MangoVine
Adventures in East Asia

Entries in Culture

 05 December, 2009
Saturday Blind Thai Buskers
We're all used to buskers, but blind buskers? There were quite a few around the tourist magnet spots in Thailand. In Bangkok, we saw several like this guy below at the Chatuchak Market, who were actually walking around with their sticks tapping away, whilst singing along to music blasted from their chest-mounted speakers.

Blind-Musician

Whilst nearby Wat Pho in a street market, we saw this seated chap creating some beats with his drum.

Blind-Drummer

At Chiangmai's famous Ratchdamnoen Walking Market, there was a seated quartet of partially-sighted musicians (I guess they were a band). I think we saw the same band on a different night at a different market.

Ratch-Market-Buskers
 05 December, 2009
Saturday Thailand National Day and the Pink Crowds
In Bangkok, Linh and I noticed how so many Thai were wearing pink tops. By the 5th December, pink-topped people were everywhere, particularly around the National Stadium and so we found out it was in celebration of their King's birthday (King Bhumibol Adulyadej).

National-Day-Crowd

A televised concert was taking place at National Stadium. There were vendors around selling more pink tops and the national flag as both wristbands and mini-flags.

Read more... 03 December, 2009
Thursday Avoiding Rip Off Taxis in Bangkok
Avoiding rip-off taxi drivers in any country is a common tip in many a guide, but of course we have our own experience to share, which luckily didn't put us out of pocket. In fact, having now visited several countries in East Asia, we found that we begin to grasp the legitimacy of many transactions we make as visitors anyway.

Pink-Taxi

With Bangkok, the crowds of adorable pink taxis really make you think that nothing can go wrong but as far as the drivers go, they still want your money.

Read more... 03 December, 2009
Thursday Observations on Bangkok Public Transport
Whilst in some other East Asian countries we were able to get around using a convenient prepaid travel card of some sort, in Bangkok, it was deemed to be easier to buy one way tickets as and when needed. Particularly as there were differentiating metros and skytrains.

Skytrain

Anyway, we found that we practically made all our journeys on the BTS Skytrain and only once used the metro where it was more convenient to get to Suan Lum Night Bazaar.

Read more... 03 December, 2009
Thursday Amulet Shopping and other Market Stuff
In Thailand, amulets are considered by some to be a vital form of spiritual protection from malevolent spirits and misfortune. They are small items that can be worn around a neck, made from bronze, clay, plaster or gold and can be individually hand-crafted or mass produced.

Amulet-Shopping1

The most popular of images on amulets are copies of sacred statues, revered holy men, kings, healers or monks. However, its the amulet's history that determines its efficacy with factors including where and by whom it was made, and whether a monk has been called upon to consecrate it.

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