Entries from July 2008 ↓

Though they appear delicate and insubstantial when strewn along a temple’s altar, marigolds are an essential offering on any Buddhist shrine. Keeping Bangkok’s many temples, spirit-houses, and altars supplied with marigolds is big business. Just visit Bangkok’s teeming flower markets, and you’ll likely see mountains of the glowing yellow flowers.

Not life forms from an alien planet, not genetic abnormalities- these are simply jack fruit, the world’s largest fruit. Inside the knobbly green shell are pods of dark-yellow flesh. Though the smell is a little strong and the flavor off putting, it can be cooked in delicious curries, and baked into tasty crisps.

With it’s riverside location and dramatically soaring tower, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) is likely the most striking temple in all of Bangkok. Yet up close, it’s even more engaging. From a distance, the surface of the temple looks as though it were painted in a delicate set of watercolors. But on close inspection, it’s revealed to be made of a mosaic of broken tiles. Some of the most unusual pieces were taken from cracked dishes: many still bear their floral china designs.

No, it’s not a misplaced meal or a forgotten snack- the food on this plastic tray was very intentionally left on the sidewalk. Stemming from the same animist traditions that gave rise to Thailand’s ubiquitous Spirit Houses, this tray contains some of the local spirits’ favorite snacks: rice, a hard boiled egg, and some tasty Thai desserts.

Many visitors remark with amazement at the degree to which Bangkok seems to combine both the past and the future. This can be seen in the strange mix of revered temples and fashionable shopping malls, ancient spiritual practices and hi-tech transportation. And it can be seen quite literally in this corner of downtown Bangkok, where the friendly Robot building gazes out over the decaying ruins of a century old mansion.

One of the most appealing aspects of life in Thailand is the degree to which religion permeates everyday life. Shrines decked out in offerings are tucked between houses, on shelves in restaurants, and even on the dashboard of commuter buses.

Not content to have a simple market stand or a slow old pushcart, this fruit vendor has gone hi-tech. With a two-tier glass case affixed to the front of a powerful motorbike, he can jet across Bangkok to bring his customers their fruit.

Located just a few hours east of Bangkok, Ko Samet is one of the easiest getaways from the Thai capital. There, visitors can stretch out on powdery white sand, and enjoy the sun and the waves. For visitors too chilled out to make their way to the nearest beachfront restaurant, there is an alternative: roving vendors stroll up and down the beaches, carrying baskets of food over their shoulders. They mainly sell Thai dishes, like papaya salad, grilled lemongrass chicken, and spicy cold noodles. But for visitors with a more Western appetite, they come prepared: with a range of jelly-filled donuts and sugary pastries.

Tourists who have delved into the mysteries of Bangkok a little too fully may wake up unable to remember what day of the week it is. Thankfully, they’ll never have trouble telling if it’s a Monday, thanks to the many yellow polo shirts they’ll encounter throughout the city. It’s not just a mass fashion statement, however. Under Buddhist cosmology, every day of the week is given a color. And Monday, whose color is yellow, was the day on which the King of Thailand was born. So to show their support of the beloved king, many Thais start the work week by donning their brightest yellow shirts.

At this ‘gas station’ in rural Thailand, gasoline is stored in old soda bottles, then poured into the motorbike through a funnel. It’s probably one of the only places in the world where the gas station is as portable as the vehicles it services.