Saturday, December 22, 2012

Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival 2012

If you're tired of the same old luk thung Thai country songs and pop music played over and over in Thai taxis and happen to be in the "Land of Smiles" on December 30th and 31st, you should head down to Phuket to hear some fresh tunes at the superfly Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival. The two day event will be held on Karon Beach and will feature over 30 International and Thai DJs. The best part is that it's totally free! For more information, check out their facebook fan page or website.     

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Taxi Holidays

Happy Holidays from Still Life in Moving Vehicles.
May all your taxi rides be merry and bright!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Flip Flap Taxi

At first, when the taxi driver was making comments about his flip flaps, I thought he was referring to the shoes on his feet. A few minutes into the conversation, however, I realized that he was actually talking about his collection of solar powered "flip flap" toys on the dashboard. He was rather proud of his plastic car decorations in the form of various animals, some cartoon characters, a plant, and Santa Claus. As he rattled on and on about his assortment of flip flaps, I felt like one of the characters with my head nodding up and down in accord. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Father Figure

Today is the 85th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. As the King is considered to be the patriarch of the country, father's day is celebrated today and December 5th has also become a national holiday. Many Thais spend the day with their fathers and it is traditional to give a canna flower, or dok Buddha ruksa as it is called in Thai, to dads and granddads on this day to show respect. Happy Father's Day and Long Live the King!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Museum of Taxi Art

Riding in Bangkok taxis is almost like taking some trips to the art museum. In the cabs you can view drawings by monks, sculptures of religious and mythological figures, and decorative relief carvings on metal. Of course, you should also visit the more established museums in this city, including the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC). But if you're short on time, simply take some cabs around town, sit back, and appreciate the aesthetics of Thai taxi drivers.