The gods in Thailand are sometimes offered betel nuts, a type of seed consumed in rural areas for its narcotic-like effects. Pure sliced betel nuts are usually chewed, but sometimes the seeds are ground, mixed with spices, and then wrapped in fresh betel leaves to make it more palatab...
In the taxi this morning, this serene white-on-white Buddha image above me was reassuring. Despite the heavy traffic, the road construction, big trucks honking their horns, and the fact that the cab almost ran out of fuel, I felt completely calm and unfazed. At one point, I even close...
One of my favorite types of talismans in taxis here is in the form of fish made from accordion-pleated banknotes. Normally, these lucky charms are created with out-of-circulation Thai baht, but this one incorporates fake money with pictures of venerated Thai monks on it. I've heard of...
- All expressway charges and tolls paid by the passenger - Estimated number of car taxis in Bkk - 100,000 - Estimated number of taxi drivers in Bkk from NE Thailand (Isaan) - 70% - Percent of female taxi drivers in Bkk - .3% -Religion of majority of taxi drivers in Bkk - Theravada Bud...
The popularity of the image of Ganesh in Thailand is a result of King Rama VI who demanded that the representation of this elephant-headed God be used as a symbol of Thailand's Literature Club and Fine Arts Department. The King had adopted the concept from the Indian epic, the Mahabha...
The adage on this plastic frog-flower knickknack in this taxi is an accurate description of the life of most Bangkok taxi drivers. A majority of the cabbies in this city work twelve hour shifts everyday with few days off. I bet many taxi drivers here wish they could say the opposite: ...
I never forget a face, Well, unless it's the face of a Bangkok taxi driver. Most of the time, I can't get a good look at their whole mug anyway. From the backseat, I can only see the back of their head and a reflection of part of their visage in the rearview mirror. Then again, the ca...
If I happen to mention to Bangkok taxi drivers that I used to live in Chicago, the one thing that they usually associate with the Windy City is Michael Jordan, the legendary basketball player who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the '80s and early '90s. My taxi driver...
In Thai, the word for pumpkin is fukthong which can be translated as golden squash. As a result of the reference to gold in the name, pumpkins are a symbol of prosperity in this culture. Occasionally, you can find the little real ones on taxi dashboards as a way to attract money, but ...
Less than one percent of Thais are Christian, so it's uncommon to see images of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and other idols like these in Bangkok taxis. On the left is a representation of St. Christopher on an enameled medal, who, similar to certain venerated Thai monks, is believed to of...
While most Bangkok cabbies follow the teachings of the Buddha, the driver of this taxi abides by the slogan of WWE wrestler, John Cena, "Hustle Loyalty Respect". Of course, there are some major differences between the philosophies of the Buddha and those of a pro wrestler. While the B...
As a majority of taxi drivers in Bangkok come to work here from other parts of Thailand, there are many cabbies in this city who are kittung bahn , or literally in English, missing home. A lot of these drivers only have the chance to travel back to their province a couple of times per...
Need to sell your house in Bangkok? Want to buy some property in Thailand? How about a hotel in Pattaya? "No problem," according to my taxi driver today. As an unlicensed broker, he claims that he can find buyers and sellers for any type of real estate or property. And if you need a h...
One way to differentiate the various types of Buddha images is by their hand gestures, or mudras . This particular statuette hanging from a rearview mirror in a Bangkok cab depicts the Buddha standing with his right hand raised. Known as the abhaya mudra , this gesticulation represent...
If you head upcountry in Thailand, you'll see plaid cloths like this one all over the place, but it's not something you see in Bangkok very often these days. These colorful textiles known as pha khao ma are traditionally worn by men around their waists and have a multitude of other us...
Today was the first time I had to wake up my taxi driver. He dozed off at a red light and didn't notice that the light had changed green. This is unusual for Bangkok cabbies as they're normally wired on energy drinks and/or caffeine. On the other hand, considering that most taxi drive...
single pine-scented air-freshener dangling from the rearview mirror? Not in this taxi. The driver has been collecting coins, tasseled golden charms, votive statuettes, amulets, stickers, and plastic baubles for fifteen years. If he did have an air-freshener (which, I might add, he sor...
If you head upcountry in Thailand, you'll see plaid cloths like this one all over the place, but it's not something you see in Bangkok very often these days. These colorful textiles known as pha khao ma are traditionally worn by men around their waists and have a multitude of other us...
