Thailand - Random Page 4
Movie Posters
There is a fairly active Thai movie industry but very few Thai movies have been adapted successfully for foreign markets. This is a shame. Thai TV shows are beyond pathetic, but some Thais movies are actually very good. Thailand, like many other countries, is bombarded constantly with the latest blockbuster rubbish where, for every decent Hollywood movie, at least twenty very bad ones are made.
A 'Made in Thailand' movie poster
One thing I like very much in Thailand is that there are local Thai artists producing big billboard posters to advertise the films instead of using the usual, boring promotional material that comes from the film studios.
The BBC ran an article about a similar thing in Pakistan: In pictures: Pakistan's cinema art
Update: In Hat Yai, where I live, there used to be two places where you could see the locally made movie posters. Some time in 2015 or 2016 they just disappeared and haven't been seen since. I found this desperately sad.
When I first arrived in Thailand to live there were still some fascinating little Asian ways of life that simply didn't exist where I came from. Sadly, many of them have now gone.
The Snake House restaurant where there used to be cages full of live snakes ready for the pot has gone, a lot of the little electrical repair shops have gone, and now the locally made movie posters have gone.
Music
Some countries I've visited fill the airwaves with popular music from Britain and America, hardly producing any of their own locally. Not so Thailand. It's different in Bangkok but out in the provinces it is rare to hear any foreign music. All of the music I listen to on the local radio stations is home grown and some of it is quite good.
As a casual listener, the music seems to be divided into two streams. There is the more traditional style Thai music with strained vocals, twangy mandolin-type and other traditional instruments, over-enthusiastic horn sections and funky electric guitars. This doesn't usually do too much for me. It's better to my ears than Chinese traditional music and nowhere near as annoying as Indian music but I find it quite depressing after a while.
A certain type of Thai folk music is known as look-toong and it is very popular. I am told that the songs reflect everyday life. They are about culture, modern living, problems in society, etc. A kind of political commentary set to music.
Mor Lam is another popular genre, originating from the Northeast - Lao and Isaan - but even Mor Lam can be sub-divided into several different forms.
Very popular some years ago was a young girl from Chiang Mai called Lanna Cummins (her surname is from an Australian father, I believe). Her song Wai Jai Dai Gaa which is a really catchy tune with a nice lyric was a huge hit in Thailand and would probably do well in other countries if given enough air play.
Lanna's first album (called simply 'Lanna Cummins') is an absolute classic. If you are in Thailand, just buy it. It will only cost you Bt135 or so. There isn't a weak track and even though Wai Jai Dai Gaa is catchy, there are better tracks on the album. Her second album wasn't as good but the first album set the bar incredibly high.
I met Lanna and her mum when she did a concert in Hat Yai, which was organised by Todd Lavelle. Nowadays, she seems to concentrate on the family restaurant business in Chiang Mai.
Lanna Cummins and her mum, Soontaree Vechanont
Names
I have moved the information that was previously here to a separate section.
Photography
I find photography quite a challenge in Thailand for a variety of reasons. Being so close to the equator, the natural light from the sun directly overhead is extremely harsh and of course good light is essential for good photographs. I have always found the light for photography to be better further away from the equator.
A couple of over-zealous Chinese photographers in Thailand
The narrow exposure latitude of current digital camera sensor technology only makes things worse in this respect. With harsh light and strong shadows, getting the right exposure can be very difficult. Dusk is a brief affair in Thailand and the sun shines brightly most days. As a result there are very few occasions when I think to myself that the light is perfect for taking photos.
The rainy season (when it isn't actually raining) presents more opportunities for good photos because of the cloud cover but I have experienced periods several months long in the hot season when the sun shines brightly every single day and there isn't a cloud in the sky.
The Thais are a funny bunch with regard to having their photos taken. Sometimes it quite agitates them but at other times they only have to see that you have a camera and they will insist on having their photo taken.
Thai photographer
They are a very image conscious race and generally like having their photos taken but only if they can pose. In every town there are shops where they can get posed photo shoots done. The girls love these places and will typically get lots of photos of themselves taken cuddling fluffy animals.
What they don't like are candid shots but these are exactly what I like taking. Posed photos are generally quite boring and I have always found natural portraits to be far more interesting. In Thailand though it sometimes gets me into trouble.
I thought a telephoto lens might be the answer but what often happens is that I will be watched constantly as I wander around with a camera. It's probably different in Bangkok where the pace of life is faster but in provincial Thailand, in towns where there aren't many farangs, the locals watch visiting foreigners like hawks.
Another issue with taking photos is sensitivity. Some beggars I've seen have been in a desperate state but as much as I would like to capture their plight on camera something inside stops me from doing so. At times it just doesn't seem right.
In 2004 I contracted a serious fungal infection in my right eye and as a result almost lost my eye. This occurred on the same day I had visited a poor Muslim fishing village and had been poking my camera rather obtrusively into peoples' lives there. I viewed everything through the camera with my right eye and, just hours after, I developed a serious problem in that eye. To this day I think it may have been a case of instant bad karma.
The happy fortune teller
Photographing Thai girls frustrates me because I can never make them appear as beautiful on film as they are in the flesh (so to speak). It would be easy for me to say they aren't photogenic to make excuses for my lack of skill but that isn't the case. I just need to practice more, and anyway, taking photos of pretty girls is no hardship.
As with photography everywhere, there is a huge amount of luck involved. Whenever I go out without my camera I normally see something I'd like to take a photo of. Thailand offers many fantastic opportunities for great photos. It is a land of so many contrasts where East meets West and old meets new.
I maintain that it isn't easy to get truly great shots but that is the wonderful thing about photography. On those odd occasions when everything comes together just right it is a very satisfying feeling.
Pickup Trucks
I was going to start off by saying that I hate pickup trucks, but how is it possible to hate an inanimate object? It would be the same as a Brit expressing hatred for white vans. It's not the actual vans that are hated, but the type of people who drive them and the way they are driven.
Rural Thais are obsessed with pickup trucks; even if they can't afford normal size ones
I don't enjoy driving in Thailand because there are so many obnoxious, aggressive, selfish drivers on Thai roads. It also happens that most of the obnoxious, aggressive, selfish drivers I meet are driving pickup trucks and there are lots of pickup trucks in Thailand, especially out in the provinces.
Thailand still has a lot of agriculture and in addition to farmers there are many self-employed tradesmen who need trucks for their work. But there are also a lot of Thais driving pickup trucks who don't need a pickup truck. There seem to be two reasons.
Thai townies might lust over the latest Benz models but this is the ultimate for any self-respecting rural Thai
The first is that Thais seem to equate themselves with early pioneers in the western United States. It has been surmised that the pickup truck replaced the horse in America and many Thais want to think they are similar.
The other reason is that Thai roads are virtually lawless. The only law in evidence is the law of the jungle and with this primitive system those with bigger vehicles get right of way over smaller vehicles.
If you aren't a commercial driver driving a minivan, bus or big truck, a pickup truck is about the biggest vehicle that a private individual can buy.
Other Thais seem to like pickup trucks due to the fact they can carry around a lot of people in the back. THis is illegal, but they do it anyway and there is never any law enforcement.
Before I came to Thailand I hardly ever saw an Isuzu but in Thailand they are as common as Fords in Dagenham
The most popular manufacturers of pickup trucks are Isuzu and Toyota. I am informed that Isuzu trucks are stronger than other brands and have better fuel economy. The same Thai man that told me this also said that older Isuzu models were tougher than the current D-Max ones.
Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubushi also make trucks, but many Thai men stick loyally to Isuzu and Toyota.
Many rural Thai men lust over Isuzu pickup trucks the same way that Westerners lust over Porsche Carrera GTs or Ferrari F355 Spyders. There is a certain type of Thai man who can think of nothing more enjoyable in life than driving around in a pickup truck all day.
To achieve this dream some get their pickup trucks converted into sawng-thaews so they can live their dream and make a living at the same time.
The only trucks I like are the old ones
The daily news on Thai TV news always features lots of road accidents and these almost always involve pick trucks. Road rage incidents are also on the rise in Thailand (sometimes they are fatal where one driver has shot and killed another driver) and guess what type of vehicle is often involved?
I have also seen videos of road rage incidents abroad and guess what? What is it about the mentality of men who choose to buy and drive pickup trucks?
Road Rage Attacking Madman! (Australia)
Accident between two women after a road rage (San Diego)
Redneck Road Rage, Instant Karma (USA)
My Thai wife once asked if I wanted a pickup truck because she knew that most Thai men wanted one. I'm not a Thai man, thankfully, and I think you can probably guess my answer.
Plumbing
I don't think there is an inch of copper pipe in Thailand used for plumbing. Most houses just have a cold water supply; there being very few houses that have dual hot and cold supplies.
The whole country is plumbed with blue plastic pipe and there are advantages and disadvantages. It's light, durable and cheap and it's probably recyclable too. It's easy to work with and I have done lots of repairs in my own home. Most joints only need a little PTFE tape to make them watertight.
PVC pipe used for plumbing in Thailand
On the downside, leaks appear frequently and just a couple of years after moving into a brand new house lots of leaks started to occur. Also, because it is fairly easy to work with lots of Thai men set themselves up with plumbing businesses, but it is onvious that they have had no formal training. I have had several comboy plumbers turn up at my house to do work.
Public Holidays
The Thais certainly love their public holidays and there are no shortage of them. However, in terms of actually getting a day off, the country is divided between government and banking workers and the rest of society. The poor unfortunates earning Bt6,000 a month (80% of Thailand's population earns less than Bt10,000 a month) don't even get weekends off, let alone public holidays.
Those fortunate enough to work in government departments - including schools - or banks, or similar institutions do rather well though.
Normally, as a tourist this won't really affect you because everything you want will be open whenever you want it. However, if you need to deal with a government department as a result of living in, or visiting, Thailand you may be affected. Please also note that foreign embassies and consulates located in Thailand observe Thai public holidays.
If you stay in Thailand for any length of time it is well worth buying a Thai calendar. Many of them have the months and days written in English as well if you can't read Thai and they show all the public holidays.
The kind of thing you don't want to be doing is to show up at the Department of Labour on the last day that your work permit is valid to find the office closed. Instead of just being able to get a straightforward extension you may find you need to go through the complete application process again starting from scratch if your permit has expired, and no excuses.
Queueing
This sounds so British. I realise that outside of Britain and North America waiting for your turn in line is a bit of a weird concept but we anal Brits are funny like that. Sorry.
Some places in Thailand, such as post offices, operate a ticket system where people take a numbered ticket from a machine as they arrive and wait for their number to be called. I like this idea. It works most of the time except that people still go straight to the counter without getting a ticket. What's different in Thailand compared to many other countries is that the person will normally be served instead of some officious person telling them to get a ticket.
The other thing that's different is the people waiting with tickets never complain about a queue jumper. Queue jumping would start a small scale war in the UK, but Thais will generally try to avoid any conflict.
If you are waiting to be served, it is quite common for a Thai to walk straight up to the counter and shout out his or her order with no apparent awareness that other people are waiting. Another ploy is for Thais to send their children to the front of the queue, knowing that other people will probably allow a child to jump the queue.
The situation is far worse on Thai roads and this is one of the things that makes me so angry when I drive in Thailand. There is no concept at all of lane discipline. Thais will simply use the lane that has least traffic to get to the front of the queue and then cut into the lane they want. They will also think nothing of using the emergency lane to do the same thing.
Shopping Malls
Although I would like to blame America for the gradual demise of Thai cultural values in Thailand and the erosion of a non-materialistic, happy way of life for one of materialism and consumerism; the USA isn't entirely to blame.
The big supermarket, cum shopping mall, players in Thailand are Tesco (British) and Carrefour (French).
Following the 1997 financial crisis, Thailand blamed globalisation and foreign influences for what had gone horribly wrong, not wanting to look at the failings closer to home which actually had more to do with what happened. The outside world was suddenly an enemy again and some nationalistic, even xenophobic, attitudes were spawned.
Thaksin, being the opportunist he is, made the most of this, setting out a nationalistic ticket for his 'Thais love Thais' party and vowing to fight the world using his dodgy business management skills. It was a sure-fire winner among Thais and, despite being a supreme crook, he came to power with an enormous amount of support.
There was a big expectation among Thais at the time that restrictions would be imposed on foreign businesses operating in Thailand, such as Tesco and Carrefour. The big supermarkets were hurting small Thai business owners who weren't able to compete. They weren't big enough to fight back and needed government assistance.
However, big foreign businesses operating in Thailand are beneficial to certain people. Awarding big contracts means big kickbacks and once the new stores are in operation there is an ongoing tax revenue stream (something that Thaksin doesn't like paying himself). GDP also gets a boost which is the only thing Thaksin measures his success by.
So, what did he do? In any situation where there is a choice of doing something for the good of Thailand and the Thai people or doing something that will financially benefit government, politicians, friends, family and cronies, there will only ever be one decision.
Foreign retail chains have been allowed to continue opening huge stores unchecked and the Thais love them - provided, of course, they are not small shop owners. It's easy to understand why.
With lots of people milling around (most of them completely aimlessly) there is an atmosphere of sanuk and the fact these huge places are air conditioned makes them sabai. Many Thais live without air conditioning and the hot season can be mighty uncomfortable without it.
'Shopping' - and many use the English word - is a favourite pastime even if they haven't got the funds to shop. They can borrow from Aeon or any of the other credit companies in Thailand as the Thaksin government has urged them to do.
I have nothing against the big, foreign retail chains. They offer a good selection of food and goods at reasonable prices and having everything under one roof is very convenient. They employ lots of Thais which is also a good thing. It just seems a bit of a shame not to keep all the profit in Thailand when all the business comes from the pockets of Thai people.
If you plan on getting some serious shopping done, avoid weekends. When they're not working the Thais flock to the big malls in their thousands, wandering around without a care in the world and with not the slightest idea they are getting in your way. It's impossible to get anything done quickly with so many human 'road blocks' in the way.
Update September 2006: The BBC News Site reports that the Thai government has expressed concerns about foreign supermarket chains and how they might be affecting traditional fresh markets. As a result, there is some talk apparently that new stores will not be allowed to open. We shall see. This sounds like a typical pre-election type announcement so it will be interesting to see what happens after next month's election.
Sport
In early June 2005 the All Thailand Table Tennis Championships were held in Hat Yai. The standard was very high.
Thai national table tennis championships; the Thais are very skilled at certain sports
The Thais are a sporty nation of people which is a very healthy situation in an age where far too many people lead unhealthy lifestyles. Yes, there are problems with some kids who just eat Western fast food and play on-line computer games but many Thais exercise regularly and do so because they enjoy it.
Walk around any Thai town in the evening and you will see aerobics sessions and lots of sport being played. They're good too. I have already mentioned the fact that the Thais are skilful footballers but they excel at other sports.
Thai boxing, naturally, is one sport where Thailand leads but there are others. In the 2004 Athens Olympics, Thailand did well at Taekwondo and, for some reason, there are a lot of very good female weight-lifters.
James Wattana (not his real name, of course) became famous many years ago on the international snooker circuit and since then other Thais have followed. It is a sport they have taken to and even the smallest of towns seem to have at least one snooker hall.
Stray Dogs
It took almost two years for me to get confirmation from a Thai about something I had suspected for a long time. I understood that destroying life is a terrible sin for Buddhists but initially I couldn't work out why there wasn't a sterilisation programme for Thailand's stray dogs.
A very sorry-looking, but not untypical temple dog
It seemed to me that letting the dogs breed unchecked just causes them more suffering. What I didn't realise at first is that taking away an animals reproductive capability is also regarded as a sinful act. Thais worry that if they sterilise an animal, karmic forces may impose the same fate on them. It is yet another aspect of life where Thai thinking differs to that of Western minds.
Some of the dogs are in a real mess. I call them 'pogs' or 'digs' because they look like a cross between a dog and a pig (especially the ones with curly tails). Some don't have proper coats, just a few stray hairs on their pink bodies.
Occasionally though, you find the most adorable stray dogs
Some though are gorgeous animals and would make fantastic pets. I am not a dog-lover particularly and my current circumstances prevent me from owning a dog but I would have snapped up this pup in a heartbeat. Not only was he a super looking dog but he had great personality.
There is a government programme apparently to remove strays from the streets but I have never seen a dogcatcher in Thailand. They are only allowed to remove dogs without collars. What is rather strange is that the dogs that are obviously strays have collars. I can only imagine this is an act by local people to give the dogs some kind of protection.
Thai temples are a favourite sanctuary for Thailand's animal waifs and strays. At the local Wat, wherever it may be, you will find a fine collection of dogs, cats and chickens, and remarkably they all co-exist perfectly happily.
Merit-making works in favour of the animals. The local people provide for the monks and the monks provide for the animals at the Wat.
A voluntary organisation known as Soi Dog Rescue was set up in 2002 (by farangs I believe) and uses donations to give some of Thailand's stray mutts a better life. If you want to help, get in touch.
His Majesty the King did a great deal to help the plight of Thailand's stray dogs by writing about how he adopted a stray female named Tong Daeng. The book was a huge success and is also available in English. Several of Tong Daeng's descendants live in the royal households.
Thailand's stray dog situation has changed little over the years. Here's an extract from the book, Foreign Records of the Bangkok Period up to A.D. 1932, tittled 'The pariah dogs of Bangkok'.
"In the remotest alley, the most secluded corner, the broadest highway, or the most open of public spaces, roam the most disreputable and degraded members of the canine family -- the pariah dogs. Black, brown, white and spotted dogs with skeleton frames and sunken eyes, many of them in the last stages of disease and decay, snap at the dirtiest bone, or feast upon the filthiest rubbish they can find.They own no master, and no man owns them. They may be counted till one is weary of counting, and yet the eye will still discover many that remain unnumbered. Often it would be a kindness to the poor starved and crippled creatures to put them speedily out of pain, but the Buddhist law, "Thou shalt not kill," is all powerful here, and so the pariahs breed and multiply, giving in return for the permission to live, their effective services as vigilant and industrious scavengers."
Suffering Strays
I used to see this dog a lot. They set up territories and stay in the same place so if you walk along a certain route regularly you get to know the local hounds as well as the local people. As I was walking to work one day I saw a small gathering of Thais peering down a storm drain. When I looked to see what was going on I saw this chap at the bottom, obviously unable to move.
I couldn't stop because I had to work but I saw him again a couple of days later and found out what had happened. He had been hit by a vehicle - which is hardly surprising when you see how the Thais drive and how the stray dogs wander across roads.
This poor guy was in an awful state
The injuries were horrific. His back had been broken leaving his rear half completely paralysed and twisted around at almost 90 degrees. The Thais had managed to get him out of the storm drain and when I saw him he was dragging himself along with his front paws.
He had open sores on his back legs from where they were dragging along the ground but at least he wouldn't have felt any pain. The sores would get infected quickly though. I bought him some chicken from a nearby street vendor which he gobbled up and for the next two days I took him food.
The food went in OK but I imagine the vehicle collision that shattered his spine had also wrecked his innards and he had probably lost control of his bowels. Poor thing. In his condition, the most compassionate measure would been to have had a vet put him down but that approach isn't very Thai.
I asked a couple of my students what I could do and their only suggestion was to take him to the nearest temple. This is the stock Thai answer for unwanted, neglected or sick animals which is why every temple is full of animals.
I continued to keep an eye out for him but after a couple of days he disappeared. I can only assume he died from his injuries or, being unable to walk properly, got him by another vehicle.
A handsome cat, but in a terrible state
I have a real soft spot for cats and while walking around one day came across this fine feline. Only a week before I had met a lady who was selling Persian kittens for Bt2,000 each. This old fella was unwanted though despite being a handsome Persian himself.
Cats do a wonderful job of taking care of themselves but the long-haired varieties need some help with brushing and washing. Not having an owner, or any human help, to assist him with his grooming, his coat had got into a real mess and he couldn't do anything about it.
All this fur must be unbearable in the Thai hot season, especially the state it was in. Wandering around, he had obviously been involved in a few scrapes with other cats and he had sores on one ear to prove it.
Again, I was tempted to try to get him home so I could clean him up but my apartment doesn't allow animals and, as bad as I feel, I can't rescue every suffering animal I see in Thailand.
Thailand is not an easy place for animal lovers. The Thais are compassionate people and that compassion extends to all living creatures but I truly believe that the policy of leaving all animals to breed unchecked is misguided and creates, rather than alleviates, suffering.
The Thais don't believe it is right to destroy or prevent life but, as a result, many animals suffer. In addition to these two examples I have seen countless stray animals suffering, including newly-born pups walking around on the streets just waiting to be run down. But what can you do? Unfortunately, not very much.
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