Last month we went on a short trip to Bangkok. Everywhere we went, tuk-tuk drivers tried to tell us (and all the other dumb tourists) that the sight we were on our way to was closed, and that we should hop on-board and they would take us to see this Buddha (statue), that Buddha, and the other Buddha, all for a few measly baht - and a forced side tour to their sister’s gem shop, friend’s tailor shop, and other friend’s gem shop. But we didn’t fall for it (only because we had been forewarned). And on top of that triumph, we remembered to follow the rules and wear respectful attire to the Grand Palace, unlike these tourists, who were harshly punished with floral-print loaner-pants. (The guy in front with the red fanny-pack was, I guess, just punishing himself).
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We saw an evening candlelight procession around a temple on Visakha Bucha Day, the day Buddhists observe the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.
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Pretty.
In fact, most of what we saw used in Buddhist practice in Thailand was beautiful – stunning temples, piles of orchids and lotuses, and endless golden images of Buddha.
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(white elephant at a temple)
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(Aaron at a temple)
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(flower market in Chinatown)
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(at the Lingam Shrine)
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(lotuses for sale outside a temple)
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(tourist monks at a lush temple)
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But not everything was beautiful.
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At least not to me.
Here’s Aaron wondering how he can get one of the pighead to-go bags:
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Unrelated to Buddhism, to my knowledge, was this frightful clown-devil stationed right outside our hotel.
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Stationed outside another hotel (one much, much, much fancier than ours) was this fertility shrine.
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Huh.
So.
What else?
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We went to see some Thai boxing. The fighting was generally graceful and strategic, and the fighters seemed to show respect for one another. Not at all like American boxing (not that I’ve ever really seen that). Oh, except for when one young man was knocked out cold and carried away on a stretcher. Oh, and also when the two non-Thai (European) fighters took to the ring and pummeled each other until they were both bloody, and then the winner did an obnoxious victory dance.
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Another night we stayed in a town about 45 minutes outside of Bangkok where a friend of mine is doing some work this summer. We stayed in the offices of the labor rights organization she is working with, and spent the evening having drinks (beer with ice, whiskey with soda water) with the very welcoming staff. As we prepared for bed, the old, blind dog that had been resting in a corner of the office gave birth atop computer and stereo wiring. No one had even known she was with puppy.
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The primary industry in this coastal town is seafood processing. In the morning, we drove by Red Lake, a small pond next to a seafood factory, which gets its unnatural color (and name) from the heads of shrimp which are dumped in the water.
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Most of the shrimp are shipped to the US. There are a number of serious problems with these factories, which you can learn about from people who actually know about the topic - if you’re interested, just Google “thailand seafood processing human rights,” for a start.
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I don’t want to end with that. So, I’ll end with some photo snippets.
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