Entries from April 2008 ↓

Sure, the flames on this tuk tuk certainly make it look hot - but do they help it zip around Bangkok any faster?

As the largest patch of greenery in Bangkok, Lumphini Park is a haven for urbanites searching for a little exercise and fresh air. The park is dotted with ponds and lakes, and aquatic-minded visitors can rent giant duck-shaped peddle boats. These massive plastic ducks will likely be the only waterfowl you see in Lumphini Park– the rest have all been scared off by the meter-long water monitors that live in the park.

With wings flashing and beak open, the Garuda is spotted frequently throughout Bangkok, perched on banks and government buildings. Originally a figure from Hindu mythology, he is now a symbol of the Thai nation. He also acts as a protective emblem, a sort of spiritual body-guard - which may explain his oddly exaggerated human abs.

Studio photographs aren’t just for happy married couples and pageant queens; they’re even for the occasional Buddhist monk indulging in a moment of earthly vanity.

With dishes like tongue-scorching green curry and papaya salad, Thai food has a reputation for being spicy. But Thais also love a little sweetness. Spoonfuls of sugar are regularly added to season dishes, even curries and noodles. But few treats rival Thai coffee for sweetness. As you can see in this step-by-step process, Thai coffee is made with several large spoonfuls of sweetened milk - and even then, some people request that a little sugar be added. At the very least, if the caffeine doesn’t wake you up, the sugar certainly will.

In Bangkok, you don’t always need to drive to the store to do your shopping - sometimes, the store drives to you. With wares loaded on push carts or on bicycle-peddled stands, these mobile entrepreneurs supply Bangkok’s citizens with both useful goods (like the brooms in the above photo), and some more unusual luxuries (like the sticker and inflatable-toy stand in the photo below). They’re not just a good way for fledgling shop-keepers to avoid Bangkok’s real-estate rates, they’re also an extremely convenient form of shopping. Continue reading →

Songkran, the Thai New Year’s holiday, is traditionally celebrated with ceremonies in which water is used as a symbol of cleansing. In recent years, these cleansing rituals have taken the form of wild water fights, and now the holiday is associated in some people’s minds with young women in tight t-shirts getting soaked. With Songkran fast approaching, the Cultural Ministry of Thailand has begun to dread the prospect of young Thai girls engaging in such inappropriate behavior. To combat this, they’ve enlisted the help of the Thai pop band, Girly Berry. The four members have appeared in photo shoots wearing conservative traditional sarongs, and have released statements urging young girls to maintain their modesty over the holiday. To fully appreciate the irony of this, enjoy the above video of Girly Berry performing their hit song, “Shake It”.

They say that there are many different smiles in Thailand. An excited smile, an apologetic smile, a curious smile, even a disgusted smile. The photo above must be a good example of a “please buy a car” smile. This photo was taken at the Bangkok Motor Show, which is known for the beauty of promoters as much as the variety of new cars. Continue reading →

The moneyed neighborhood of Thong Lo is one of Bangkok’s hippest, stylish, most consumer minded spots. Perhaps it only makes sense, then, that the role of Kwan Yin is played by a prom-dress clad Barbie doll at this Thong Lo shrine.

It’s hard to imagine what that teddy bear could have done to this little boy, but he certainly seems to be out for revenge. Don’t worry though- it was just part of the fun at a Temple Fair held below the Golden Mount. Though somehow a game of shooting at wildlife seems out of place at a Buddhist festival, doesn’t it?