Monday, September 23, 2013

Rich and Happy

In the past few years, a lot of interesting findings in the field of happiness research have surfaced. Some researchers now claim that we can make ourselves happier regardless of the circumstances in our lives, and most studies have come to the conclusion that there is no correlation between money and happiness. This figure of Budai, the Chinese folkloric deity, on a taxi dashboard with a gold ingot in his hand, however, sends out a completely different message. In a not-so-subtle way, it suggests that costly treasures will bring a permanent smile to our face.   

Friday, September 13, 2013

Taxi Furby

The Furby craze over the past year has, without a doubt, made its way over to Thailand. Despite the fact that here they cost almost double the price you would pay in the States, some Thais with money to burn consider this to be a "must-have" toy. For those who can't afford one, like my taxi driver today, there are alternative ways to get ahold of something Furby-like. In his case, he opted for this green stuffed non-robotic version that he bought at a local market for sixty baht, or roughly two US dollars. The best part about it is that it doesn't make annoying sounds or talk back at you the way real Furbys do. 

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Taxi Fashionista

If you saw the video about Bangkok style on nytimes.com last week and haven't been to Bangkok before, you would probably come to the conclusion that all Thai fashionistas are under the age of 25 and hang out in Siam Square. The truth is, you can find fashionable folk all over this city who range in age from toddler to senior. Today, even my cabby was donning (fake) Italian designer sunglasses with his shirt collar turned up for a sporty look.       

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Siamese Cushions

If you get married in Thailand, you'll need a pair of matching round wedding pillows like these. One is for the bride and the other is for the groom. After the ceremony, they usually end up as decorations in homes. Or if your husband (or wife) happens to be a taxi driver, the set of sparkly cushions will most likely be proudly displayed in the back window of their cab.  

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Harley Lover

The driver of this taxi is a huge fan of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He knows all about the company's 110th anniversary celebration going on August 30th, 31st, and September 1st in Milwaukee, USA, the home of this icon. He wishes he could be there among Harley lovers from around the globe. But first, he would need to find someone to drive his cab while he's gone, and secondly, he would need a Harley.