Jim Mc Anna: April 2008

Thursday, 10 April 2008

Street Stalls - Bangkok

For some strange reason it's not that easy to come across real Thai Coffe (which incidentally tastes very good). Real coffee is made by passing it through a filter that looks like an old sock - it probably is an old sock (it was the same in Malaysia). Nevertheless it beats the coffee tourist pay two or three times the price in more 'up-market' places.

I buy a nice cup of Thai coffee (15 Baht) from this stall. Condensed milk is normally added if you like it white - but remember there is sweetened and unsweetened version of the milk - and it's 50/50 chance you will point to the correct can of milk !!

Lady (or more accurately lady-boy) selling something

that sounds like Mak-Kampey. I think it's a flower you eat.

I tried it - though colourful - tasted rather bland to me. She

sells it in 20baht and 50 baht bags.

Sunday, 6 April 2008

Smoking Ban - Thai Style

I came across this article about the smoking ban in the reception of a hotel - where they serve food and drink and where they have 'NO Smoking' signs. Customers ignore the ban - as they seem to do everywhere I have been !!!!

Bhuddist Amulets

A lot of interest in Bhuddist and Royal imagery -

this stall selling books on the subjects

Remember this image - it will appear again later

It's obviously attracted his attention.......

Looks similar ? This one was on sale for 150 Bhat.
A copy of the one shown previously?

A typical stall - literally on pavement - selling Bhuddist images.

Another stall giving a more 'up-market' presentation.....

Bangkok seems to be Bling city as far as I can see - many people walk about with some Bhuddist Amulet hanging from a chain around their neck. Many are several inches big. Some people wear several. On pavements you see many people selling bhuddist items which are already encased in some glass/gold cover or you buy them 'as is' and encase them later. People spend an amazing amount of time with 'eye-pieces' looking at the finner detail of these items. Magazines are on sale which point out the main points you should be looking for to establish authenticity (as far as I understand famous 'holy men' can be identified as the maker of a piece simply by these identifying features). For more on this subject see:-

http://www.dajenhyl.com/index2.html

http://www.rarethaiamulet.com/

The above photo is an enlargement - probably from a magazine -

showing a particularly prized item.

This amulet was only a couple of inches high.

I was told by the seller it was 2,000 years old and on sale at 1,000 Bhat (maybe I have the word 'mug' written on my head in Thai ?!?!? Maybe it was true ? Who knows ?)

A mixture of Bhuddist, Royal and Animist symbols for sale

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6976705.stm

Shrines - Thammasat University

I was told students put little gifts in this shrine in hope of passing exams. I assume this was a reference to these elephants - I think the Royal Elephants were washed near this area which may explain the form of the gifts ?

Shrine - Port Authority Pier

Saturday, 5 April 2008

Bhodi Court - Thammasat University

Students at Bhodi Court publicising a play coming up in a few weeks......

Some publicity 'flyers' for the show....a tale about Thailand
during WWII.....looks a bit 'Casablanca' to me.........Nice Artwork !!

Memorial to the late Princess at Bhodi Court

Plaque at Bhodi Court - click on photo to get description of significance of this site

Bhodhi court Thammasat University - birthplace of the October 1973 student movement which grew into mass public demonstrations demanding democracy and a new constitution.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/14/newsid_2534000/2534347.stm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_October_1976_Massacre

Mourning of a Thai Princess

The King's eldest sister Princess Galyani Vadhana died on the 2nd of January. The Cabinet asked the public to wear black during the 15 days mourning period - so you often see office workers walking about all in black. Near Naval establishments you see sailors wearing white tropical uniforms with black arm-bands. Many places have erected their own shrines in momery of the Princess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galyani_Vadhana