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  1. #1
    I am in Jail

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    What foreign deities have invaded your home?

    I returned home last Friday to find that a new shelf had been erected in the living room. It had been placed about 2/3 of the way up the wall & was about 2 foot square. On the table was an assortment of oddities, idols, incense, bowls, garlands, flowers etc. My good lady had a local handyman place it there whilst I was about my business, and she'd forgotton to mention it to me before I left that morning. It doesn't look particularly pleasing, placed where it is & on occasion the smoke alarm goes off if she's burning too many of those sticks. I can't say that I'm best pleased, but fear offending her by asking her to move it out into the balcony. Baing an athiest by nature I'm not in the least bit interested in religion, however I must make a stand. One idea I've had it to turn our living room sideboard into a full-blown catholic altar. I wonder if she'd object?

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat

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    Just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you can't enjoy some of the ritual, celebration and holidays that go with religion. I'm a firmly grounded atheist but I love Christmas: the decorations, the music, the food, the gift giving, the drinking, etc.

    I also like having a little shrine in our house and even get a kick out of buying garlands from the flower lady for Wan Phra. They smell nice. They look nice.

  3. #3
    Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb
    Sir Burr's Avatar
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    I won't include the usual Buddhas on a shelf as every house in Thailand has that.

    I have a large area under the house that is planted with lots of shade loving plants. Looked a bit boring, so I bought some terracotta lanterns and other stuff to but amongst the plants to make it more interesting.
    I also put in a large sandstone statue of Ganesh, the elephant headed Indian god. The missus saw it and asked what it was. Told her that it was called Ganesh and that he was the god of wisdom and the remover of obstacles and problems.
    Since then, he gets flowers and joss-sticks and a wai. Even saw her down on her knees praying. Guess the missus is just covering all the bases.
    Phuket - Veni Vidi Veni

  4. #4
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    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Just rip it off the wall and throw it into the yard. She'll get over it.

  5. #5
    Not a Mod. Begbie's Avatar
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    A few pictures of the pope staring down at yourself and your good wife will give your abode a warm cheery atmosphere.

  6. #6
    watterinja
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    Quote Originally Posted by FatBoyEric View Post
    I returned home last Friday to find that a new shelf had been erected in the living room. It had been placed about 2/3 of the way up the wall & was about 2 foot square. On the table was an assortment of oddities, idols, incense, bowls, garlands, flowers etc. My good lady had a local handyman place it there whilst I was about my business, and she'd forgotton to mention it to me before I left that morning. It doesn't look particularly pleasing, placed where it is & on occasion the smoke alarm goes off if she's burning too many of those sticks. I can't say that I'm best pleased, but fear offending her by asking her to move it out into the balcony. Baing an athiest by nature I'm not in the least bit interested in religion, however I must make a stand. One idea I've had it to turn our living room sideboard into a full-blown catholic altar. I wonder if she'd object?
    One wonders what these deities bring with them? What will they demand of you in return for their affections?

  7. #7
    Excommunicated baldrick's Avatar
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    get a statue of Goatse - it would even have a space to place the offerings

  8. #8
    I am in Jail

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Just rip it off the wall and throw it into the yard. She'll get over it.
    I believe that's grounds for divorce in Thailand. Wouldn't surprise me if such an act could lead to expulsion from Thailand & blacklisted forever. Maybe if I just moved it into the downstairs toilet instead.

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr
    I won't include the usual Buddhas on a shelf as every house in Thailand has that.
    Not mine.

  10. #10
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    When we purchased our new car I casually slipped into conversation with my wife that if we got any of those blessing things by monks on the car (incl. drawing funny little lines on the brand new upholstery/roof lining) it would end in divorce, possibly murder/suicide, and she took it in her usual nonchalant stride. My wife is obviously Buddhist but is also very tolerant and understanding of my inherent heathenism.

    Anyways, few days later I was driving the car and I noticed that it was making a noise every time I cornered. Finally tracked down the source - it was coming from the ash tray thingy. Opened that to find a little Buddha statue that had been surreptisously slipped in there. Had to laugh as I continued on down the road and threw it out the window*







    *Ok that bit I just made up to sound tough. The reality is that if I’d done that it most definitely would’ve ended in divorce/murder. Mine.

  11. #11
    Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb
    Sir Burr's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr
    I won't include the usual Buddhas on a shelf as every house in Thailand has that.
    Not mine.
    How do you get away with that, then?

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr
    I won't include the usual Buddhas on a shelf as every house in Thailand has that.
    Not mine.
    Me either.

  13. #13
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    Why would they bother anyone? Surely its going to upset the missus more that they are not there than the Buddha parade upsets you?

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FatBoyEric
    Maybe if I just moved it into the downstairs toilet instead.
    Wouldn't it get wet when you flushed the loo?

  15. #15
    Thailand Expat
    Marmite the Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Sir Burr
    I won't include the usual Buddhas on a shelf as every house in Thailand has that.
    Not mine.
    How do you get away with that, then?
    GoW realises that it's all a load of old bollocks.

  16. #16
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    I have a rather splendid animistic stone Javanese God who sits next to the television set.

    I bought him in Yogyakarta. Half his stone face had been hacked off - by Muslims who deface ancient idols that way.

    I spoke to a cultural anthropologist who told me the idol's name and said that i'd have to rebuild his damaged face else he would bring ill-fortune - so thats what i've done, with green plasticine. So far so good, he has been benevolent and smiled on us.

    His photo is below
    Last edited by The Ghost Of The Moog; 15-08-2007 at 01:37 PM.

  17. #17
    Thailand Expat
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    Quote Originally Posted by The_Ghost_Of_The_Moog
    If someone explains how to post photos, I will upload his photo, plasticine and all.
    https://teakdoor.com/how-use-stuff-bo...t-picture.html

  18. #18
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    ^^ those muslims have got a lot to answer for

    mind you wasnt it british soldiers who shot the nose off the Sphinx?

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat
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    ^I think Napoleon de-snouted the Sphinx

  20. #20
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    that sounds more like it

  21. #21
    Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb
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    Many theories why the nose is missing, but, it definitely wasn't Napolean or, British soldiers.
    The nose was gone by 1737 possibly 1755 at the latest, well before Nappers ever got there (shown in drawings from that time).
    The most probable reason was that it just cracked and fell off as it was made of soft limestone and jutted out with no support.

  22. #22
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    isnt wikipedia marvellous

  23. #23
    Rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb
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    Yup. Looked there and other places too.

  24. #24
    I am in Jail

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    Quote Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by FatBoyEric
    Maybe if I just moved it into the downstairs toilet instead.
    Wouldn't it get wet when you flushed the loo?
    There is no flush mechanism in the downstairs toilet, just a bucket of water & an elderly wooden soup ladle with a hairline fracture. A third world country with first world prices.

  25. #25
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