Happy Chinese New Year to you all – the year of the Rooster. There is, of course, a huge Chinese community here in Thailand with many Thais direct descendants from Chinese. So, the celebrations started early.
I think the real celebrations, though, will be tonight as, during the day, there was little evidence of this event. In fact it was a quiet start. The mobile fruit sellers were plying their trade with not much luck
and business wasn’t so brisk in this place either,
whatever it was selling!
The Khao San Road is the centre of the backpacking community and was a little bit more ‘buzzy’,
full of cheap lodgings, cheap clothes, cheap food and drink. In short, brash but functional. A couple of streets away though is Soi Rambuttri which is still at the cheaper end of the market, full of the inevitable clothes stalls and on street massage parlours
but altogether more characterful.
Although the cost of property has escalated dramatically over the years, in comparison with many other major cities, I think Bangkok prices are still reasonable. This new build
in the heart of the commercial district will set you back just over £150k although you might need binoculars to see the river. I suspect that prices are negotiable as business is perhaps not so brisk as it should be,
the property sales company employing a number of youngsters to (half heartedly) wave promotional flags at the roadside.
Having been to Bangkok more than just a few times, I have, of course, visited a lot of the major tourist attractions (Grand Palace, Reclining Buddha, Emerald Buddha, Gold Buddha, river tours etc etc). But no visit would be complete without popping into a temple and there are so many of them to choose from.
This one is considered only a ‘level 3’ place of worship by the Thais and tucked away so you would hardly notice it is, but I think it’s just lovely..
Buddhism seems to me to be quite a jolly religion. Of course, people come to the temple to pray and bang drums (communicating with departed relatives perhaps?)
but also they come to meet friends, to chat, to listen to stories being told
to remember those who have passed away perhaps
or maybe just to pay homage to the particular god of their choice.
It’s a fascinating religion, so full of symbolism .
I would just love to know what this young boy was doing. Maybe I’ll download a Beginners Guide to Buddhism and try to understand a little of what it’s all about.
Tonight I’m off to Chinatown to see if I can catch more of the Chinese New Year celebrations. It could be fun.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 