Fashionproof Monk

Sri Lanka, a boarding lounge inside Colombo airport: a man types something on his mobile phone. His slick Italian leather shoes betray a taste for fashion and a sense of ego, the intention to look good. Wait a minute, rewind: this man is a monk! Is he texting with the Buddha or simply tweeting his flight status to his buddies in a monastery somewhere on top of a mountain? Maybe he is a fraud and wears a bright orange robe for the privilege of a private seat in the area “Reserved for Clergy”? Is he hiding an iPad underneath his robe? The monk stands up as the flight attendants call First Class passengers for boarding. A free upgrade, for sure. I wonder where you can buy one of these orange robes…

 

Cedric, 8/12/2011
(trip to Asia in December 2010)