Magic tattoo

Thai tattoos (Sak yant) are more than mere artwork on skin. They're part of a deeper belief system that the designs are normally tattooed by wicha (magic) practitioners and Buddhist monks, traditionally with a long bamboo stick sharpened to a point (called a mai sak) or alternatively with a long metal spike (called a khem sak).Thai tattoo received from a genuine Buddhist monks is believed to act as an amulet that carries powers of its own. The people who has tattoo will be protected but they must be moral and follow the  five precept. 

A tattoo of a particular god might gain that god's favor, protection and guidance over the wearer's life. The tattoo of an animal like a tiger might protect the person wearing it from evil and physical harm, for example.

Wat Bang Phra is famous for its tattoo festival attracts people from all over the world. Many are practitioners of Buddhism, but a growing portion of festival participants are simply tattoo devotees, hoping to receive an authentic Buddhist tattoo from one of the monks.

Once the tattoos are finished, many people who receive them enter a violent, trance-like state. Whether this is because the tattoo is spiritually routing an evil spirit living in the wearer's body, or is due to a physical reaction to the snake venom which is often a component of the ink, the experience is a profound one.

Types and Designs

There are many traditional types and designs of yantra tattoos, but some of the most well-known and popular include:
    Ong Phra (Buddha's body) - Provide insight, guidance, illumination, etc.
    Ha Thaeo ( five rows) - one of the most common yantra designs for women,the one that Angelina joli had. Each of the five lines relates to a different blessing for success and good luck.
    Kao Yot ( nine spires) - typically tattooed on the center top of the back in various sizes and levels of complexity. Simple version pictured at the top of this article.
    Si Yot ( four spires) - to influence the feelings or actions of others and protect the bearer.
    Paet Tit (eight points) - represents protection in the eight directions of the universe. Round shape; typically tattooed on the center of the back.
    Mahaniyom ( great preference) - to grant the bearer favor in the eyes of others.
    Yot Mongkut (spired crown) - for good fortune and protection in battle.
    Bpanjamukhee ( five Deva faces) - intended to ward off illness and danger
    Suea ( tiger) - typically depicts twin tigers. Represents power and authority.

Samples for Sak Yant images

Thai French Fries

              People think french fries are a junk food. It is actually not, try some Thai french fries which is low in calories, high in protein and extremely nutritious which have made from different insects :-)

              Fried insects are a local snack or a food for only low-income Thai field workers in the past. It became popular and now can be found all over Bangkok.


      

The most popular fried insects in Bangkok are bamboo worms, crickets and grasshoppers. Others include scorpions and water beetles, weevils and ants. They’re usually fried in a wok and seasoned with chili sauce & a bit of Thai pepper powder. In Bangkok tourist places, you can find the insect cart in Khao Sarn as well as Soi Nana. The sellers like selling to westerners as they would expect the laughs, shrieks and sounds of disgust.

Only in Thailand!!

The amazing venue is called the Archipelago Cinema and is tucked away inside a bay surrounded by towering island rocks and lush jungle plants. It premiered during the Thai film festival.

Movie theaters are inherently awesome places to be on their own, evoking memories of past big-screen adventures and nights spent eating popcorn and candy for supper. For a new film festival in Thailand called Film on the Rocks Yao Noi, an outdoor cinema was constructed in the most unlikely of places: right on top of the water. And it just might be the most amazing place you could ever want to watch a movie.

The amazing venue is called the Archipelago Cinema and is tucked away inside a bay surrounded by towering island rocks and lush jungle plants. It's a natural paradise, and it just happens to be the perfect spot for a floating movie theater. The lagoon itself is shallow enough that it turns into a watery beach during low tide. Once the tide shifts, the ocean once again fills the area.

Archipelago Cinema
Using recycled wood and other materials, a giant modular raft was constructed to hold the audience. Viewers relax on large cushions and enjoy the sounds of the ocean as well as the film on the screen in front of them. The rafts are loosely held together and then anchored to the bottom of the lagoon. This allows the ocean to push and prod the structure while keeping it within a reasonable viewing angle of the screen.

Archipelago CinemaThe massive display and projector are secured more firmly to the bottom of the bay, which is probably a good idea considering that these structures house all the important electrical components and wouldn't take kindly to a dip in the ocean. The viewing raft is designed to be portable, and will likely be used for other events in the future as well.

Showings only take place during the evening, and special ambient lighting is used to bring the surrounding island scenery to life. With all the amazing eye candy to be seen, it's a wonder anyone was actually able to focus on the movie playing, but those who attended have spoken very highly of the experience — which only serves to fuel our jealousy even further. Of course, 2012 was just the first year for this amazing film festival, so we can only imagine what wild things the foundation has planned for the future.



source : http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/floating-movie-theater-might-just-coolest-place-earth-161343747.html  

Buffalo Races claimed on CNN and the BBC as a must-see event.

The annual Buffalo Race, held around the 11th lunar month ,around the first weekend in October, farmers from all over the province bring their buffalo to Chonburi City for a festival that dates back centuries.

The races themselves are preceded by a parade of colorful buffalo-drawn carts Miss Farm Maiden Contestantsthrough the central part of the provincial capital. Then the contestants are led to the stadium while farmhands run along side and throw buckets of water on them to keep them cool. The buffalo are fed a mixture of beer and eggs to enhance their performance, and the riders probably consume one of the ingredients to gather their courage for the bareback ride of the rampaging beasts. Crowds whoop and roar and dive for cover as the numerous rounds narrow down the field to four finalists. Finally in the late afternoon the winning buffalo is festooned with garlands and prizes are awarded to the rider.

Although this day of fun and competition would succeed with just the buffaloes as the celebrities, there are other activities to make it a worthwhile outing for families.

A fair with food stalls and handicrafts appeals to visitors who love authentic Thai food, snacks and sweets. Then there are the rides for children, concerts of folk music and, of course, a beauty contest where the prize is the honor of being declared Miss Buffalo.

Daily Routine for Thais at 8 Am and 6 PM

                                      Our flag is known as Tong Trairong which mean Tricolours. 
                                        Red represents Nation, White Religion and Blue King.

 
Every day at 8 am, the flag will be elevated up to top of the flag stand while national anthem played, and at 6 pm it will be lowered down while national anthem again played. In schools, the morning ritual of singing national anthem while standing still to pay respect to the flag followed by a prayer is practiced. People on the street also stand still in the morning and afternoon. Do not be surprise if you walk along the street and people just sudden stop their activities and stand still singing the national anthem.

Golden Baby (Guman thong)

 

The story of the Golden Baby comes supposedly from a 19th century Thai tale called, “Khun Chang Khun Paen”. In brief, the story goes:
 

Khun Paen was a soldier, 400 years previous, a time when supernatural forces played an important part of traditional warfare.Khun Paen had wanted a protective spirit to watch over him in battle. To this end he cut the unborn foetus of his son from his dead wife’s womb and took it to a temple to perform an occult rite. 

 

    He wrapped the child’s torso in sacred cloth and roasted it on a fire whilst chanting ritual mantras and dark incantations to create the supernatural being with whom he could communicate.

 
The golden baby is a spirit of  stillborn babies boy. we believe it is just like a real baby that do need regular care and feeding. Thais worship then by offering red sweet water once a day. Some do believe of preparing a plate at the table for the spirit whenever you eat. Since the Golden Baby is still the spirit of a child, it also requires that you give it toys, and nourish it with love as you would a normal child then they will bring the master a prosperity as well as protect them from danger. 

 

Thai Starbucks

Nowsday, Thais start to drink more coffee. Before Starbucks came to Thailand, we do not have much coffee shop here. Coffee is just another drink where we order in a restaurant or buy it from Food cart on the street. We drink coffee at home or in restaurant. Once Starbucks spread around the country, people like more a concept of chatting with friends and/or relaxing while having coffee in the coffee shop.  Coffee shop became popular and that is why we have many coffee shops around country.

O-Leung /black coffee

Thai style Ice Tea- Cha dam yen

Nom yen

O-Leung : is our traditional coffee without milk. In Chinese, O-means black and Leung mean cold.
Cha-Nom : is Thai style ice tea with milk. Cha (tea)Nom(milk) where we put sweetened condensed milk with sugar.

Thai style hot coffee/Cha Nom/chocolate milk

Traditional coffee blender

Cha Dam Yen : is a Thai style ice tea similar to ice lemon tea but we do not put lemon in there.
Nom Yen: is a popular drink for kids. Nom (milk)  yen (cold). The based ingredient is sweet water intensive mixed with sweetened condensed milk. Normally we will use the red sweet water intensive and mixed with milk to get a nice pink color.

Popular coffee/tea brand

coffee cart along the street.

Popular Thai Milk brand

 

Hot coffee served with Thai style bread or congee

Hot coffee served with deep-fried dough stick