Positive Vibration

If there was a soundtrack of popular English language songs regularly covered and played in Thailand, it would have to include at least one Bob Marley song. Probably the most well-liked tune of his that you can hear on every Thai beach and on Bangkok's infamous center of backpacker culture, Khao San Road, is No Woman, No Cry. Today in the taxi, even my cabbie was bobbing to the beat of reggae music blasting on his car stereo as his rastafarian talisman led the way. Decked out in the obligatory red, yellow, and green, and standing near an image of the Buddha and a Thai monk on the dashboard, this smily character brought to mind another Marley track, Positive Vibration. Here's an original performance of the song from 1978. Enjoy. 

A-OK

I once read that the term "okay" is the most recognized word in the world, and in Thailand, taxi drivers use it a lot. Cabbies here also love to express their approval of something by saying that its "number 1". For example, when I speak Thai to the drivers, they often say, "you speak Thai #1".  And then, of course, there's always the thumbs up signal which, in my opinion, is the ultimate universal gesture of endorsement.

"Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded." 
- The Buddha