Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

To K. panama hat and K. CalEden ....

It took me many hours to finish this article (compiling from many sources (mostly Thai's; for accuracy), editing, simplifying, searching for relevant photos and etc.). I really appreciate your kind compliment.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Thanks for the explanation. It has not confused me much, being used to that when explained e.g the difference between maa (dog) and maa (horse), do you hear the difference?

The name calling in Thailand is sometimes not so easy to understand by falangs, however, never confusing for Thais. How to address certain person correctly and politely as it belongs to his rank, different titles when addressed by different people. That could be a special thread graciously authored by you...

Yes, and you might include maa (one way of calling mother) maa (one way of calling grandmother) maa (come)

Thai language has a lot forms of vowel and something called "wanna yuk" that help words/names being called mean differently when raising or lowering voices.

'maa' is an example. My nickname is Nong. If in English, no matter how you raise your voice up or lower you voice down, it is the same. But in Thai language, it has to be only this level of voice that means exactly my nickname. I bet none of you can read mine right!

Thank you so much for your kind compliment.

I’ve found a website that contains a collection of old B&W photographs shown in computer colored version. They are looked great. I will select and post them here from time to time. Hope you like them.

Wat Niwet Tummaprawat; Bang Pa-In; Ayuthaya Province shot by King Rama V himself




King Rama V on his Royal Sedan coming out of the Grand Palace’s main door heading to perform Consecrated Water Ceremony (Actually I have no idea about this term. Google just gave me this. You guys get it?) at Wat Pra Kaew




Studio photo of a noble family (His rank was major general. He later had adopted a boy from a commoner family. This boy later became one of the most powerful persons in Siam known as Field Marshal Plaek Piboonsongkram or 'Poh")




Cousin of King Rama V named known in public as ‘Krom Praya Dumrong Racha Nupab’. His role was very important in Siam as chief of the Privy Council to 2 reigns; King Rama V – VI and a senior counselor to King Rama VII. He was named ‘Father of Thai History and Archeology’. In 1962, UNESCO included Prince Dumrong on its World's Most Important Persons list, making him the first Thai to receive this accolade.




No description, just beautiful…

Paladkik in brief

Paladkik is a kind of Thai amulet shaped like a penis. The term "paladkik" means "honorable surrogate penis". These amulets range from a few inches to several feet long in length. The smaller versions are usually worn on the body while the larger versions are displayed in shops and other establishments.




Paladkik is originated in India and related to the Hindu god Shiva who is usually represented by Shiva Linga. They were brought to Southeast Asia via a tribe called Cham and remained in the region ever since.

Paladkik, as a phallic representation of Shiva, is also an animistic symbol of fertility. It is common in Thailand to see a penis amulet hanging in a convenience store or a restaurant, or even being sold by old women on the street.

Although outsiders may regard these as offensive, Thai people are deeply superstitious. Lucky charms and talismans are still regarded as important.

Paladkik can be made from wood, metal, bone, horn or ivory. They are mostly created by necromancers or even monks who specialize in this kind of magic. Engraving the sacred inscriptions is an important ritual. The process can take many days to complete.

Paladkik amulets must be empowered by the repetition of incantations, which Thai people call 'Kata Bucha'. The incantations depend on the creator's lineage in each school of traditional non-Buddhist animist magic.

Paladkiks are usually worn by males on a cord around their waists under the clothes and off-center from the real penis. It is not unusual for a male to wear many paladkiks at the same time, in the hope to attract women, increase gambling luck and protection from dangerous objects such as bullets and knives.

However, women could carry it in their purses to protect them from rape and mugging. Shop owners display them in their shops or in the cash register area to protect their business and also bring good luck and sales.

A notable feature of this type of amulet is it can be worn in places considered as lowly or unclean such as bars, gambling casinos and brothels where, normally, you cannot bring a general sacred amulet inside such establishments.




In Hindu beliefs, Shiva Linga (shown as male genitalia) is commonly accompanied by Yoni (female genitalia) which is referred to genitalia of the goddess Shakti and is conceptualized as nature's gateway of all births.




Together, they symbolize the merging of the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, and the union of the feminine and the masculine that creates all of existence.




The yoni with linga iconography is found in Shiva temples and archaeological sites of the India subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Originally Posted by Klondyke

^These kinds of amulets in form of large sculptures are widely exhibited in wats and sacred caves in South at sea side. I thinks I saw something like this at Krabi.

(Nong, I take the liberty, humbly again, to remark something in "your" thread, being again strongly scolded by my friendly stalker who does not approved that I dare...)

Don't worry. This is a friendly thread. You can talk, remark, anything (compliment even better!) only please be respectful.

About paladkik, in the old days, they were a lot of shrines here and there around Thailand being set up to worship paladkiks. Now many of them have been demolished by the officials on the grounds that they brought humiliation to our civilization.

This is at Pra-Nang Bay in Krabi




Somewhere on the border between Chieng Mai - Chieng Rai




In Sataheeb, Chonburi




And at Park Nai Rerd, Bangkok. I don't know when this photo was taken.

Klong San-Sab, Meanburi, Bangkok (1937)






Floating rowboat selling fresh cut pork. The pieces were wrapped up in banana leaf seen on the floor (1947)




"Mass transportation"

In the 50s-60s, there were various brands of washing powder but the name “FAB” took over the market in Thailand. It was so popular that we used the name “FAB” instead of the term “washing powder” and everyone understood what we meant.

For example; we went to a grocery store to buy one.

“What do you want?”

Instead of saying “a box of washing powder named BREEZE”, we said

“I want a box of FAB named BREEZE”

The seller nodded and brought a box of washing powder named BREEZE for us.

or...

"Nong, go buy a new brand name of FAB named RINZO. I want to try"