Thai Patriotism
1. King Motorcade:
While walking to a restaurant, Angela and I suddenly noticed that all traffic, pedestrian and motor, was stopped dead in the streets. Normally, Bangkok is a deafening roar of engines and growling construction (when will the city be finished ?) but, within what seemed like seconds, everything was strangely quiet and still. This was especially weird for Angela and I who never know what's happening in normal circumstances, let alone why the hell someone pushed the Bangkok "pause" button. We must have looked pretty weird - a pair of farangs running across the silent street, weaving through Asian mannequins before realizing that the world had stopped. We didn't know what else to do so we stopped too. Everyone waited in silence. Seconds later, a motorcade of motorcycle police and beige Mercedes passed through the intersection. One of the oversized 1950s-style cars carried his Majesty the King. Everyone bowed their heads as he passed. When the car was out of sight, the city set back into motion and the roar returned to my ears. It felt like someone had pressed "play." How'd everyone know that guy was about to roll up?
2. National Anthem:
In Bangkok and many places in the provinces too, the Thai national Anthem is played through public loudspeakers each evening at 6pm. Pedestrians and street vendors stand at attention and listen with respect, only resuming their activities when the song is over. Just like the motorcade incident, this can be a confusing and sometimes embarrassing predicament for foreigners. Only the most attentive ear can distinguish the National Anthem from all the other Thai language songs blasted through Bangkok's streets each day. It's common to see farangs toting their shopping bags through the unmoving crowds with annoyance before realizing that they are the true jackasses.
The National Anthem is also played before movie screenings. When Angela and I went to see BATMAN BEGINS, it took us a few seconds before realizing why everyone in the theater had suddenly jumped outta their seats. When we went to see WAR OF THE WORLDS, the neohippy farang girl seated across the aisle paid the price for her ignorance with a facefull of the usher's flashlight beam.
1. King Motorcade:
While walking to a restaurant, Angela and I suddenly noticed that all traffic, pedestrian and motor, was stopped dead in the streets. Normally, Bangkok is a deafening roar of engines and growling construction (when will the city be finished ?) but, within what seemed like seconds, everything was strangely quiet and still. This was especially weird for Angela and I who never know what's happening in normal circumstances, let alone why the hell someone pushed the Bangkok "pause" button. We must have looked pretty weird - a pair of farangs running across the silent street, weaving through Asian mannequins before realizing that the world had stopped. We didn't know what else to do so we stopped too. Everyone waited in silence. Seconds later, a motorcade of motorcycle police and beige Mercedes passed through the intersection. One of the oversized 1950s-style cars carried his Majesty the King. Everyone bowed their heads as he passed. When the car was out of sight, the city set back into motion and the roar returned to my ears. It felt like someone had pressed "play." How'd everyone know that guy was about to roll up?
2. National Anthem:
In Bangkok and many places in the provinces too, the Thai national Anthem is played through public loudspeakers each evening at 6pm. Pedestrians and street vendors stand at attention and listen with respect, only resuming their activities when the song is over. Just like the motorcade incident, this can be a confusing and sometimes embarrassing predicament for foreigners. Only the most attentive ear can distinguish the National Anthem from all the other Thai language songs blasted through Bangkok's streets each day. It's common to see farangs toting their shopping bags through the unmoving crowds with annoyance before realizing that they are the true jackasses.
The National Anthem is also played before movie screenings. When Angela and I went to see BATMAN BEGINS, it took us a few seconds before realizing why everyone in the theater had suddenly jumped outta their seats. When we went to see WAR OF THE WORLDS, the neohippy farang girl seated across the aisle paid the price for her ignorance with a facefull of the usher's flashlight beam.
posted by mike at 10:56 PM
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