that the abbot refuses to finish the cremation because she still owes him a B4,000 fee. She adds that there have been a few similar cases in the past where the abbot failed to finish the cremation and asked the deceased’s relatives to move the body to another temple. The abbot claims that the cremator has really broken down and is being fixed.

2 SAT

In Ayudhaya, tourists flock to see a group of tame frogs. Phrakhrupradit Kijjarak, 46, the abbot of Wat Rachpraditthan says that monks first noticed the arrival of two baby frogs in the temple’s lotus pond back in October. As monks start to feed them, more frogs come to the pond. The abbot says that the frogs will croak along whenever they hear music and sit on the edge of the pond waiting to be fed. When news of the frogs goes public, nearly 500 tourists visit to take photos and pet them. Phrakhrupradit says he will have to enlarge the pond if more frogs arrive.

3 SUN

In Loei, two monks get caught while on a beer run. Rungaroon Krootsoi and Danai Soidokjik are on their way to get more beer when they are pulled over by traffic police. Danai, the driver, is still weaaring his yellow robe, whereas Rungaroon has changed into civilian clothes. Both confess that they have been drinking to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the back of the monk’s residence at Sriwichaiwanaram Temple. They decided to borrow a fellow monk’s car to get more beer. Danai is charged with drunk driving and driving without a license. Both are defrocked.

4 MON

In Pattaya, four Russian tourists are caught having sex in the sea. Four Russian tourists, aged 25-30, are engaging in an orgy in the sea off Jomtien Beach while passers-by watch and take photos. The police arrive at the scene and fine the Russians B500 each for lewd behavior.