Monday 22 February 2010

Memories of Thailand/ Malaysia

-Greg's too tall here- he hits his poor little head on the shop awnings, door mantels and food cart parasols. He also manages to trip up occassionally on the uneven pavements, steps up and down the sidewalk and jumping over open drains.

-The smell from the open drains is like the smell from the pipe outflow of a washing machine (dirt and chemicals) plus occassionally sewage and cooked food.

-Jasmine and rose garlands are made daily by skilled florists to sell as token gifts to the Buddha. You find them hung on railings in front of Buddhist shrines and they represent te impermanence of life- the flowers withering.

-Spirit shrines adorn every home, shop and office. They are normally red and gold or white and gold and are to house the spirits which belong to that site and protect them so that no evil will come to the site's residents. Food and water is 'given' to the spirits every morning as nourishment and flowers are laid or hung on the corners.