Oriental Hotel in 1892 ( 120 years ago in Rama 5 )
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Thai Culture About Telling Lies
- Thai culture does not permit telling lies. Again words have different applications.
- In western society people tell ties all the time, not only in politics, but to children, friends and in business and government of the people for the people. In the west we dismiss these as '' white lies '', not important, or being polite to avoid the truth to confront someone. Not so in Thai culture, so travellers should understand a strict interpretation of the concept of a lie applies and when a Thai avoids telling you the truth then you know this is his or her way of refusing to lie.
http://www.thailandsworld.com
Thai Culture and Buddhist Traditions
- Thai culture is Buddhist. Accordingly the culture is one where individuals are taught to think for themselves and not be subjugated by religious authorities as is the case with Christain, Jewish or Muslim religions.
- The essence of this culture has two principal themes, first, one must understand the difference between reality and self delusion, and second, one must understand the nature of cause and effect, that is, to understand whatever one does now will have implications later, not only in the very short term, but the very long term.
- In Thai society Thai culture is such that people do not mix self delusion in their thoughts and conversation. This is seen as foolish. Good examples of self delusion include arrogance, superiority beliefs, social status etc. Some cultures do not make the distinction. The distinction is made in business matters as well as private relationships. Thai culture enables Thai people to better self distinguish their emotional desires with a cautious respect for reality.
- Thai culture also calls for detachment. In some societies if people want something they have to have it whatever, in fact they strive to become part of what they seek, be it a status symbol object like a motor car or a position of social recognition. They become in their minds what they seek to obtain, the delusion is over whelming. In Thai culture such desire and attachment for objects is regarded as weekness.
- To this we add the need for respect of others also a concept not really understood in western cultures. Examples of this respect are, not to shout at others, not to talk at some one, rather talk to them, not to impose on another with meaningless and convoluted talk [ thus wasting their time ], not to defame someone and respect their property in their own good name. For example, defamation is a crime in Thailand.
http://www.thailandsworld.com
Thai Culture
Thai culture needs to be understood from the ethnic traditions of the various peoples who migrated to Thailand to form the Thai culture as we understand it today, the influences from India of religion and mythology, the origin myths of some of the minorities living in Thailand and animist traditions which continue today.- From these traditions we have a Thai culture where belief systems are distinguishable from elsewhere and the themes of these are reflected in the performing arts of music and dance, in the art forms of woodwork, sculture, murals, pottery and bronze and significantly in architecture forms and decorations, both in the past and continuing in new buildings today.
- Most importantly Thai culture is significant in the behaviour, customs and beliefs of the Thai people today.
http://www.thailandsworld.com
Chiang Dao Walking Street - Chiang Mai
Thursday Market
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Yee Peng Festival in Chiang Mai
Floating lanterns into the night sky festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand
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The
festival is celebrated as a religious event in which local people throughout
the region make merit and other religious activities. The highlight of the
event focuses on the launching of the Khom loy or floating lanterns
into the night sky with the belief that misfortune will fly away with the
lanterns. It is their belief, if the lanterns are made and offered to monks,
they will receive wisdom in return as the flame in the lantern is said to
symbolise knowledge and the light it gives will guide them to the right path of
their lives.
Meanwhile,
“Khom loy” is a Thai word signifying the floating lantern which is a large
balloon – like made from a light bamboo frame covered with saa (mulberry)
paper. It floats by means of hot air heated by a flaming torch fixed in the
balloon. During the event, both day and night local people and monks are
closely involved with the Khom making process. Besides, the premise of
large hotels, the temple compound is thus the appropriate venue for the
launching of the Khom. The activity has gained such popularity that
at the height of the event the flight training of the Royal Thai Air Force has
to be suspended until all the Khom loy have dispersed while all
commercial air traffic at the airport has been warned to exercise extreme
caution as the climbing lanterns could pose a danger to the jet turbines.
To
celebrate the auspicious event, companies and private individuals make merit by
sponsoring ballons to dispel bad luck and seek good fortune. If their balloons
rise high and travel far, this indicates prosperity. It has been said that this
kind of hot air balloon could rise to heights of up to 1,250 metres and travel
even as far as Hat Yai District of the southern province of Songkhla.
The most spectacular
event is held at the Thapae Gate area where local and foreign visitors can see
floats, marchers and beautiful Yee Peng queens. As the night falls, the
spectators will be excited to see the long strings of Khom loy rise gently into
the limitless sky as they stimulate the participants’ spirits to rise higher to
the heaven. This brings joy and happiness to the merit-makers since their ill –
fortune has been floated away.
Sunday Market Chaing Mai
Chiang
Mai Walking Street
Every Sunday,
from 4pm until midnight, one of Chiang Mai’s great weekly events takes place.
Walking Street Market starts at Thapae Gate and runs along the length of
Ratchadamnoen Road through the heart of the Old City and has become a Chiang
Mai institution. The street, which is closed entirely to traffic, is a focal
point for local people to meet, browse, socialise, haggle and enjoy. There
numbers are considerably swelled by both Thai and foreign visitors to Chiang
Mai and the whole area buzzes with the kind of excitement that can only be
generated by a large number of people at leisure.
Walking Street
Market is also known as the Weekend or Sunday market and is a real showcase of
the art and craftsmanship of Northern Thailand. Many of the stallholders have personally
made the items they sell and the many hand crafted objects are a testimony to
the skills and inventiveness of local people.
The goods
available are made from an incredible array of materials including: wood,
metals, ceramics, fabrics, paper, coconuts and much more besides. The products
are truly authentic and original and are the perfect place to find gifts or
beautiful things to decorate your home. If you are purchasing, don’t forget to
bargain. Any item that is not marked with a fixed price is open for negotiation
and is all part of the fun. The stall holders, many of whom have other jobs and
only trade at the market, love banter and as long as you smile and barter in a
good natured way you will have a great experience.
Food and drink is
also available in glorious abundance at the Sunday Market. There are a number
of temples along Rachadamnoen Road and their grounds are open to vendors, many
of whom sells fabulous local treats fresh cooked before your eyes.
The Sunday Market
is the best place in Chiang Mai to see genuine Thai style street entertainment.
Right along the length of the Ratchadamoen Road are pavement artists of all
descriptions, traditional musicians, Thai dancers, living statues, puppet shows
and rock bands. This all adds to the festive nature of the market and makes it
an unmissable event.
Credited by http://www.embracechiangmai.com/index.php?page=sundaymarketchaingmai
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