A High Monk's Passing 3- Coming Together

As the bier took shape I wondered what it was going to be.  At first I thought boat, then perhaps a fish, before I finally settled on a bird because of the tail.  I was amazed at how quickly the construction, hardly any of it apparant during the day, was progressing.  I would have liked to see how they framed and covered the "bird."

The sections stored over alongside the wat began to make more sense to me.  It became obvious that most of it had been built elsewhere and, section by section, assembled here.  Notice the "fence" partially in place with other sections ready to be attached.

Would the next units slide down on the vertical supports?  Turns out they were placed on top, the supports nesting inside a wood border at the base of the new section.  Then they were nailed in place.  Zap, zap, zap- nail guns and power tools all the way!

But the sides were different.  I wrongly assumed that the square opening on the south side was where his casket would be placed inside.  

More sections ready to go.  The construction was of mostly thin materials very dry and light, but the framing looked strong.  Two people could easily pick up on of the units above.  The gold colored pieces on top are "Naga."  Because they are animal- part cobra part dragon, they could not enter a wat or temple.  But outside the entrances they forever stand guard protecting the Buddha.  This week they would safeguard a monk's passage.

The individual units were lovely, the designs intricate, every pattern highly symbolic I'm sure.  I watched a Thai woman carefully placing gold leaf, one quarter sized piece at a time, on a section yet to be placed.

Meanwhile in other areas of the wat, early morning business was carrying on as usual.  I'd often seen vendors wheeling their dollies around town, piled high with colorful mats for sale.  This looks like how they start their business day.  Do they buy mats outright from the guy in black, or sell them on commission?

A correction from the last blog.  I mentioned that you can click on the photos to enlarge them, which is true enough.  But to return them to their original size click on the "X" on the upper right rather than on the photo itself.