Is that bags of money carried by the monks? If so, they should have used opaque bags instead to hide those cash from thugs that might want to grab and run away with it.

Good to hear monks from Lao temples are not corrupt like monks from Thai temples.

But living expense is lower in Laos. Is it not the case?

Buddhist ceremonies regularly takes place in Laos, whether it's at the temple, or monks are invited to a home for the ceremony, so they get their donations in many ways.

Temples wouldn't exist without the support of the public, but yes the Lao New Year is one of the best times of the year for temples to receive a lot of cash.

Sometimes they help with donations if they are involved in the ceremony.

Yes, although utility bills in Laos isn't expensive.

Lao temples also use the money to renovate the temple and buy new robes to wear and things that are needed.

Some of the monks also go to school and the money goes towards their education.

People become Buddhist monks for different reasons. Maybe their family is poor, maybe they want to live a simple and stress-free life, or maybe they are very dedicated to Buddhism and they want to go to heaven.

There is really no requirement, you can become a monk temporarily or permanently, but whether you're new to the system or you have been a monk for many years, you must follow the rules of being a Buddhist monk.

There's a lot of rules but the common rule for Buddhist monks is obviously no relationship with a female, you can't have sex with them, and you can't touch them.

The other rule is strictly no eating after 12pm, only fluids allowed.

Another very important rule that comes to mind is "Khao Phansa", the beginning of Buddhist Lent, where monks must always return to their temples and can't spend the night anywhere else, and "Ok Phansa" is the end of the Buddhist Lent period.