I mentioned in my last post that the nang kwak and Suvannamaccha good luck tapestries hung up in shops in Thailand have roots in the Ramakien. The Ramakien, “the Glory of Rama,” is the National Epic of Thailand, and folklore of Thailand in the truest sense of the word folklore. But is it truly Thai and what story does it tell?
In my last post about amulets and charms in Thailand, I ended with a short bit on the waan nang kwak, or a figure of a beckoning woman that is displayed in shops in Thailand as a way of encouraging business. That is a good segue into other things that are displayed in shops that are meant to bring the shop good luck and lots of business: nang kwak as well as crocodile and Suvannamaccha, a Hindu mermaid, pha yant or tapestry. The figures represented on the pha yant are rooted in myths and stories as well as the more mystic beliefs of local spirits.
Earlier this year I started using this really neat app called One Second Everyday. Basically, it allows you to pick a second of a video or picture of everyday and then you can export them into a longer video. I thought this was super cool and so I’ve been trying to do this throughout the year, similar to my sentence a day for last year. Here’s a video summary of June!
A must-see list for any trip to Thailand inevitably includes a number of the gorgeous wats, or temples, that fill the country. From Bangkok’s Wat Phra Keaw to Chiang Mai’s Wat Chedi Luang, from Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun to Petchabun’s Wat Paa Son Gaeow, from Si Saket’s Wat Lan Khuat to Bueng Kan’s Wat Phu Tok, wats are quite literally the center of village life in Thailand. Any trip to most any temple will show how folk beliefs and Buddhism have melded into the current practice of wearing and displaying khong khlang (ของลัง), or amulets and charms, which can be purchased at or near the temples. But what do these amulets and charms supposedly do and how do they get their powers?
I’ve touched before on animistic beliefs and ghosts in Thailand, but this is a part of Thailand I find to be the most fascinating and interesting. Which is why I made it a priority to go to the Phi Ta Khon festival in Dan Sai, Loei this past weekend.
In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
Earlier this year, I decided that there were a bunch of festivals all over Thailand that I had to go to. The one that I was most excited about going to was the Phi Ta Khon Festival in Loei, which I just got back from. Phi Ta Khon, or the Ghost Festival is so colorful and fun. Check out the video for yourself!
Thailand, like much of Southeast Asia, is a predominately Buddhist country. Buddhism came and strengthened throughout the centuries, competing and merging with both animism and Hinduism. As a result, the Buddhism that is practiced today is a combination of a variety of beliefs and practices.
Thailand reports that about 96% of its population is Buddhist. But what does that mean? How did Buddhism come to Thailand and how have I experienced that history? What shape does Buddhism take in current daily life situations? How many days off a year do I get because of Buddhist holidays? Well, like Julie Andrews sang in “The Sound of Music,” let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start.
Sometimes, listening to Thai people speak, it seems like the word jai (ใจ) is everywhere.
เข้าใจไหม (Khao jai mai, Do you understand?)
ใจเย็นๆ (Jai yen yen, Chill out.)
คนใจดี (Kon jai dee, Kind person)
But what does jai mean? Jai translates as “heart” and has all the similar connotations that heart has in English, such as “spirit” or “inner being.” So it makes sense that jai is used to construct phrases that have meanings related to one’s heart, mind and spirit. more “Thai is a Language of the Heart”
It’s a repeated refrain that Peace Corps Volunteers hear throughout their service:
No serious!
Mai dtong seriot!
Don’t take serious, na!
Tammai seriot?
Don’t serious!
Don’t serious about me!
Why so seriot? Mai seriot, na.
In case you couldn’t figure it out, taking anything seriously here is strongly discouraged. Even if it’s a serious topic. Especially if it’s a serious topic. The Thai way of life is infused with the concept of sanuk (สนุก). But what is sanuk? It’s most often translated as fun, but is so much more than that.