Images from Thailand ... Bralee ... and the "Spirit Houses" ....

All photos and copy by Yahn Smith

The world can be such a beautiful place, filled with visual magnificence, one can not help but be repetitious when describing it. Thailand is both visually and intellectually overwhelming. The Thai people were warm and friendly, very happy to show anyone the wonders of their country. As with 95% of our travels, I would go back there in a New York minute if I could.

Photo to the left "Floating" pavilion at the Thai Royal Summer Palace.

One of the really interesting things about Thai architecture are the bralee which are the upturned hooks on the corners of the roofs. They are intended to catch bad spirits as they fall to earth from above. Even the little "spirit houses" that you see all over the country, have them. These beautiful miniature houses are to entice good spirits and/or luck to stay at your house by providing them a quality residence of their own. You cannot see it in this picture but there is a small offering table in front of the spirit house(see photo on the right). These are taken very seriously and you almost never see one empty. In fact, Thailand donated a very elaborate spirit house covered with tiny mirrors to Caesar's Palace here in Vegas. You can be sure that offering table is never empty, nor is any fountain in the city. Thais and gamblers are both strong believers in being good to the spirits.

The Grand Palace, Bangkok on the left

Serenity at the Grand Palace, Bangkok on the right

One of the Khmer ruins at Ayutthaya (the white figure in the doorway is an adult)

Posted by Jennifer Johnston Smith at 12:59 PM

1 comments:

Sheila Davis Martinez said...
Yahn, thanks for sharing your more than perfect photographs. I can even feel the spirit of the people as if I were actually there.
March 4, 2008 12:06 AM