Thread: Memory Lane (In my own language)

Nam Man Prai (Prai oil)

‘Nam man prai’ is a term used for all kinds of magical oil based potions in Southeast Asian Necromantic Sorcery. There are various kinds of ‘nam man prai’. Some of which are necromantic in their creation and empowerment methods. Others are from the plant kingdom but still considered necromantic as they are involved with people’s unnatural causes of death, such as death by hanging or death by being raped beneath, that create traumatic atmosphere which are believed to have been haunted.
Hence, ghosts/spirits are involved in ‘prai oil’ Sorcery.

In Modern times, it is very rare to encounter true necromancy for it breaks various laws. So, most necromantic amulets these days are not made using the ancient black magical methods anymore. Rather they use auspicious alternatives to achieve the same results. But most of all, it’s up to you. If you truly believe it will work, it will work.

There are, however, exceptions. Still, in black market such genuine stuff can be obtained from witch doctors who are secretly involved with necromantic practices.

There are various kinds of ‘nam man prai’. The very popular one is ‘nam man prai’ made from ‘pee (= ghosts) tai hoeng (= death by accidents)’.

This kind of ‘nam man prai’ is extracted from under the chin of a corpse of a person who meets horrific death before his/her time or in unnatural circumstances; may it be by accidents or during childbirth and such.

The ritual will perform in the cemetery by the coffin in the middle of the night. After subduing the spirit, by some magical procedures including chanting, the corpse will be raised from the coffin in sitting position.

The witch doctor will use a candle flame to heat under the chin of the corpse and extract the oil into a small receptacle. When done, more black magic will be performed in order to make sure that this stuff is sufficient.

Because this kind of oil is black magic so it is more effective when being used illegally or unethically such as adultery, burglary and etc.

As having said above, because of it being illegal, you have to sneak into a cemetery to find a corpse and yet, there is more work to do that is how to know which one is a ‘pee tai hoeng’.

So, the oil costs extremely high.





‘Nam man prai’ made from ferocious animals



Black magic ritual

The Ceremonial Ratchamankala is the Royal ceremony to celebrate a king whose reign lasts longer than all the former kings’.

In the history of Thailand/Siam there were 2 times:

1^st in 1908, celebrating King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) whose reign lasted longer than the past Kings’ ever recorded (40 years).

2^nd in 1988, celebrating King Phumipol Adulyadej (Rama IX) whose length of reign surpassed King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)’s (42 years).

It is likely that there will be no more for King Rama IX’s reign lasted 70 years and 179 days.


King Rama IX’s Royal Ceremonial Emblem


These photos below show King Rama V’s

Nice poses of one of King Rama V’s uncountable nieces.




Historians said that this was an example of old styled bridge built across any klong (= canals) commonly seen here and there in Bangkok during the reign of King Rama I – III.


(The graphic engraving (below) based on photograph (top) taken at Klong Mahanak )


The graphic engraving based on photograph shows “Royal (group) Funerals” held at Sanam Luang in 1887, the reign of King Rama V.


(3 of his children who died very young and 1 of his Royal Concubines; only 3 in royal urns seen)

Wat Patum Wanaram is located in Patumwan District between the two shopping malls, Siam Paragon and Central World and across the street from Siam Square.

The Wat was founded in 1857 by King Rama IV as a place of worship near his Sa Patum Palace. At the time of its founding the area was a rice field and only accessible via the Klong San Saeb.


(Taken in 1946, the road named in the future as Rama I seen at the bottom. To the left is the future Siam Square area and to the right is the future Ratchaprasong Intersection. Note: the name printed below read as Wat Raja Prachit was mistaken)

The Kingdom of Siam, now known as Thailand, is one of the least-known participants in WW I. Siam contributed to the fight against the Central Powers in one of the critical campaigns of the war. It sent an Expeditionary Force to France to serve on the Western Front.

Although it had upheld its neutrality from the start of the war in 1914, Siam entered it in July 1917 by declaring war against Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Following acclimation, both military and meteorological specialist training, the Siamese contingent began operations on the Western Front in mid-September 1918.

The war ended soon afterwards, but following the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Siamese troops contributed to the initial occupation of Rhineland, when they took over the town of Neustadt an der Haardt.

Unlike its Southeast Asian neighbors, Siam had never been colonized. By sending troops, Siam entered the war as an independent country, not one serving its colonial master. It was the only state in the region to enter the conflict entirely of its own free will, as an equal of the European powers, not as a part of their colonial contingents.

At the war's end, following the Allied victory, Siam was rewarded with confiscated German merchant ships. It also was granted political favors in Asia.

Siam, then, participated in the Versailles Peace Conference and became a founding member of the League of Nations which is the forerunner of the United Nations.

By 1925, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France had abandoned their extraterritorial rights in Siam.


(King Vachiravud (King Rama VI) during the Buddhism ritual)



(King Vachiravud dressed in a uniform of a British General in 1917)



The flag



(The Siamese Expeditionary Force, 1919 Paris Victory Parade.)




(Major General, the commander of the Siamese Expeditionary Force)



(Siamese casualties during the war amounted to 19 dead. Two soldiers died before departure to France, and the remainder perished from accidents or disease. The World War Volunteers Memorial honoring the Siamese soldiers who died in the conflict opened on 22 July 1921, at Sanam Luang. The last surviving member of the Siamese Expeditionary Forces died on 9 October 2003, age 106)

At first glimpse, one could think of somewhere in Europe but it was actually located in Bangkok.

Sapan Mansri or Mansri bridge was built by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V)'s younger brother who shared the same parents, King Rama IV and the Supreme Queen Consort. It was dedicated to his most beloved wife, Man (1866-1895), born a commoner, who died at the age of around 29.




The bridge across a small ‘klong’ was beautifully designed with the effigy of the deceased fixed in the middle. It was opened to public in 1908 but later on, when more new roads were constructed, the klong was filled and the bridge finally was demolished. The place around has become an intersection named "Mansri Intersection".




One of the very beautiful buildings is located at the corner of the intersection, The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Building being built since 1914.

Kolae Boat




Kolae boat is one of the most beautiful type of boats in Thailand. It is traditionally used as fishing boats by fishermen in the lower southern provinces, especially Pattani and Naratiwat.

Each boat consists of a strikingly pointed head and tail, and travels on water by the use of sail. It is distinctively decorated with brilliantly complex and colorful designs and serves as a medium for the expression of Arab wisdom in combination with Thai art.

According to records, during the Sukhothai period (around 1238-1438), the Arab-Muslim traders started to settle in Thailand. Both Pattani and Naratiwat were influenced by the Islamic faith. Arab culture and wisdom were brought in by the Moor and Arab merchants.

Later on, the Ayuttaya Kingdom (around 1350-1767) adapted the Kolae form of boat from a Moorish ship with a raised prow and thus devised the royal barge, as can be seen from the craft in the Royal Barge Procession during the reign of King Narai the Great.

At the same time, Pattani and Naratiwat craftsmen adopted traditional Thai artistic designs for use in decorating the Kolae.




As Pattani comprises of Buddhist, Muslim, and Chinese communities, it reflects a harmonious mixture of the three cultures. Kolae boats in this province feature Thai, Islamic, and Chinese art forms in accordance with local geographical and social conditions.

Contests of miniature Kolae boats are held occasionally and this encourage craftsmen to improve their production. Miniature Kolae boats and other products have become sought-after items among Thai and foreign visitors. They are available in souvenir shops in Pattani and Naratiwat. The price can vary but usually starts from 200 baht and can be up to over 10,000 baht, depending on their sizes and decorations.