Being Thai

Continued from the lasted about Thai coins which I was talking about the King and temples stamped on the coins. As I told you earlier in the previous content, nobody can separate Thai people from Buddhism. Thai coins would be one of the evidences. 

Since we were born and went to school. The activities that Thai students do every morning will be standing in the row at the schools' yard, turn our heads to the flagstaff then singing national anthem at 8 am. sharp after that we will pray. This is a very common mornings activity in schools but some private schools will pray in Christianity, depending on the schools' founders. I studied in both private and government schools which pray in Buddhism. The activity will take longer time if it's near the royal's days like father and mother day. We will have special ceremony and sing the royal antherms for our king and queen. It is very normal for Thai people to be grateful.

Thai flag has meaning from the colours too. This is the reason why we sing the national anthem and pray in front of our flag. From the picture you will see there are 3 colours on our flag; red colour stands for our nation - Thai, white colour stands for our region - Buddhism and dark blue colour stands for our king and respect to royal family.  We are so proud of everything represented to Thai, we love our King and also have faith in Buddhism. Even if sometimes we want have sharp noses like western people. LoL

Next, I will talk about Thai girls as I mentioned in the lasted content that "everyone likes money espescially Thai girls!" It's not my words actually but I heard that from foriegners many times and I am bored to say "not every Thai girl wants your money!" so I will tell you about Thai girls instead. 

In past, it was hard for girls to study. Only men were allowed to study. If poor men wanted to study, they needed to ordain as a monk and not every man could do that. Very few men could read or write. For girls needed to learn about houseworks and handicrafts, got themselves ready to be good wives and take care of babies. If a woman couldn't marry anyman would be ashamed. Women needed to rely on her husbands, everything depended on her husbands only because it was believed that men were more claver and stronger. Women were very grateful and honest to her husbands. They prostrated their future husbands at marriage ceremony and did it everyday. A man could have many wives while a woman could have only a husband until the day she died. Being divorce was ashemed to do too. 

Nowadays, many things between men and women have changed. Women are educated and can work as well as men. 

Women have jobs and earn money. Women can choose to be a housewives or working women. Some women still need her husbands' support while some need not. Being single is not at all ashamed so many girls choose to stay single and some marry foriegners. It is said that Thai girls want to marry foriegners instead of Thai men because of money. I don't think so. I also don't know what other girls think about it but in my opinion, the main reason that makes two people marry should be love and happiness on staying together. Marriage means the promise of two people who will be take care of each others in every moment of lives, being honest and building a family. I think Thai girls like Foriegn men because of their gentlemen, responsibility and equality.

There are good and bad people everywhere. Not only Thai girls lie to foriegners but also foriegners lie to Thai girls too. When she looks into your purse, you also look at her body?  If you only think about her beauty, I'm sure she will only think about your wallet too. Close your eyes and open your heart wider. I myself never have foreign boyfriend though so ... yeah. Affection is always greater than perfection.

                 Not to offend

Thai coins

Speaking about money, everyone likes money especially Thai girls, isn't it? 

The money we have in our pockets, spend it every single day but how many people ever notice if there are something similar and dissimilar between the different valued coins.

As you can see from above pictures, there are the pictures showing both sides of Thai coins in different values. If you look at them superficially, there might be only the colours and sizes made the coins look clearly different and easy to regconize their values. The first picture is shown that all coins have the similar king image stamped on this side. The second picture shown other side of the coins which has the pagodas (Chedi) and hall images stamped on. Now look at them carefully.

Here we go! The Chedi and hall images stamped on the coins are located in very famous and important temples in Thailand as following;

25 Satang - The Chedi of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakorn Si Thammarat

http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5752/

50 Satang - The Chedi of Wat Pra That Doi Suthep, Chiangmai http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_That_Doi_Suthep

1 Baht - The Chedi of Wat Pra Keaw, Bangkok

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_Kaew

2 Baht - The Chedi of Wat Saket, Bangkok

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Saket

5 Baht - The hall of Wat Benchamabophit, Bangkok

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Saket

10 Baht - The Chedi of Wat Arun, Bangkok

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Arun

Thai coins are one of many things that connect us to the history. Now we are in the reign of The King Bhumibol so the coins stamped with the king image. The coins in other reigns are different from the present coins too. If you are in Chiangmai and interested in learning more about Thai coins you can visit the Treasury Pavilion, it is located on Ratchadamnoern Rd. (Sunday market Rd.) near Tamarin Village Hotel.  I went to the Treasury Pavilion often  when my piggy banks fulled with coins. They ever serviced people to exchange coins and banknotes but now the exchange service has been moved to Chiangmai City Hall already.

Even some Thai people don't notice them and cannot identify the name of temples on coins. People might think it is just a little thing, no need to pay attention but we need to accept that sometimes little things can change the world. :D 

Sorry for updating the blog late though, I promised my friend that I would update it on weekend but it's about 2 weeks late now. 

            ***** To be continued *****

I'm back!

After absence from updating my blog for almost 4 months, I finally returned to continue. I was excited when I came online yesterday and found that there are over 18,700 views! The feedback is better than I have expected!

I came across to read a good website written by a nice British couple. The website is very helpful for foreigners who want to settle in Chiangmai. http://www.neverendingvoyage.com/living-chiang-mai-guide/

There's a facebook page called "Seconhand Chiangmai" which foreigners offer their good condition second-handed  stuff at quite cheap prices (Sometimes for free) because they need to leave Chiangmai soon. 

I am so glad when I read the reviews from foreigners who ever visitted Chiangmai said they love it here and want to come back again. Some people come here every year for holidays and some decided to settle here. At the same time I feel sorry hearing that Thailand has many cheating people. In my opinion, there are good and bad people everywhere. Local Chiangmai people are very kind and friendly. I hope you all will have good experience with it someday. I'm sure you'll be in love here.  

Every test in our life makes us bitter or better. Every problem comes to break us or make us. The choice is ours whether we become victim or victor. I love this quote of moment. 

                ---- Forget me not ----

 

White Pagoda on the street

Whenever people are talking about Buddhism's pagodas, I'm sure that everyone will think about temples. It is believed that Pagodas should be seen only in the temple. If you are one of tourists ever visited to Chiangmai, you might have a chance to see a pagoda stands on the street near fruits market and Ping River and wonder why it was built on the street, not a temple? 

In ancient times, it was said that once a Burma King led the troops to Chiangmai City, challenged Chiangmai people finding the best diver to compete a diving with the Burmese. The deal was if the best Chiangmai diver could stay under water longer than the Burmese, he and the army would return home. 

An old man named "Piang" volunteered to compete this diving. The competition was held near where the white pagoda is situated now. Two poles had been posted in the river at a distance and the divers were waiting there for a signal to start diving.

The divers started diving at the time that the signal was given... People started to feel uncomfortable and excited as so much time passed. Eventually the first diver emerged among extremely excited people. It appeared the Burmese. All Chiangmai people were very delighted and waited for their hero. Time passed so long that it was clear in this victory of Chiangmai so they sent a man to tell their the old man. The men returned and reported that their hero could not return because he had sacrificed himself for the city. He tied himself to the pole and was drowned in the river. The white pagoda was built at the Ping River bank as a monument for his bravery.

Loi Krathong; the festival of appreciation

Loi Krathong Festival is traditionally cerebrated nationwide in Thailand on the full moon night of 12th lunar month to thank and show respect with gratefulness to the water spirits or the goddess of river called Phra Mae Khongkha by floating Krathongs into the river they used and drink.

Loi is a Thai word stands for "float". Krathong is an object made from banana tree trunk and banana leaves, and decorated with flowers, candles and joss-sticks.

Before floating Krathongs, we will put a coin in the Krathong and say thank Pha Mae Khongkha then make a wish. It is believed that the coin will take evils with it. 

After loi Krathongs, we will floating Lanterns, small hot air balloons made of papers, or called Khom Loi in Thai. We do this activity in the same meaning with putting a coin in our Krathong - to push our bad luck off. 

For this year, I went to visit Tudongkasatan Lanna where a great number of lanterns are floated to the sky in the Loi Krathong nights and too many people went there both Thais and foriegners every year. The sky were fulled with millions lanterns! 

I have not written for quite a long time since I was very busy with my new work, have to learn many things in very short time. I went to visit a few places in Loi Krathong Festival this year and could take just a few photos. So crowded people that I could not imagin that how much money were spent by foriegners. :p Thank you all of tourists who chose to travel to Chiangmai. 

Finally, thank you all for comments. I appreciate them :D and thanks my friends for beautiful pictures.

Stand for what I believe ...

Firstly, I want to thank you all for visitting my blog. All of comments are most welcome, I appreciate. :) 

I really love Chiangmai and I'm very happy to share all stories to you guys. I do this blog with a passion in writing and photography. My grammar and vocabulary usage might not be proper, and my photography may not be beautiful because I'm a beginner. :p Just do whatever I like, follow other dreams of mine. 

Next month will be the beginning of my life's next step. I'm going to work for a new company in a new position with more challeanging. I know I have to work harder. I really thank myself for studying and working hard. There are many things and many dreams I want to do in my life and I believe anything can be possible if we work hard.

Just never lose hope ... when the sun goes down, the stars come up.

Thank you again and please keep reading :)

Small Buddha images collecting, a hobby with faith and passion

Thai people are engaged with Buddhism since we were born. A first born baby would be brought to a temple for naming. When we build a house and getting marrige, we need monks for blessing us. Even when people are dead, we need monks' praying bring us to the heaven. 

In past, poor people couldn't afford for school so they sent their male kids to ordain. Most of poor people didn't study, they couldn't even read or write but monks could. Also Thai women had no right to study, they were taught to be housewives. 

All Thai Buddhists believe in heaven and hell, doing good things and karma. We make merit for our better future lives and pray for our peaceful lives. In a war, all Thai combatants had holy tattoos which were believed that can protect them from weapons and they hung small buddha images for missing of any hazard.

The old small buddha images descended from ancestors are very valuable, an old one can cost you millions baht! The price depends on its ages, popularity, beauty and fondness of the buyer. Small buddha images collecting is a very popular hobby for all kinds of people from politicians, businessmen, policemen, farmers or even students. Some people collect them for protecting hazards and getting lucky. Other people take them as goods. They are so priceless that can bring murder to the owners. The old small buddha images are kept in a safe as if they were diamonds.

 ( Three of priceless small buddha images kinds) 

As their price are really high so the small buddha images lovers are always copied but that makes the copied images' price reduced because the experts know which one is real. 

 ( a small magnifying glass which the small buddha images lovers use for gazing at the images to appraise them )

     ( A small buddha images lover's gazing at the images. )

If you overlook at the credulity, you would find that a small buddha image is a kind of art. Anything could be valuable depending on one's fondness.

**There was a comment from an American that a small buddha image called Amulet in English. Thank you so much for your advice. ^_____^