Thailand – Page 22

Soi Cowboy

Soi Cowboy is a street near Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok with over 40 restaurants, bars, go-go bars, and nightclubs crammed into a single block smaller than Little Italy. The over-the-top neon signs in English look like something out of Las Vegas.

The area caters mainly to expatriates and local residents. Soi Cowboy is also a destination for tourists who want a glimpse of Bangkok’s nightlife without ending up in one of the city’s larger red light districts.

Soi (“side street” in Thai) Cowboy was named after T.G. Edwards (no relation), an American who retired in Thailand and was known as “The Cowboy” for his ten-gallon Texan hat and gun belt. T.G. founded the first bar on the street in 1973 and named it after his daughter Loretta. The area was famous for its elephants that paraded down the street as a tourist attraction until the government ended the practice.

The street has several establishments that cater to those not interested in the seedier side of Bangkok. Try the barbeque or have a beer.

Soi Cowboy’s relaxed atmosphere means that you can have a quick glance at the place, walk down the street, or have a drink or meal without being hassled.

While the place is not for everyone, especially children, it offers a glimpse into another side of Thailand’s culture. If you visit Soi Cowboy, it’s important that you still be vigilant and on watch out for theft, scams and rip-offs, and illegal activities. Panhandlers can distract you. Child begging also occurs.

Zebras in Thailand

After I moved to Thailand from Africa, I noticed that Thais seemed to be infatuated with zebras. Zebra figurines are very popular in Thailand.

I’ve seen them at Buddhist temples, along roadsides, and in markets.

Zebras are not native to Thailand. They’re originally from Africa and live in the wild in countries like Zambia, my previous home. The only places in Thailand where you can find live zebras are in zoos and at Safari World in Bangkok. (Note: I haven’t been to Safari World, but after going on safari in Africa, I’m not sure that I want to see it!)

I wondered about this interesting phenomenon and searched the Internet looking for information about Thais’ preoccupation with zebras.

I didn’t find much. According to blogging site Women Learning Thai, the Bangkok Post had an insert that explained (vaguely) the symbolism behind the zebra:

“Animals are an important icon in Buddhism to remind people about their relation to the natural world. There is an interesting theory about why the zebra is the chosen statue around some Thai spirit houses. It’s believed that because a pedestrian zebra crossing is technically a ‘safe zone’ on the road, placing the statue at shrines can bring the same sort of protection to an individual. It is alleged that a monk told one truck driver to deploy zebra statues to ensure a safe path to success, and over time other Thais began placing similar statues.”

I have another theory. Zebras are black and white, which also happen to be the colors of yin and yang. If the story of the monk suggesting the zebra as a symbol of a safe path is true, it’s possible that he may have been influenced by Taoist thought.

Personally though, I prefer real zebras in the wild. There’s nothing like coming across a herd of zebras and knowing that your path is safe. If it weren’t safe, there wouldn’t be a zebra in sight!

Bangkok Flooding Update with Photos

October 17, 2011

6:00 p.m. Local Time

Bangkok, Thailand

This weekend I drove around areas of Bangkok flooded by the Chao Phraya River. The water had crested its banks by 1.5 meters and flooded temples, businesses, and homes located along the river. We saw work crews busy building makeshift levees with sandbags and dirt mounds at points along the road deemed most likely to withstand the flood.

As long as the river does not rise another two meters, I think the urban areas of Bangkok will be spared from large-scale flooding. The area that I toured in Nonthaburi Province is considered at higher risk than Bangkok.

Based on my own observations, I think that we are safe for now. However, if the river rises 3-5 meters more, we’ll all be in trouble. From the looks of it though, I think the floodwaters here will be minimal.

Update, 8:30 p.m. Local Time

According to a news article in the Bangkok Post, a water barrier in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district about 30 kilometers to the north of Nonthaburi ruptured earlier today, flooding the area. Hold on; we’re not through this yet.

October 18, 2011

7:30 p.m. Local Time

Bangkok, Thailand

We’ve been informed that the flooding at Khlong Luang district should not affect us in Nonthaburi. For the time being, we’re safe, although Bangkok is still an island surrounded by flooded land to the north, east, and west. Let’s hope it drains to the Gulf of Thailand without more problems cropping up.

The following are photos I took over the past two days. Photos tell the story much better than I.