Curiosities, traditions and legends of Thailand

The Hong, spectacular limestone caves

The hong (Thai word that means "room") is a phenomenon present in various parts of Indochina. In Thailand there are significantly in Pang Nga Bay which is located in the northeast of the island of Phuket. It is ancient limestone caves that open within large underwater coral formations formed over 100 million years ago and then pushed upwards from the movement of earth plates. The next million years due to erosion in the rain, the wind and the sea have finally opened the roof of many caves.
The result of all this is a bay with small rocky islands, with lush lagoons completely closed with ecosystems that regulate themselves, caves in several rooms, large arches and narrow corridors. All this can be explored using small canoes that allow you to move easily in these situations and can pass through the narrow passages that allow access within certain hong. These trips are organized by boats that host tourists and bring a number of canoes that are lowered near the hong. The show can be seen inside the hong is unique, it starts with the passage leading inside is always spectacular and when the cave is large and when it is so narrow and low that it is necessary to be able to lie down on the canoe avoid rocks ceiling. Inside the water is deep green with rocks that emerge here and there, the steep inner walls are abundantly covered with vegetation and silence reigns supreme.


Religion and Society in Thailand

About 95% of the Thai population profess the religion of Buddhism is the official religion. This forms the core of modern culture and determines many of the daily behavior. The relative harmony, the propensity for calm, the willingness to help others and more is due mainly to the religion and the values it represents how the sacredness of family, friendship, solidarity, etc. The Buddhist religion does not provide for an almighty God and the life of every person is controlled by the "Karma" formed in previous lives. Only the action of the individual can determine the course of his life and no one can influence. Evil conduct does not provide forgiveness and conduct deserving will have the right rewards, so if a person is rich or lucky this is due to a "Karma" particularly favorable acquired in previous lives as a poor or sick discounts the mistakes of a previous life . This leads to a behavior of the company that appears to us in the West, at times, incomprehensible as the deep respect enjoyed by the rich and powerful.


The Wat, a place of worship

The wat in Thailand are more than 30,000. They represent much more than just a place of worship. Especially in small countries and / or in smaller towns, they are an important part of the local community as they incorporate hospitals, monasteries, schools, markets, and still another. Their names often reflect the history or the religious significance of the area they represent. The prefix "rat" who often finds himself in the names is a sign of respect for the royal family, in which perhaps only one member took care of the construction or rehabilitation of the wat. Others have a link with the benefactor who has allowed the realization.

Bangkok origins

During the eighteenth century, the capital of Thailand was Ayutthaya which was constantly under siege by the Burmese who wanted to seize the Thai territory. Between 1767 and 1782 a general half Chinese and half Thai, whose name was Praya Taksin organize an army that was able to drive out the Burmese in their territories. Aware of the constant threat of this population, took to Ayutthaya as the capital that moved the small fishing village of Thon Buri on the mouth of the Chao Phraya River as it represented an area more easily defensible. In 1782, the successor to the General Taksin the Chao Phraya Chakri, whose line has been passed down to this day, moved the capital island of Rattankosin current heart and historical center of Bangkok.

Gypsies of the sea, Thai population

The "sea gypsies" are representatives of a minority population that, apart from some cases, living like nomads of the sea, feeding only what the sea offers. Migrated from southern China about 4,000 years ago, the Moken (this is the original name) live off the southern coast of Myanmar (formerly Burma) and on some islands of Thailand. They are animists, are equalitari ie without hierarchies, do not allow the bureaucracy and their behavior are marginalized by the Thai population. They have no political rights it owned. They do not have a written language for which they have a history and the few traditions are handed down from father to son in a direct way. Living mainly as nomads, their villages are dilapidated and deprived of the most elementary rules of hygiene. Aboard their kabang, the traditional wooden boats, moving from one bay to another to fish and gather shellfish.

The real Thai boxing

The "Muay Thai" or Thai boxing is a set of sports items and rituals. This sport, a combination of boxing and martial arts, allows the use of fists, elbows, knees and feet to hit anywhere on the body. At one time the sport had few rules for which violence is expressed in all its brutality as to be banned in the 20's and then return in the 30s with precise rules. Before beginning the meeting a band is playing a shrill music that spreads throughout the stadium, the contenders enter the ring wearing a bandage on his head and a colored arm considered sacred ornaments. They kneel and recite a short prayer, then, as the orchestra continues to play, perform a kind of dance flow around the ring made of gestures performed slowly and whose purpose is to thank the coaches and schools of boxing where they belong. After the bandage on his head is removed while the arm is maintained throughout the meeting. The orchestra continues to play for all five shots each meeting lasting three minutes, following, with ups and downs, the actions that follow each other in the ring.

Rockets Festival in Thailand

The festival of the rockets, which in Thai is called Bun Bang Fai, are held in the second week of May in areas north-east of the country to celebrate the end of the dry season and please the rain god Phaya Than why bring a fruitful season in the rice fields . The rockets are produced with bamboo canes filled with saltpeter and charcoal. They are built large wooden ramps from which the rockets start to the great delight of the spectators. The craftsmanship of the characteristic rockets is disappearing in favor of industrial products made with modern materials and safer......

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