For five days before his ordination Aun would join his local temple to practice and to learn to become a monk. In the early morning he would join with the monks for “bintabaht” and will help carry food donations. At this stage, before ordaining, he is known as “dek wat” meaning he helps in the temple. After the five days he will be ready to ordain and the day before his ordination the family will help prepare Aun to become a monk. Preparation starts as locks of hair are chopped by members of his family and then his head is completed shaved by local monks. Eyebrows also go as his hair is collected in a lotus leaf and will later be put floated on a river if not kept for luck. His family then pour water over his head with blessing and a mix of turmeric and water is used to cleanse him. After washing again Aun dresses in white robes and is now ready to ordain the following morning. I unfortunately miss out on this preparation day arriving late in the evening only to hear from Aun welcoming us to Nang Rong on my Facebook check-in.