Flower Market

There is a street in Bangkok that blooms at night. At dusk, trucks, wheelbarrows, dolleys, baskets and armloads of newspaper wrapped flowers are unloaded. By the time the last rays of sunlight have slipped away, a work of art has been created as the entire street becomes one large, fragrant bouquet. Flowers play an integral part in Thai culture. This country is 95% Buddhist and flowers are used in their worship. Wreaths are placed in vehicles on rear-view mirrors, they hang from boats, people wear them and they are on altars and spirit houses at almost every corner. Everywhere you go, you see people threading tiny white buds and yellow flowers into wreaths to sell. The city smells like flowers. The Tree of Victory which blooms bright yellow flowers such as the ones seen below hanging in bags on a truck, is considered the symbol of Buddhism. It is also considered the royal color, the color of Monday, the day of the Royal King’s birth. Another interesting thing is the absolute reverence for their king and queen. There are as many pictures of them as there are of flowers. You can’t go into a shop or market, home, or even down the street without seeing them. Billboards are posted one right after the other with them at different ages. They are in their 80’s now and are adored by all. When praises are sung about them at a certain time every day, all must stand and wait until they are done. It is considered very rude to step on a coin because the king’s head is on it. Apparently, that goes for paper money as well. Lesson learned. Feet are considered the nastiest part of the body and the head the highest. Feet are not allowed to point toward others or toward their household shrines which means you wouldn’t put a shrine at the foot of your bed, it must hang on the wall at the head unless you have room in another part of the apartment not facing the foot. Interesting. How do they keep up with all the rules? You greet someone by putting your hands together in front of your face, bowing slightly and saying sawadeeka (or kapp, if you are a man). Who you greet affects how high you place your hands and don’t do it at all to a child or you would have killed them! Thai culture is full of such customs. They are lenient with foreigners but if you are going to visit, do some research first. The less offensive you are, the nicer they will be.

Mandy

“The earth laughs in flowers.”
E. E. Cummings