Buddhist Festival – Asaha Bucha Day
Thai Online Radio – Jazz Moment
Thai Wat – Wat Phrathat Doi Kham
Thai Online Radio – Music Zaa
Wat Sanghathan Meditation Center
Baan Tong Luang – Hill Tribe Cultural Preservation Village
Thai Orchid – Gastrochilus bellinus Rchb.f Kuntze
Thai Online Radio – Siam Music Zaa
Thai Wat – Wat Phrathat Suthon Mongkon Khiri
Thai Online Radio – UBRadio – Underground Music
Thai Online Radio – GreenWave
Dhamma Kancana Vipassana Meditation Center – Kanchanaburi
Eating Bugs – Bees Nests – Bee Larvae
Jintara Poonlarp – Thai Singer – Luktung
Laem Chabang Country Club – Pattaya Golf
Buddhist Ceremony – Wian Tian – Candlelight Procession
Magic & Superstition
Year of the Rabbit – Thai Zodiac
The year 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit in the both the Chinese and Thai Zodiac. 2011 will be a Metal Rabbit year. The Year of the Rabbit will begin on 3rd February 2011 and close 22nd January 2012. The Rabbit is the 4th animal in the Thai Zodiac. The Year of the Rabbit will be much appreciated following the somewhat tempestuous Year of the Tiger and will bring a much needed period of calm.
Sak Yant – Paed Dan – Eight Sided Yant
The Sak Yant design Paed Dan or Eight Sided Yant is a sacred geometric design similar in meaning to the Paed Tidt Eight Direction Yant. The Paed Dan Yant gives protection to the bearer when traveling in every direction. Whereas the Paed Tidt Yant design contains eight representations of the Lord Buddha, The Paed Dan Yant has 2 sets of Eight Buddha symbols around the outer circumference.
Sak Yant – Phra Narai Song Khrut
The Sak Yant design, Phra Narai Song Khrut, is a complex Yant containing three figures from the ancient Indian epic, The Ramayana. The Ramayana was adopted by Thailand during the 18th Century, even though the Ramayana contains stories from Hindu mythology and Thailand is a Buddhist country, and became known as the Ramakien,. The Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana, follows the central story of the Ramayana with additional elements introduced.
Sak Yant – Paed Tidt – Eight Direction Yant
The Sak Yant design ‘Paed Tidt’ or Eight Direction Yant is a sacred Geometric Yant containing eight Mantras written in 2 concentric circles in the centre of the design. The design of the Paed Tidt Yant also incorporates eight representations of the Buddha.
Sak Yant – Chiang Mai
We are very fortunate to have a senior Buddhist Monk in the Thailand province of Chiang Mai who is also a Sak Yant Master. Phra Ajarn Gamtorn has been involved with Sak Yant tattoos for over 17 years and is currently at Wat Nong Khem, a small Temple in San Patong, about 45 minutes from Chiang Mai where he has kindly allowed us to photograph his work on several occasions
Sak Yant – Monkey – Ling Lom
The Sak Yant, Monkey design known as Ling Lom means ‘Air Monkey’ or ‘Dancing Monkey’ and is also sometimes called ‘Hanuman Boxing’. Ling Lom has an interesting story behind it and one that is still slightly controversial.
Sak Yant – Tiger
Among the many Sak Yant designs available in Thailand is the Tiger or Tigers Yant. The Tiger is a symbol of strength and power and nothing gets in the way of a Tiger. People who choose the Tiger Yant would like to receive some of the attributes of the Tiger including strength and fearlessness.
Sak Yant – Hanuman
There are several different Sak Yant designs available for those who would like to have a Hanuman Yant. The benefits that can be bestowed on the Hanuman Yant are bravery and courage and therefore the Hanuman Yant is a favourite with many Muay Thai boxers.
Thai Legend – Nang Kwak- Patron Saint of Business
The Thai Legend of Nang Kwak, revered as the Patron Saint of business, is one of the best known legends in Thailand and dates back to before the birth of Buddhism in Thailand. The legend of Nang Kwak originates from India where she was known as Supawadee, the daughter of a small merchant.
Sak Yant – Gao Yord – 9 Spires Yant
The Gao Yord Yant or 9 Spires Yant is a sacred tattoo with magical powers which will protect and bring good luck to the bearer and is similar in meaning to another Sak Yant design, the Hah Taew Yant. The Gao Yord Yant is usually tattooed on the nape of the neck but may also be placed elsewhere. The 9 Spires Yant design represents the 9 Sacred Peaks of Mt. Meru and also incorporates 9 representations of the Lord Buddha and demonstrates just how important the number 9 is in Buddhism.
Sak Yant – Hah Taew – 5 Sacred Lines
Probably the most popular Sak Yant Magic Tattoo in Thailand is the Hah Taew or 5 Sacred Lines. Thanks to celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, the Hah Taew Sak Yant is certainly the best known in the West and has turned the Brahmin master who gave the Yant, Ajarn Noo Ganpai, into quite a celebrity himself.
Year of the Tiger – Thai Zodiac
The Year 2010 is the Year of the Tiger in both the Chinese Zodiac and the Thai Zodiac. The Year of the Tiger in 2010 will be a Metal Tiger. The Tiger is the 3rd symbol in the Thai Zodiac.
Sak Yant – Magic Tattoo
A Sak Yant is a magic tattoo which bestows mystical powers. This Sak Yant magic tattoo is normally given by a Buddhist Monk or Brahmin Priest but a Sak Yant can also be performed by a layman. Of the Countries in Asia where Sak Yant tattooing is carried out, Thailand is by far the country with the highest number of devotees. The Thai word Sak means to tattoo and a Yant is a sacred design that incorporates Buddhist prayers called Mantras or Katas that will invoke supernatural powers.
Chinese Zodiac Year – Thai Zodiac
The Thai Zodiac Year closely resembles the Chinese Zodiac Year but in the Thai Zodiac, the Dragon is replaced by a Naga. The Chinese Zodiac Year and the Thai Zodiac both follow the 12 year Lunar Cycle with each of the 12 years represented by an animal, unlike the Western Zodiac which divides each year into months although the Chinese system does contain “inner animals” assigned to each month.
