Monday, July 22, 2013

Magical Ceiling

The cab driver told me that the monk who had made these yan drawings on the ceiling of his taxi had created them specifically with him in mind. The writing and symbols include magical formulas that are supposed to provide protection for him and ensure success in his life. I asked the cabby if they're working and he retorted, "Are the stars in the sky working?".      

Friday, July 12, 2013

Taxi Teletubby Gone Wrong

I was never much of a fan of the Teletubbies, so when I saw this red character that slightly resembled one sitting on a taxi dashboard, I wasn't overly thrilled about it. The strangest part was its blue face which I swear looks a little bit like Michael Jackson. I decided to ask the cabby about his pseudo-Teletubby, and he told me that he never heard of them. He bought it at the local market for 30 baht (about one US dollar) and for a small additional charge he had the seller add a blue-tinted image of his daughter's face on it.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Goddess of Commerce

Nang Kwak, whose image is on the amulet in the taxi, is the Thai goddess of commerce. She grins at customers as she sits in a traditional Thai pose. Never mind that her gesturing arm resembles a cobra. If you don't give her your money, she might strike with a deadly blow.