Monks having their meals between praying sessions, Chiangmai, Thailand. In Thailand, food eaten by monks are cooked in the temple by monks and laymen. Food can be obtained by the alms round ceremony. People may also bring food to offer to the monks in the morning at the temple while the monks are praying. When meals are ready, a woman or a monk hits a gong several times at around seven o'clock in the morning. Faithful people pray and close palms together and the body is lowered to the floor like crouching three times. Then meal can start. Monks have to eat a little bit of each plate in order that all other monks have a same share of the food. Traditionally all Thai Buddhist men will at some point in their life enter the monkhood. This often happens around their teenage years. The length can last anywhere from a few days to many months. With modern times lesser and lesser Thais are entering the monkhood, but those who do usually find it to be a very powerful and moving experience.