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I hope that the introduction post of May the Force be With You will give you a little insight that Animistic beliefs are still widely practiced in Laos. As for our neighboring country Thailand, they also share this belief because Buddhism in Thailand is also closely tied to animist beliefs and belief in ancestral spirits. I found an interesting article from Koosang Koosom Magazine written by the mother of Nong Mou-Nong Mot from Maha Sarakham, Thailand that I like to share, this story will make you think twice before making a wish. This article is written in Thai language, translated by Nye.
Erawan Shrine Photographs by Kiteion
Photo source
Going back to 1990 (Thai year 2533), my husband and I were working in Krung Thep at the time, I was 3 months pregnant with my first child, my husband was ecstatic and so he went to visit the Erawan Shrine at the 4-intersection of Ratchaprasong to ask for a son. Then the day of my delivery came and we had a son just like he asked, my husband and I were very happy. We went back to give offering to Thunthou Phra Phrom Erawan (Erawan Statue), we did everything that we promised if our wish were granted. But one thing that we didn‘t do was to bring our son to pay respect to Thuntou Phra Phrom Erawan, not even once.
This was because my sons were raised by my parents in another town, they were good kids, easy to raise and I had 2 sons, the oldest was born in 1990 (2533), and the second in 1992 (2535), this one we didn’t ask for. Then in 1998 (2541), we moved back home since the boys were getting older and about time that we lived as a family. I kept thinking that I want to bring my sons to pay respect to Thunthou Phra Phrom Erawan, especially my oldest son, but since I was busy working, trying to make ends meet, and could never find the time.
During school breaks, my sons would help us at the clothing store in town to earn extra income, I worked there as a head cashier, and would get off work at 8 pm, and it’s considered late in the rural area, we did this for several years. My sons were good kids, they helped with household chores, including helping out in the rice paddy. I taught them not to forget their roots, the trade that has been passed down for many generations, we’d help each other farming during our day off, and hired out the things that we couldn’t do ourselves. Who said that having a son the mother has to do all the work, I say not true at all because ever since they were in the 5th and 6th grade, I didn’t have to wash dishes, nor clean the house because my sons did it all, they felt sorry for their mom that I had to work so late.
I was very happy and proud of my sons, but my happiness short-lived because in 2008 (2551), my oldest son had a late class and wouldn’t get out until 7 pm, he called to ask if he could stay at his friend’s dorm, I didn’t mind and only asked him not to disappoint his mom. He promised that he wouldn’t, and that was the last time that we spoke.
I was fascinated with Bang Fai Phaya Nark, also known as Naga Fireballs as long as I could remember, and last year I had a chance to stand at Wat Prabath Phonsanh looking out to the Mekong River, this is the Wat (Temple) that has the legend of Phraya Nark (Naga) to come up every year. I was there a month after the event, but I’m glad that I had a chance to see the Naga staircase that lead up to the temple.
Bang Fai Phraya Nark or Naga Fireballs is still scientifically unexplained, and usually happens on the first full-moon night of October coinciding with the end of Buddhist Lent. The locals believe the fireballs come from a mystical Naga or Phraya Nark living in the Mekong River who is spitting them high up in the air. Some scientist assume that the fireballs might be caused by bubbles coming up from a combustible natural gas deposit in the river bed which ignite when shooting up, and many now believe that it is just a hoax, nevertheless, the story of Bang Fai Phraya Nark or Naga Fireballs still fascinates many.
Nong khai - Phaya Naga Festival 2007
Photographs by ceejay19N
- Send Me An Angel by Scorpions
Have you ever wondered why there are so many young novice monks in Laos, especially in Luang Prabang? Our Buddhist faith in Laos is not as strict as the Myanmar, where it’s their tradition that every Myanmar Buddhist boy average age between 7 and 13 is expected to enter the monastery as a novice for a period of a few weeks to months, it’s considered to be the most important day in the boy’s life.
But in Laos, we don’t have a tradition like that, but yet we see many young novice monks at the local temples. Back in the olden days, temples were the schools, especially if you’re poor, as there was no formal education system. This makes sense because the Buddha is a teacher, and monks provide basic lesson in both spiritual and secular subjects, and for some, this might be the only way to get an education, not just in the olden days, but also in today society.
During my visit to Laos and Thailand, after we got stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport, we went back to Vientiane Laos to catch our flight back home, and we stayed at a hotel that’s not too far from Wat Mixay. I didn’t get to take a picture of the entrance, and this is a borrowed photo from here.
My dad and I passed the temple gate, and saw school children playing in the temple ground and thought that the school must be nearby. We visited the temple and that’s when I realized that the school is at the temple, kind of surprised me at first because I didn’t expect to see this at all. The children are very happy.
When I saw these images, I scratched my head a couple of times, not sure what to think of this new building, and certainly don’t expect to see this in Bangkok, Thailand, see for yourself. This image from their website made me think of 9/11.
MahaNakhon is a new 77-story high-rise complex, the construction will begin in Fall 2009. It’s a residential and hotel tower designed by internationally celebrated German architect Ole Scheeren, partner of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The 77-story will become Thailand’s tallest building, and will be completed in 2012.
From OMA Website: The design moves beyond the traditional formula of a seamless, inert, glossy totem, and instead actively engages the city: MahaNakhon’s pixelated and carved presence embraces and connects to the surrounding urban fabric rather than overpowering it. Its glittering stacked surfaces, terraces and protrusions will simultaneously create the impression of digital pixelation and echo the irregularity of ancient mountain topography. This architectural geography is conceived to convey the energy, intensity and inclusiveness of Thai society and celebrate Bangkok’s emergence as a true global capital, fitting the Thai meaning of the name MahaNakhon, translated as ‘great metropolis’.
The building will feature seven floors of retail (including cafes and restaurants), residential units (the Ritz-Carlton Residences with 200 single-level and duplex homes managed by The Ritz-Carlton, the units will offer owners 5-star amenities and interiors designed by David Collins), a hotel and a Sky Bar. A public plaza and outdoor atrium at the foot of the building will connect MahaNakhon with the Cube, a seven-story leisure- and-dining complex. (source, to read more about the project, and also project overview at e-architect.co.uk)
This is a translated article from Koosang Koosom Magazine, written by Vanhla of Udtradit in Thai Language, translated by Nye.
I kept this as a secrete for almost 50 years now, please allow me to tell this to Koosang Koosom as the first to know of what had happened.
When I was about 6 years old, the Thai government launched a campaign against the communist, at the time I couldn’t read yet, but heard the grown ups talked about the cruelty of the communist, such as making people work as water buffalo to plow the rice paddy.
Man Pulling Plow, photo by DECLAN MCCULLAGH PHOTOGRAPHY
Photo source.
Or put little kids in a mortal, and smashed down repeatedly with a pestle.
Mortal and Pestle cropped photo by Mozemoua
Those that were against the communist would be killed, especially those that were teachers because teachers teach children to become brighter, so they wouldn’t be easily influenced or brainwashed by the communist. My dad was a teacher at one of the schools in Udtradit (Thailand), very far from civilization, and in the middle of no where. There was no electricity and the only way to reach the village was by boat only.
My dad relocated us with him, we lived in a school housing. My dad’s school had a roof but no walls and they used the blackboards to separate the classrooms, from first grade to fourth grade. There was an old grub hoe (garden tool) hanging by a tree that was being used as the school bell. We didn’t have any book or pencil, the principal gave us each a chalk and small blackboard to write on. We lived at the school house for a little over a month and something unforgettable happened.
That night right before I went to bed, I heard loud noises…Pung, Pung, Pung…
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