#Thai railway

[thairailway-diablo]

Former Bangkok Terminal Station

Hua Lamphong Station

สถานีหัวลำโพง

  New Bangkok Terminal Station have opened in November 2021.  In Jan 2023, the railway terminal function have been moved from Hua Lamphong Station to the new station.  Want to go see these stations soon.

[tortibomb]

The Heart Killers | FadelStyle | Episode 4 insp|tutorials: x|x|x|x

The sirens keep on screaming, that's a warning We're staring at the ticket that says "one trip" No turning back, hold tight onto them railings It's only us, but something's saying (more, please) - Railway (Bang Chan | Stray Kids)

[asiaphotostudio]

Thailand, 1990 State Railway of Thailand, Thailand. タイ タイ鉄道 マレー半島縦断 Photography by Michitaka Kurata

[cornyonmains]

The feminine urge to give First carbohydrates.

[rhk111sblog]

China and Thailand are planning to build a Canal that will cut across Thailand and allow Ships to bypass the Malacca Strait

[inessen-kryo]

Mine is

1. Lightning

2. Wind

3. Fire

4. Water

out of curiosity what's your sage dungeon rating mine is 1. wind 2. water 3. lightning 4. fire

[ineffable-opinions]

Top 20 BL Live-action of 2024

Here are the top 20 of 2024: live-action BL that I watched and enjoyed this year. I haven't watched everything that came out this year (I'm saving up some for the upcoming year) and did revisit a lot of older stuff (not listed) when there was nothing enjoyable to watch. This year, I realized that I am able to tolerate, if not enjoy, when I'm not too familiar with the content it is adapted from with some exceptions. I don't treat BL like fables or life lessons. I don't bother with moral validation from the choice of media I consume either. But there are certain real-world killjoys in media that may affect my enjoyment, like what happened with The Sign. Please feel free to ask for content warning.

20. Love Is a Poison - This series made my wish to see Hama Shogo in a BL come true. I loved his character in Koisenu Futari (2022) and wanted more of his character’s interaction with Takahashi Issei’s character. Also, the series leaned into the surreal with the squealing, sparkling succulents. While the legal drama part of the series was light, it was the first time I was invested in the character’s careers since Beloved Enemy (2017) [which is going to have a Thai remake/adaptation]. I absolutely enjoyed the dynamics of a neo-super-darling seme paired with a devoted, kuudere uke. But, I wish there were fewer flashback/compilation scenes.

19. Unknown - I never thought Priest’s Da Ge will become something like this. I am impressed by the meticulous cultivation that source material underwent. That little carp really crossed the gate to become a dragon. The Unknown managed to tone down the golden finger bits and keep things realistic to an extent, fit the whole business venture arc neatly into Taiwan’s SME-heavy capitalism. It fleshed out Le ge, and his relationship with both his underlings and his junior and made him interesting. It gave me one of my favorite mob characters in a BL – an ex-gangster with his blacked-out tattoos running a street food stall. In line with Taiwanese tradition, this series not only employed high BL literacy but also dedicated time to educate. (more on it here)

18. Cosmetic Playlover - I was hesitant to watch this show since I had enjoyed the first few volumes of manga and lost interest in later volumes. I knew they were going to censor the hell out of the first volume. While I am still bitter about that fact, I still enjoyed the series.

17. Love is Better the Second Time Around - this had some of my favorite moments from a BL - two-faced seme employing all sorts of methods to seduce and ensnare the uke, return of the alone-at-the-railway-station trope, seme using helpless, feverish face and acting coquettish (some seriously charming gap moe), teasing a seme's seme (this one did it better than At 25:00 in Akasaka which fumbled it by choice) and kishōtenketsu - 4 part traditional East Asian narrative structure (which appeared in many series this year and the last) with family negotiation aiming at adoption reversal. (I wanted seme to recommend uke in his place to his native household - that way they can also get married, if and when it gets legalized.)

16. Living with Him – The reason why this series is on this list is pretty unique. I never understood Japanese focus and fetish of nape (the way navel is in south India) before this series. The camera managed to capture the uke's neck, especially when he had his head bent slightly, in a stunning manner. Overall, the camera language was very intimate without being bawdy, perfectly suitable for the domestic setting of this BL. I loved the series more than I did the manga.

15. Century of Love - Gave me Hindi serial style BL complete with a red cloth enveloping the main couple during their fated encounter. It is a lakorn, so that's to be expected. I felt that the pair's romance progressed at an uncharacteristically fast pace given the initial resistance. (In other words, I wanted their romance to progress slowly, like over 400 episodes.) I thoroughly enjoyed the characters including the villains.

14. Healing Thingyan – this BL from Myanmar is no longer available at SKY Production’s YouTube channel. I had a good time watching this BL set in a village in the context of New Year where friends become lovers after much hesitation and an interrupted confession from the year before. My heart was pounding when the couple poured water over the left side because that's where their hearts are at. Also, the religious restriction (I am a little weak to this trope) to physical intimacy as a tactic to skip kiss scene - I would have been irked if it wasn't for the execution - the couple standing under arching bamboo, wearing sarong and acting all sweet. It is set in 2019. Later, I came to know that allegedly (I would appreciate if someone can help me gain more clarity on this matter), SKY production could be a proxy of 7th Sense Creation, an entertainment company cofounded by Kin Thiri Thet, daughter of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing (Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar’s armed forces and Acting President against whom the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has filed an application for an arrest warrant, alleging his involvement in crimes against humanity targeting the Rohingya population. (source))

13. The Time of Fever - I'm not very sure if this one can be considered a complete story in itself but even if not, it is immensely satisfying. Age-blind casting shouldn't have worked so well but it did. 

12. Gray Shelter - this one made me feel as though I read a nice short story or a novel. It was viscous like honey, the way such types of Korean BL novels (like Picked Up In Winter) tend to be. It had a very masculine vibe with underlying unease of depending and being depended on. 

11. Hitochigai kara Hajimaru Koi mo Aru aka Love Can Sometimes Start with the Wrong Person [fansubs available at Drama Otaku] - substitute lover trope but this time the substitute is two-faced. Everyone has their own agenda but this love is a zero-sum game. (I wanted 3p ending though – not possible since one actor is playing both the twins). I loved all the scheming and all those little lies. This one had explicit use of BL terms like seme and uke by a main character.

10. Perfect Propose - workplace that brings workers to tears, corporate slave uke who decides to quit (without starting a job hunt 😔) and an untethered seme who grows hydroponics tomatoes in their balcony. It is adapted from a single volume manga and not a novel, yet it uses every minute it's got to make you feel ALL THAT. 

9. High School Return of a Gangster - I was sad that they meant it as a bromance and worried for the future of BL creation in South Korea since it was Number Three Pictures, the company that created popular BL Unintentional Love Story and The Time of Fever, by its own admission struggling financially with limited recovery of production costs (more on this here). When I started watching, I couldn't care any less about their intentions. It was an absolute delight. I was still immersed in the exhilaration of Aavesham (2024) and had wished to see such things in the context of a BL. And this one delivered. I was shipping the underboss with his main lackey (they have history between them and reminded me of the relationship between Ranga and Ambaan) at one point and the next moment, shipping him with his foxy classmate. The series toned down the bully-loves-bullied aspect in the novel, and humanized and contextualized the main bully with his life in the underbelly of the economy, so much so that I felt bad when the bullies were prosecuted (what will happen to Hong Jae-min's sister😟) while gangsters and the rich who hire them went scot-free in the live action. The face-slapping part left a bitter taste in my mouth with the secretary facing the brunt (and the misogyny embedded in the socio-economic fabric that breeds such hatred) while the father isn't retaliated against enough. I read and enjoyed the novel, but face-slapping was even more makjang. It is tough to get accepted in live action form as it is, in South Korea, since the gangster is middle-aged and it is only towards the end of the novel that the characters are finally out of high school, unlike in Mr. Mitsuya's Planned Feeding with a significant age gap but both are adults and are in a Japanese BL. Gong (공, Korean for seme) (a suspected psychopath, raised under constant surveillance by his father) consciously falls in love with the middle-aged su (수, Korean for uke) inhabiting the body of a high schooler, going as far as visiting his previous residence and pursuing him as one would an old person. 

8. My Damn Business - From the first episode, this one had me hooked. Week after week, I was eagerly waiting for those 8 minute long episodes. It acknowledged the manhwa side of BL and hinted at their iconic smut pages (in a way New Employee live action couldn't). It executed stalking horse trope, with Park Min-jae (R. I. P) playing the stalking horse, in a manner that had me giddy with excitement. I also appreciate GND STUDIO for casting darker-skinned actors – in this one and in Fake Buddies. GND studio also has decent BL literacy as is evident from the above-mentioned series. In the third episode, Fake Buddies used the East Asian tradition of representing gay and lesbian relationships through rose (from barazoku (薔薇族)) and lily (from yurizoku (百合族)) respectively to hint at the BL and GL couple.

7. Boku to Boku ga Sukina Kare to, Kimi to aka Me, Him, and You [fansubs available at Drama Otaku]- Honestly, I didn't expect to be this impressed by this one going in. I had such low expectations. I absolutely love the pairing between Higashi Keisuke and Hiroki Iijima, much more than Higashi Keisuke and Nakajima Sota in Ossan no Pants ga Nandatte Ii Janai ka! and Hiroki Iijima and Inukai Atsuhiro in Our Dining Table. The series played with my heartstrings a lot. I fondly remember several of the scenes and all the emotions they evoked in me. At the end, there was a longing for something, maybe some more time with those characters, especially the model and his uncle. 

6. Pit Babe (2023) - omegaverse with enigma - Japan has like 1 manga but through PitBabe I discovered that enigma has become a popular secondary gender in Thai BL space. I love buff uke and I got one paired with a two-faced, loyal loser seme in this one. Super pretty villain, Tony, had me wishing for him to be an omega (I love megalomaniac omegas). I also enjoyed reading the book – every time it rained, that silent phone call, Babe's jealousy towards omegas, the suspense and the pregnancy scare.

5. Love Sea - MAME lifted me out of a BL slump with this one. I also enjoyed the GL pair a lot - there is nothing I like more than performative cuteness/winsomeness (കൊഞ്ചൽ konjal, aegyo, sajiao, kawaii) and benevolent sexism weaponized and employed for emotional manipulation. High EQ manipulators are so rare, my favourite type of yandere (especially when paired perfectly with someone who gets swept up in the moment easily, like Techno). I wonder why MAME doesn't write Janus-faced men that way too. And the men who perform winsomeness such as Tongrak, Kengkla and Tharn, when they do so, have motivations that aren’t Machiavellian enough.

4. Heavens x Candy - OP Pictures is bringing to screens BL that are otherwise tough to get made. This one explored otaku culture, loneliness, family and love through fan pilgrimages, cute and horrifying family dynamics, adult entertainment avenues and love hotels with those transparent walls of bathrooms. It healed my heart after the blow dealt by I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama. 

3. Love Syndrome: The Beginning – I didn't expect this but I'm glad to have received it. I want more but now that the director, F Nontapat Sriwichai, has passed away, I don't expect anything anymore. If only his legacy would inspire someone with the ability and mettle. I prefer meriba endings over happy endings. So, when Love Syndrome III was the first to get an adaptation, I was drawn into Yeonim’s universe. The movie focuses on Gear and Night’s relationship and spends relatively less time on Day and Itt. Yet, it is not hesitant to portray the beginning of their relationships, especially the eroticized violence and the morbid conditioning (調教), showcasing exceptional BL literacy.

2. Kubi (2023) – [Fan-subs] I must praise the excellent production quality before anything else. It is about multiple legendary figures in Japanese history such as Oda Nobunaga, Araki Murashige, Akechi Mitsuhide, Mori Ranmaru and Yasuke. The movie has historically accurate ending with specifics changed to fit the narrative. It is based on Honno-ji Incident and Battle of Yamazaki. Those who died then, dies in the movie too but who killed who and why are fictional. (meta here)

1. Takumi-kun Series 6: Nagai Nagai Monogatari no Hajimari no Asa (2023) – this one and Kubi came out last year but I got the chance to watch them only this year. Thanks to fan subs by @furritsubs. I read and re-read those chapters from the novel and I'm still basking in the magic of Shinobu Gotoh's storytelling. First time since Unni R's story and screenplay for Charlie (2015), I got immersed in a love story where the couple barely even interact and the romance unfolds in a thriller-like fashion. While a lot of character motivation gets lost on the way in this live action, most important of them were impossible to miss when snow fluttered around in a bottle, when a delirious Takumi sought Gii in a crowded stairway landing and when Yoshizawa jumped out to stop Takabayashi from hurting. (ongoing meta series here)

-

• An iconic scene from bonus chapter 2 of The New Employee aka The New Recruit manhwa adaptation (web novel written by Moscareto and illustrated by Zec) ahead.

Gong comes home to find su in a sexy position at the doorway, fingering himself according to gong's instructions over phone.

[bengiyo]

Absolute Zero Ep 1 Stray Thoughts

I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I have listened to the moody playlists and gotten into my headspace for this. Time for Sad Gay Boy hours!!

2008? Peak sad boy era for me!

Incredible selection of films in this rental store. Railway Man, Star Trek: First Contact, The Patriot, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and LOVE OF SIAM.

We just started and our boy is already sad. We are so fucking back.

“If math doesn’t define zero, then I’ll be the answer.”

He rented Kill Bill and two other films. He is definitely a boy.

Looks like one of our future people is already here.

A grave for his parents? Is he Catholic? I’m home.

You can’t be in a Studio Wabi Sabi joint if you can’t cry.

I’m gonna need a Thai-speaking fan (maybe @lurkingteapot or @recentadultburnout) to give insight about the book he’s reading at 8:00

I’m so into the mysterious vibes of this foreboding conversation.

Meeting a boy because of selected seats at a movie theater because you both went alone? Honestly, the dream.

Boy Sompob singing over two boys having a meet cute? Now this is BL.

They’re here to see the same romcom again!!

New Siwaj has a type. These boys kinda resemble Tee and Fuse.

The boys have hair on their legs.

Suansoon understands the fundamentally communal nature of watching a film in a theater of other people even if you go alone. I am already in love.

Ongsa is definitely flirting, but now why is he crying?

Ongsa is classy for bringing a blanket to sit on for the outdoor film.

THEY ARE WATCHING THE LOVE OF SIAM AT THIS OUTDOOR THEATER!!!

Now they’re bonding over sad wishes to a meteor. Incredible.

I can’t believe the cut to the future at “Will you be my boyfriend?”

Welcome back, Nat!!!

OMG the meteor shower yes was so fucking cute I’m going to melt.

These two grew up to have a big TV that doesn’t look sloppy on the wall. I’m so proud of them.

Aw, the video store owner passed away, and they’re asked to take all the DVDs.

They have a projector in their bedroom because of course they do. Obsessed with them.

Oh, and there’s the tragedy.

Next week, the time travel perspective begins.

Friends, mutuals, and beloved BL fans, abandon all hope of me being normal about this show. We have sad gay cinephiles who found each other at a movie theater and then stayed together for ten years. If you write about this show or make anything please tag me. I want to discuss every aspect of this show. This was gorgeous and felt so intentional.

[recentadultburnout]

Info for writer in Thai series fandom: Holidays and Festivals

In my opinion, most holidays and festivals can be sorted by their relevance into a few categories, like the royal family, religion, or something inbetween. If its origin is something related to the royal family, it is likely that it will have fewer activities for people who are not government officers or students to do than when it relates to religion.

Piyamaharaj Day

Date : Oct 23

King Chulalongkorn (or Piyamaharaj) Day is to commemorate the day King Chulalongkorn passed away. King Chulalongkorn made many contributions in his reign, like the educational system, military affairs, national communication, the state railway, and the Slave Liberation Act without bloodshed in Thailand. Piya (ปิย) means beloved and Maharaj (มหาราช) means the Great King. As the name suggests, he was really popular. Many people have his picture in their house or their shop. He is also somewhat considered sacred, and some people will make a wish to him. The offerings that people believe he liked consist of brandy, cigars, shrimp paste rice, pink roses, and other general offerings. 

Activities

The various departments will send their representatives to lay wreaths of flowers to pay homage at his statue and make merit in His Majesty King Chulalongkorn's name. People who loved him will do that too. Many government agencies, schools, and universities will also hold exhibitions to educate the public about his life and work.

The current queen’s birthday Date : Jun 3

The current king’s birthday Date : July 28

Activities Most government agencies and schools will set up the king or queen's picture, decorate it, and arrange a place for people to sign their name to wish them a happy birthday. They might also hold exhibitions about their lives and the work they do for the public too.  I'm glad I didn't have to do it anymore. It's really hard to make an informative board when there is so little information in the first place.

Coronation Day

Date : May 4

In Thailand, we call it Chat-Mong-Khon day. Chat (ฉัตร) means several-tiered umbrella. In this case, it is nine-tiered, symbolizing the sovereign. Its Thai name refers to the ceremony they do on the date that the coronation of the current king happens. Originally, this ceremony was considered a private ceremony of the King, held in the royal court, but later it became a national holiday.

Activities

There are none, but like every special day and occasion in Thailand, it was encouraged to make merit on this day.

The Royal Ploughing Ceremony

Date : May, at the beginning of the month, depends on what day is the most auspicious according to astrology.

The main purpose of the ceremony is to boost the morale of farmers across the nation. The highlight is the sacred bull's choice, which will predict the amount of rain and which product will flourish, and the rice sowing, which won't really have a chance to grow because the audience will collect it up immediately as it is believed to bring luck and help the crop grow when they mix the seed in. After the ceremony, the model farmer usually received a plaque of honor from the king or representative. 

Activities

Other than in the ceremony, there are none.

Magha Puja

Date: The 15th day of the waxing moon (full moon) of the 3rd month according to the Thai lunar calendar.

A day celebrates a gathering that was held between the Buddha and 1,250 of his disciples who came to see the Buddha without being summoned. From the tale, all of them are already Buddhist saints (Arhat) and all of them are direct disciples ordained by the Buddha himself. 

Activities

Go to the temple, abstaining from all sins, offer alms or make merit by giving freedom to animals (release birds or fish) that got caught-about this one, I must say that it's a thing you shouldn't do on a whim. Too many people do it without any consideration for the environment or even whether the animals they release will survive. They do it just because it's a "tradition". Their actions also create demand for birds or fish that wouldn't get caught otherwise. It's more sin than merit at this point.  Listen to a sermon and go wian tian (เวียนเทียน) which is to walk with lighted candles in hand around a temple in the evening.

Visakha Bucha, or Vesak

Date: The 15th day of the waxing moon of the 6th lunar month or, in other words, the full moon day of the Visakha (visakha is the name of the month in the lunar calendar).

It is a day that marks the three most important events in Buddhism, namely the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha, with all three events taking place on the same day but in different years according to Thai interpret.

Activities

The same thing you do on Magha Puja.

Asanha Bucha

Date: The full moon day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar.

It is the day that Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutra, to Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama, and Assaji. The day after Asanha Bucha will be the day Buddhist Lent starts.

Buddhist Lent or, in Thai, Khao Phansa.

"Khao Phansa" means "Rains Retreat", which means all monks must stay at any temple during the rainy season. Because the monks in Buddha's time had a duty to make pilgrimages to animals and spread the Dharma and teachings to the people in various places. There is no need to have a fixed place to live, even in the rainy season. The villagers blamed them for stepping on the seedlings and other crops until they were damaged. Therefore, the Buddha laid down a Buddhist Lent regulation for the monks to stay stationary for three months in the rainy season. 

Activities

Because Asanha Bucha and Khao Phansa are next to each other, sometimes the activities get mixed up. For Asanha Bucha, we do the same thing we do on Magha Puja and Visakha Bucha days. Khao Phansa will have more occasional things happen, but like I say, it can get mixed. One day is not a big deal at all. There will be a Buddhist ceremony, as well as preparations for the monks' and novices' residence to be in good enough condition to be used for three months during Buddhist Lent. There will also be a Candlelight Procession (Phi-Tee-Hae-Tian-Phan-Sa:) in which we will take special candles (one of the popular activities is to cast that candles by providing materials such as wax, candle wicks, crucibles, and pans for the crowd to use to make them together in a public place such as in front of the mall), we make before Khao Phansa Day, go to the monastery to present the candle to the monk, then put candles into the temple, and light candles to worship the Three Jewels. There are also other activities, such as offering clothes to the monk, praying that they will conduct themselves within the framework of the Five or Eight Precepts, listening to sermons, and the Dharma. You can choose to participate as much or as little as you want. It is up to your faith and abilities. For monks, there will be a lot of other activities, but for ordinary people, I think this will be all. At the end of Buddhist Lent there will be Tak Bat Devo festival.

The Vegetarian Festival, or Tesakan Gin Jay (เทศกาลกินเจ)

Date: Start on 1st day of the 9th lunar month according to the Chinese calendar and last 9 days.

It is came from Taoist tradition. During the fastival people who choose to paticipate will only eat food that prepared without meat or products of animal origin (e.g. milk, eggs, honey, fish sauce, gelatin, collagen) and not flavored with strong smell vegetables such as garlic, onions, spring onions, shallots, chives, and cilantro, some also Including hot and spicy spices.

Moon Festival

Date: The full moon day of the 8th month according to the lunar calendar.

It is a traditional Chinese cultural festival that takes place in the middle of autumn to celebrate the harvest. Some households will celebrate it with their family, some don't. The ceremony will be held in private, so I'm not sure how popular it actually is, but the mooncakes sure are.

Chinese New Year

Date: The 1st day of the 1st month in the Chinese calendar.

Thais of Chinese descent will follow the tradition for 3 days: pay day (wan jai/วันจ่าย), pay respect day (wan wai/วันไหว้) and travel day (wan tiao/วันเที่ยว).

Pay Day is the day before the end of the year. It is a day when we have to buy food, fruits, and various offerings before the shops close for a long vacation.

On Worship Day, the day starts in the early morning by paying homage to "Bài lǎoyé" (拜老爺 / 拜老爷) which is a form of worship to various gods. The offering is three meats (Sasae, Sam Cheng), pork, duck, and chicken, and liquor, tea, and paper money. After that, we pay respect to "Pai Pae Bo" (拜父母), which is to pay respect to ancestors, parents, relatives, and relatives who have passed away. This will be completed no later than noon. The offerings consisted of sa sae, sweet and savory dishes (mostly done as the deceased once liked), as well as the burning of paper money, gold paper, and paper clothes to dedicate to the deceased. Then the whole family will be gathered to eat and exchange red packets afterward. Finally, we will pay homage to "Pai Ho Hia Tee" (拜好兄弟), which is respect for the spirits of the deceased brothers and sisters. The offerings will be kanom keng, kanom tian, taro in syrup, silver and gold paper, along with firecrackers to ward off evil and for good luck.

The day of travel or holding day is the new year's day. It is the first day of the first month of the year. Today, it is a tradition called "Pai Jia," which is an occasion to go to another's house to wish them luck and ask for blessings from the elders and loved ones.

Qingming

Date: 15 days after the spring equinox.

It is believed that Qing Ming Day is one of the three days when the human world and the spirit world are closest to each other. So during this period, it is a custom to go sweeping and pay respect to ancestors' tombs. Moreover, during Qingming, the weather is good. Therefore, it is suitable for the descendants to travel to the graves of their ancestors to pay homage, sweep and clean around the graves of their ancestors.

( He is coming to me's Thai name is He came to Qingming next to my grave.)

Songkran or Thai New Year

Date: 13 April

The word "Songkran" comes from Sanskrit and means "moving." It refers to how the zodiac sign is moving, which means the new year. Songkran is a traditional family practice where water is the main element of the ceremony. Basically, there will be  1.Bathing Buddha images at home and at temples for good fortune and making merit, offering food to monks ***By bathing, I mean gently pouring water from a water bowl (ขันน้ำ) onto the Buddha images. 2.Gently pouring water from a water bowl onto each other and wish each other luck in the new year. It will be more formal when it's between an elder and a child than between friends. 3. Ask for forgiveness for something that has already passed or a New Year's wish from an elderly person. 4.Loading sand into the temple. It is believed that it will bring auspiciousness, happiness, prosperity, and a lot of money, like the grains of sand that are carried into the temple. Another belief is that taking the sand that is attached to the feet from the temple is a sin. Therefore, to not commit a sin, we should bring it back to make up for what we take during the past year.  It is mainly a family event, so it is also a time when most people travel back home to their family. Many people work far from home and don't have many chances to go back, so in the Songkran period they will go back and have a family gathering.

The water fight is not really traditional, but it's a main event that has many people waiting eagerly now.

Loy Krathong Festival

Date: The 15th waxing moon of the 12th month according to the Thai lunar calendar.

Loy means float, and Krathong, in this context, means banana leaf vessel or floating basket. The traditions vary by region, but one thing they all have in common is that it takes place at night and includes float Krathong. The purpose of this event is to either worship the goddess of water, Ganga, pronounced in Thai as "Khong-ka", or to worship the Buddha, or both. The krathong that is used in this event can be made from a lot of things, such as banana leaf, banana stalk pith, foam, coconut shell, or bread. There are many beliefs around this event. For lovers, sometimes the pair will use one Krathong together or go float it together and try to make it stick together after it goes into the water, as it is believed to be a good sign for a pair of lovers. During fastival, the atmosphere can be quite romantic. There is also a belief that you can float away all suffering along with the krathong by cutting nails, hair, and money and putting them into the krathong before floating it.

Yi Peng Festival

Date: the 13th to the 15th waxing moon of the 12th month according to the Thai lunar calendar or the 15th waxing moon of the 2nd month according to the Thai Lanna lunar calendar. On the same day as the Loy Krathong Festival.

Yi Peng is actually a variation of Loy Krathong, but instead of only Krathong, it will also have Khomloy, which is some kind of hot-air balloon, and it will actually happen two days before. The Yi Peng starts on the 13th day of the waxing moon, which is considered "Wan-da(วันดา)" or the day of the preparation to make merit at the temple. When it comes to the 14th day of the waxing moon, Father Oui (grandpa/elderly man), Mae Oui (grandma/elderly woman), and those who have faith will go together and conduct themselves within the precepts, listen to the Dharma, and make merit at the temple. A large krathong will be made in the temple courtyard. Inside the krathong will be food and other consumables. Anyone can bring something to make a contribution. Those items will be given to the poor to make merit. On the 15th day of the waxing moon, the big Krathong at the temple and the small personal Krathong will be floated on the river.

Index

[prapasara]

Udon Thani

Udon Thani

Udon Thani (Thai: อุดรธานี, pronounced [ʔù.dɔ̄ːn tʰāː.nīː]) is a city in Isan (Northeast Thailand), the capital of Udon Thani Province and the sixth largest city in Thailand. The city municipality (thesaban nakhon / city proper) had a population of 130,531 people as of 2019, while Udon Thani's urban area, Mueang Udon Thani, has a population of approximately 400,000. Udon Thani is one of four major cities in Isan, the others being Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, and Khon Kaen. Together they are known as the "big four of Isan".

Location

Udon is approximately 560 km from Bangkok. It is a major official and commercial center in northern Isan, Thailand, and the gateway to Laos, northern Vietnam, and southern China.

History

The city's economy was boosted by the proximity to Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base during the Vietnam War and retains reminders of that time in the form of bars, coffee shops, and hotels. "Udon sort of became like Pattaya when the GIs arrived," said a local architect.  "Restaurants serving Western cuisine, hotels and nightclubs sprouted up everywhere to meet their needs. It was an extremely busy city back then." 

The BBC has reported that Udon Thani's Royal Air Force Base was the site of a CIA black site, known to insiders as "Detention Site Green", used to interrogate Abu Zubaydah, Saudi-born Palestinian, believed to be one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants. In December 2014 the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) published an executive summary of a secret 6,000-page report on CIA techniques. The report alleges that at least eight Thai senior officials knew of the secret site. The site was closed in December 2002. 

Earlier reports alleged that a Voice of America relay station in a rural area of Udon Thani Province, Ban Dung District, was the CIA black site.

Administration

Udon Thani town municipality (thesaban mueang) with an area of 5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi) was established on 15 March 1936.  On 27 May 1953, the area covered by the municipality was increased to 8.3 km2 (3.2 sq mi).   As a result of the town's continuing growth, the total area of the municipality was enlarged for the second time to 47.7 km2 (18.4 sq mi). on 31 December 1993.  On 25 September 1995 Udon Thani was upgraded to city municipality (thesaban nakhon),  and is divided into 21 sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 248 villages (mubans). (chumchon), 130,531 people in 60,659 households.

Transport

Udon Thani International Airport, close to the city centre (within the ring road), serves a number of domestic airports: Chiang Mai International Airport, U-Tapao International Airport (Pattaya), and Phuket, with approximately 24 daily flights to Bangkok (Don Mueang International and Suvarnabhumi Airport).   During the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic flights were reduced to 10-14 daily to  Bangkok airports only.

Udon Thani railway station in the city centre receives four trains daily from Bangkok railway station (Hua Lamphong) including overnight sleepers.

Economy

Mining

 

Asia Pacific Potash Corporation (APPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian-Thai Development PLC, owns the concession to the Udon North and Udon South potash mines and plans to develop them.  Potash deposits in northeast Thailand are believed to contain the world's third-largest—after Canada and Russia—unexploited potash reserves.  Potash is one of the main components of agricultural fertilizer.

Climate

Udon Thani has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Winters are fairly dry and very warm. Temperatures rise until April, which is hot with the average daily maximum at 36.2 °C (97.2 °F). The monsoon season runs from late-April through early-October, with heavy rain and somewhat cooler temperatures during the day, although nights remain warm. The range of reliably recorded temperatures in the city is from 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) to 44.1 °C (111.4 °F).

Udon Thani  ,  Thailand   ,  Udon Thani Province  ,   อุดรธานี

CR    ::    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udon_Thani  ,  https://prinkotakoon.blogspot.com/2024/09/udon-thani.html

[jacksulkes]

August 1 - Lotus Pond and Qishan Train Station

The first thing we did today was go to the Lotus Pond. The pond is surrounded by 15-20 temples, so we went to a few of them. The first one was under renovation, but we were still able to walk inside the tiger statue and walk out of the dragon statue. It was on stilts on the water and had a zigzag bridge connecting it to land. The second one was also on stilts on the water, but it had a bigger dragon statue with whiskers. It also had a bridge going to another temple in the center of the pond. We went to a group lunch after the Lotus Pond. It was Mongolian barbecue, but each table also had a hot pot. The food was all very good. Then, we went to Qishan train station, which is an old train station. It is not used anymore. There were train cars outside of the historic building. Later on, for dinner, two of the guys came with me to Ruifeng Night Market. This night market seemed like it had the most stuff out of any night market. It was shaped like a grid with night market stretching in every direction. Most of the other ones were down one street. I first got barbecue grilled squid again, and it was good again of course. Then, I got a meat pie, which is like a bun filled with meat and scallions. I have also gotten these before. I got two more things that I hadn’t tried before, however. We have seen several Turkish food and ice cream stands here and there in Taiwan. We found a Turkish shawarma wrap stand here, so we tried it. It was very good, and the young Turkish men that served us were very nice. Then, I tried a Thai banana pancake with chocolate sauce, which was also good.

Academic Reflection:

On the way to the Lotus Pond, Peter taught us about how many temples surrounded it. He also taught us about the history of Daoism and Confucianism in China and Taiwan. He said that some Confucius thought is being challenged in the modern society of Taiwan, such as men obeying their mothers-in-law. Peter also told us stories he was told as a child, where the moral of the story was a Confucius teaching. Peter told us at the temple on the water that some people buy fish or turtles and let them free near the temple so they can go to heaven.

We learned in the reading, “Religion in Taiwan at the End of the Japanese Colonial Period,” that there was and is Daoism, Buddhism, and an offshoot of Buddhism called Zhaijiao. At Qishan, I learned that the train station was built by the Japanese. The reading spoke of political dislocation, and this building is evidence of that. The reading taught us that the Japanese were good for Taiwan because they helped modernize, including building railways.

[reblogthiscrapkay]

A (hopefully) comprehensive list of everything I've acquired on this trip so far.

I'm 2.5 weeks into my 6 week trip and here's anything I have gotten so far:

Indian thread necklace from Abhi (my tour guide) on the first day

Elephant print I made in Jaipur for free and is going in my curio cabinet for India

A green scarf I got for free from the same textile place for winning trivia (unsure what I'll do with it because I don't really wear green and have a lot of scarves. I thought of giving it to my mom because green's her favorite color but I think she has too many scarves too so I don't know)

Taj Mahal magnet from Abhi

Henna from two sisters in Orchha (it is worn off now but I'm still counting it because it was beautiful and I loved it)

Recipes from Rajni's Cooking School in Orchha (to be copied and passed on to Adam)

Om bracelet from Varanasi tour guide (I don't wear bracelets and this one is brown too; I may just put it in the cabinet)

Earrings I bought at the homestay (definitely overpriced but I didn't care because the community needs it)

Mini prayer flags I bought for my curio cabinet in Pokhara

A book on Hindu and Buddhist symbols I bought in Pokhara

A new umbrella bought in Pokhara (my old one was already crappy, like I think evil ex gave it to me after he found it in his classroom, and it completely fell apart)

A cotton sleeping bag liner bought in Pokhara (per suggestion of Imogen after I mentioned I was going to have three more overnight train rides before my trip was over)

A charcoal grey cashmere sweater (I was on a shopping spree with Imo and couldn't resist because it was $22. I kind of wonder if I should have gotten more. The shopkeeper told us we were cute and we were like, dude, don't worry. We are absolutely buying your shit.)

A very heavy metal Shiva statue (This was a need, not a want)

A certificate for seeing Everest

A red thread bracelet from Abhi on the last day (I'll try to wear this one)

A red and gold shawl from Abhi on the last day (he was literally too good to us; I will miss him a lot, and I wonder if he would genuinely be cool with me one day staying at his empty house in Jodpur because I really want to see more Rajastan)

A Japanese cat pen that looks like Lucifer from a Thai 7-11 (impulse purchase with no regrets)

A little gold Buddha for my cabinet at the railway market (I was definitely overcharged but I wasn't going to argue about $2.50)

A limited edition Lip Monster Kate Lipstick from Eve & Boy (basically Thai Sephora as far as I could tell; Kate is a Japanese brand and the package was cute so that's my justification)

Dry shampoo from Eve & Boy (necessary; my hair is nasty)

At this point I will be leaving Thailand in two days. I will be getting curio items from Cambodia and Vietnam (and maybe Hawaii) but I hopefully won't acquire too much more. At least most of what I got I will definitely use.

[pinturasdeguerra-1945-1985]

1967 05 24 Phantom Raiders - Simon Atack

Just 50 miles north-west of Hanoi in North Vietnam, lies the long and winding valley of the infamous Red River - a name that was to become bitterly familiar to the F4U Phantom pilots of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. Flowing for miles through the country's deep interior, the waters of the Red River fed the strategically important steel mills at Thai Nguyen, and the power stations at Viet Tri; they also irrigated the rice and shrimp paddy fields that fed the armies of the North Vietnamese and Vietcong, distributed to the combat areas through a sophisticated network of hidden trails and tracks, bridges and railways.

Defending these vitally important targets was a vast array of anti-aircraft systems of every conceivable type and calibre; at Yen Bai the North Vietnamese even established a secret fighter airfield where their Mig jet fighters were hidden in hangers dug by hand deep into the surrounding hills - in short it was one of the most heavily defended and awesome places on Earth.

But these targets had to be destroyed, and one aircraft above all others became inextricably and forever linked with the fast, low-level jet attacks to obliterate these heavily fortified objectives - the legendary F4U Phantom, the fastest, most powerful, versatile fighter of the day. The bravery and determination of the Phantom crews as they flew into the maelstroms of intense, deadly flak and ground fire remain an inspiration to all ground attack combat pilots and crew.

Simon Atack's powerful "PHANTOM RAIDERS" portrays one such awe-inspiring attack. In May 1967 Operation Linebacker was launched, its objective - the complete and utter destruction of the North Vietnamese Army's means of supply. Everything was to be hit - roads and railways, and especially bridges that carried vital supplies south through the DMZ to the fighting areas. On 24 May the Phantom pilots of the 435th TFS, the Eagles, part of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing based at RTAFB Ubon, attacked the North Vietnamese bridge at Viet Tri. Simon has brilliantly captured the hair-raising moment as F4U Ol' Eagle Eye and other Phantoms of the 435th TFS hurtle away from the attack area, whilst behind them the air is f

[myhauntedsalem]

50 Paranormal Creatures From Around The World

Baba Yaga – “In Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga is a supernatural being who flies around in a mortar, wields a pestle, and dwells deep in the forest in a hut usually described as standing on chicken legs.”

Santa Compaña – “The Santa Compaña is a procession of the dead or souls in torment that wanders the path of a parish at midnight involved in white hooded cloaks.”

Deogen – “The Deogen, or The Eyes, is a ghost that is said to haunt the Sonian Forest in Belgium, often seen in fog form and followed by smaller shadow figures.”

Strigoi – “In Romanian mythology, strigoi are the troubled souls of the dead rising from the grave. Some of the properties of the strigoi include: the ability to transform into an animal, invisibility, and the propensity to drain the vitality of victims via blood loss.”

Shubin – “Shubin is the mythological spirit of the mines. The legend of Shubin is distributed mainly in the mining towns of Donbas, Ukraine. The spirit is usually good, but can be wicked.”

Bhoot – “The common word for ghosts in Bengali is bhoot. In Bengal, ghosts are believed to be the spirit after death of an unsatisfied human being or a soul of a person who dies in unnatural or abnormal circumstance.”

Will-o’the-wisp – “A will-o’-the-wisp is an atmospheric ghost light seen by travelers at night, especially over bogs, swamps, or marshes. It resembles a flickering lamp and is said to recede if approached, drawing travelers from the safe paths.”

La Llorona – “La Llorona, or The Weeping Woman, is a widespread legend throughout the region of Hispanic America.”

Teke Teke – “The ghost of a young woman, or school girl, who fell on a railway line and was cut in half by the oncoming train. Now a vengeful spirit, she travels on either her hands or elbows, making a scratching or ‘teke teke‘ sound.”

Nyai Roro Kidul – “A legendary Indonesian female spirit, Nyai Roro Kidul is said to drag swimmers to their death.”

Herne the Hunter – “In English folklore, Herne the Hunter is a ghost associated with Windsor Forest and Great Park in the English county of Berkshire. He has antlers upon his head.”

La Planchada – “La planchada is Spanish for ‘the ironed lady.’ Her ghost appears in many hospitals, though mainly in the metropolitan areas, especially in Mexico City.”

Sihuanaba – “The Sihuanaba is a supernatural character from Central American folklore. She lures men away into danger before revealing her face to be that of a horse or, alternatively, a skull.”

Mae Nak Phra Khanong – “Mae Nak is a well-known and popular Thai female ghost. According to local folklore, the story is based on actual events that took place during the early 19th century.”

Naiad – “In Greek mythology, the Naiads were a type of water nymph (female spirit) who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks, and other bodies of fresh water.”

Vodyanoy – “A male water spirit, vodyanoy is said to appear as a naked old man with a frog-like face, greenish beard, and long hair, with his body covered in algae and muck, usually covered in black fish scales.”

Chindi – “In Navajo religious belief, a chindi is the ghost left behind after a person dies, believed to leave the body with the decedent’s last breath. It is everything that was bad about the person.”

Ubume – “In Japanese folklore, an ubume is an old woman or crone, with a child in her arms, imploring the passerby to hold her infant, only to then disappear.”

Krasue – “The krasue manifests itself as a woman, usually young and beautiful, with her internal organs hanging down from the neck, trailing below the head.”

Lemures – “Lemures in Roman mythology are the wandering and vengeful spirits of those not afforded proper burial, funeral rites, or affectionate cult by the living.”

Patasola – “A female spirit from South America, patasola attracts men and lures them to the depths of the rain forest where she turns into a beast and devours the man.”

Jersey Devil – “The Jersey Devil is a legendary creature or cryptid said to inhabit the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey, United States.”

Wendigo – “A wendigo is a half-beast creature appearing in the legends of the Algonquian peoples along the Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes Regiaon of both the United States and Canada. It is particularly associated with cannibalism.”

Kallikantzaros – “A malevolent goblin in Southeastern European and Anatolian folklore, the kallikantzaros or its equivalents are believed to dwell underground but come to the surface during the twelve days of Christmas.”

Banshee – “In legend, a banshee is a fairy woman who begins to wail if someone is about to die.”

Estries – “Estries are female vampires of Jewish folklore that were believed to prey on Hebrew citizens, particularly men.”

Hell hound – “A supernatural dog in folklore, the hell hound has mangled black fur, glowing red eyes, super strength or speed, and phantom characteristics.”

Kelpie – “Kelpie, or water kelpie, is the Scots name given to a shape-shifting water spirit inhabiting the lochs and pools of Scotland.”

Bloody Mary – “Bloody Mary is a ghost said to appear in mirrors when a person repeats her name in front of the mirror and turn three times.”

Jinn – “Mentioned frequently in the Quran and other Islamic texts, the jinn are made of a smokeless and scorching fire and inhabit an unseen world, another universe beyond the known universe.”

Dybbuk – “In Jewish mythology, a dybbuk is a malicious possessing spirit believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person.”

Bélmez Faces – “The faces of Bélmez is an alleged paranormal phenomenon in a private house in Spain which started in 1971 when residents claimed images of faces appeared in the concrete floor of the house.”

Incubus – “An incubus is a demon in male form who, according to mythological and legendary traditions, lies upon sleepers, especially women, in order to engage in sexual activity with them. Its female counterpart is the succubus.”

Hungry ghost – “Hungry ghost is a concept in Chinese Buddhism and Chinese traditional religion representing beings who are driven by intense emotional needs in an animalistic way.”

Buckriders – “According to Dutch folklore, the buckriders were ghosts or ‘devils,’ who rode through the sky on the back of flying goats provided to them by Satan.”

Resurrection Mary – “Resurrection Mary is a well-known Chicago-area ghost story. Of the ‘vanishing hitchhiker’ type, the story takes place outside Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois.”

Pig-Faced Women – “Stories of pig-faced women originated roughly simultaneously in Holland, England, and France in the late 1630s. The stories told of a wealthy woman whose body was of normal human appearance, but whose face was that of a pig.”

Domovoi – “A domovoi or domovoy is a protective house spirit in Slavic folklore.”

Bell Witch – “The Bell Witch is a poltergeist legend from Southern folklore, centered on the 19th-century Bell family of Adams, Tennessee.”

Bluecap– “A bluecap is a mythical fairy or ghost in English folklore that inhabits mines and appears as a small blue flame. If miners treat them with respect, the bluecaps lead them to rich deposits of minerals.”

Saci – “Best known in Brazilian folklore, saci is a one-legged black or mulatto youngster with holes in the palms of his hands who smokes a pipe and wears a magical red cap that enables him to disappear and reappear wherever he wishes.”

Krampus – “In German-speaking Alpine folklore, krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure that punishes children during the Christmas season who had misbehaved.”

Ghoul – “A ghoul is a monster or evil spirit in Arabian mythology, associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh.”

Kappa – “Japan’s kappa are usually seen as mischievous troublemakers or trickster figures. Their pranks range from looking up women’s kimonos, to drowning people and animals, kidnapping children, and raping women.”

Poltergeist – “In folklore and parapsychology, a poltergeist (German for “noisy ghost”) is a type of ghost or other supernatural being supposedly responsible for physical disturbances, such as loud noises and objects being moved or destroyed.”

Tikoloshe – “In Zulu mythology, tikoloshe is a dwarf-like water sprite. It is considered a mischievous and evil spirit that can become invisible by drinking water.”

Egg ghost – “A kind of Korean ghost, an egg ghost doesn’t have arms, legs, or a head, or even eyes, a nose, or a mouth. Legend says that when a person sees an egg ghost, he or she will die.”

Nang Tani – “A female spirit of Thai folklore, nang tani appears as a young woman that haunts wild banana trees.”

Matagot – “A matagot is, according to some oral traditions of southern France, a spirit under the form of an animal, mostly undetermined, frequently a black cat, generally evil, but sometimes helpful.”

Hairy Hands – “The hairy hands is a ghost story that built up around a stretch of road in Dartmoor, United Kingdom, which was purported to have seen an unusually high number of motor vehicle accidents during the early 20th century.”

[tetsunabouquet]

Heir To The Lands Chapter 24

When Nothing Is Truly Lost Masterpost

Ty absolutely hated whenever this happened. No matter how much he struggled, words wouldn't leave his mouth and his body would feel so heavy as if it had been made of lead. Moving was so difficult and it cost him so much strength. Even as Kit helped him off of the couch, Ty could feel how his movements were clunkier then usual because of the sensation. He felt bitter tears well up in his eyes. How could he ever save Dru in this state?! When he stood still in front of the staircase, he tried to focus all his strength on moving himself up the tais but Kit decided to lift him up intsead. He clung to the blonde, wondering when on earth Kit had gotten so muscular he could carry Ty up the stairs. He had certainly grown taller and more buff. Honestly, Kit was starting to resemble Jace even more. But those sweet sky blue eyes were all Kit's and he had a much more sculpted looking nose. Ty wondered if Kit would find that a weird compliment, but then again, Kit had always accepted him for who he was. Unlike a lot of Shadowhunters, he treated Ty with respect and empathy from the very start. How could he have been such a fool and not have paid more attention to Kit's feelings two years ago? How could grief had blinded him from the kindness and care Kit gave to him, when Kit had been such a closed off boy towards the other Shadowhunters? It was a weird thought, thinking of someone as strong and powerful as Kit to be just as awkward around the Clave as he was. But they had been two peas in a pot, and look how he had lashed out? Look how his attempts to protect Dru from Livvy's fate had so utterly failed. His grief and pain weren't things he could handle alone, Ty had to accept that he would have to need to rely on those around him. Those he had left. He felt a new wave of tears pricking his eyes, and in the sea engulfing his heart he was glad that Kit was there once more, trying to keep him from drowning. Kit would always be there to keep him afloat. He leaned closer to Kit's chest as Kit kicked open his bedroom door. With a few more steps, Kit placed Ty carefully on his bed and Ty could feel himself awkwardly falling on it as if he were a puppet. Kit sat next to him, and slowly as if he were to reach out for a wounded animal, Kit sought physical contact by placing his hand on Ty's shoulder. And finally everything seemed to come loose, like an untied knot. His tears were falling hysterically and he could feel the hiccups tearing his throat apart. Kit lay next to him on the bed, never taking his hand off of Ty's shoulder and the two laid their for heaven's know how long, for as long as Ty needed.

Whilst the rune had been sloppy, Dru could still feel the effects, boosted by Ash's magic. Within minutes, she had regained the strength necessary to move on her own and she went as fast as she did, applying speed runes on herself as she walked. She did not know where this tunnel would lead her, which part of the world she would reach. Dru figured it was best to get back to the Academy and reach Ty and Kit on her phone. She couldn't let the student body take note of her actions. Whilst a war was bound to errupt, it would be unwise to have the other young Shadowhunters run around in blind panic. Or so did the voice in her head which had been shaped by Julian's strategic skills and Ty's intellect, tell her to do so. Dru hoped Thais wasn't stressing out too much, or that Zeynep had told on her. The tunnel's air was steadily beginning to change, and Dru sped up as she could smell scents typical of the mundane world, of food and car gasses. As she neared the tunnel's end, she thought she could hear a train, or subway station. Dru ran for it. There was a gap leading to some kind of railway and as Dru carefully climbed out onto the track after the wagon departed, she could see the signs. Perhaps it was better if Zeynep did tell on her, because Dru was absolutely certain she had just arrived in Germany.

[rubyswanderlust]

Maeklong Railway Train Market

On a warm and bustling evening, my friend and I decided to make the most of our hour and a half of free time in Sathon, a vibrant district of the city. Not wanting to waste a moment, we hailed a Grab car to take us to our destination. As we approached the area, we could already sense the energy in the air.

Upon arriving, it was clear that we had chosen the right spot for some excitement. The streets were teeming with activity, and the constant stream of motorcycles added to the buzz. The atmosphere was electric, with the unmistakable thump of loud music resonating from various establishments. The lively ambiance was intoxicating.

We began to explore our surroundings, passing numerous bars and tattoo shops that lined the bustling streets. The neon signs and lively chatter of patrons spilled out into the streets, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.

Our first stop was the main market. Initially, we found only a few clothing shops that offered basic, commercial clothing. But as we ventured deeper into the market, we stumbled upon the food section. It was a treasure trove of culinary delights from various cultures. Feeling adventurous, I decided to try crickets, octopus with spicy salad served in a plastic bag, chicken breaded strips, and soju. The flavors were an explosion of tastes, and the atmosphere around the food vendors was both chaotic and exciting.

Although sushi was plentiful, we hesitated to try it, as it seemed to be left in the heat for hours. Instead, we moved on, eager to explore more of what the market had to offer. Toward the end of the market, we encountered vintage shops and even a few weed shops. Some of the vintage stores had a westernized feel or offered high-end designer items, but the overall vibe was still cool and inviting.

We decided to take a break in the market's carpark area, where a group of local boys on skateboards approached us, asking for a lighter. Attempting to bridge the language barrier, we engaged in a short-lived conversation in Thai, which resulted in laughter and smiles.

As we continued towards the front of the market, we reached a wide street flanked by bars on both sides. It was clear that they were in competition, each one featuring a live band playing at full volume. The music was deafening, reminiscent of the famous Khao San Road, and the energy was infectious.

As we prepared to leave the market, we passed by more bars, clothing shops, and tattoo parlors. One particular bar caught our attention, or more accurately, our ears. The loud, raw sound of a live rock band beckoned us inside. It was a riveting experience, and we couldn't resist the urge to stay and enjoy the show.

The band played their hearts out, and we joined the crowd in cheering and dancing. The band were crazy, some of the guitarists jumped over the fence onto the road and started playing in the middle of the road despite several cars having to drive around them. It was a night filled with unexpected adventures, new flavors, and a vibrant cultural experience that we would remember for a long time. Sathon had revealed a side of the city we had never seen before, and we couldn't have been happier with our spontaneous decision to explore this lively and eclectic neighborhood.