Lumpini Park (Bangkok’s Hyde Park) is usually a quiet oasis in the middle of this frenetic city,
surrounded by high rise blocks many of which are still festooned with tributes to the recently deceased king.
However, for the next few days about 85% of this space has been taken over by an exhibition promoting tourism in Thailand aimed, it would seem, largely at the local population.
It’s a huge and vibrant event with Thailand’s various regions competing with each other to attract greater numbers of visitors.
Regional food and craft stalls not only made for a very colourful and aromatic environment but also was a very pleasant change from the usual ‘tat’ seen in the tourist night markets.
In the foreground of this photo you can see a fairly basic spice grinding machine in action.
Each region also put on some cultural shows, most of which were high energy music and dance routines that, in a way, were self explanatory.
However, the meaning behind this performance by a group from way up in the north of Thailand was completely baffling.
4 young ladies and 4 young men stood facing each other playing ‘catch’, all accompanied by some rather soulful (and possibly out of tune) warbling . And when the performers had finished this riveting routine and turned to depart
you could see that all the ladies had wicker baskets strapped to their backs which served absolutely no purpose at all. Very strange.
Clearly a lot of effort had gone into making this a most eye catching event
even though the meaning behind some of the costumes was a little obscure!
My slightly less impressive headgear nearly came to a sticky end, blown off my head whist tuk tuk racing back to the hotel and into the path of oncoming traffic. My enterprising driver happily saved the day though.
It’s been hot and thirsty work today but happily the sun has nearly gone down behind the yard arm.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 