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Did monk really predict ‘damage once Thailand has a female PM’?

By Siam Voices Tue, Sep 20, 2011 9:30AM UTC View Comments

By Saksith Saiyasombut Thais can be a superstitious bunch of people. Whether it’s amulets or tattoos, many just do not want to take any chances. When it comes to political fortune telling, much attention is paid to the men, who have gained such wisdom to give a prophecy about how the balance of power will...

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Thai Culture Minister’s anti-religious-tattoo-on-foreigners-gate redux

By Siam Voices Fri, Jun 03, 2011 11:00AM UTC View Comments

A man showing his back tattooed with ancient scripts at Wat Bang Phra Temple in Nakhon Chaisri, Thailand. The sacred, Buddhist movties are said to grant supernatural powers to it's bearers. (Image by Flickr user "kPluto", licsenced under CC)

By Saksith Saiyasombut Yesterday’s post on the Thai Ministry of Culture’s declaration of intent to stop foreign tourists from getting religious tattoos has created quite a buzz around the net. No wonder, since this is a) a story affecting a lot of tourists, and b) quite honestly yet another stupid idea by the self-proclaimed heralds...

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Thai Culture Ministry to crack down on religious tattoos on foreign skin

By Siam Voices Tue, May 31, 2011 11:26PM UTC View Comments

By Saksith Saiyasombut Tattoos have a very special place in Thailand. They’re more than just permanent fashion statements, not unlike amulets they are regarded as spiritual guardians. Tattoos with religious or spiritual motives, called Yantra tattoos, are yet another sign that Thais take their beliefs skin-deep. Philip Cornwel-Smith dedicated a whole chapter in his excellent book “Very Thai”...

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“Black Khmer magic” a threat to the Thai army?!

By Siam Voices Sun, Feb 20, 2011 9:00AM UTC View Comments

A Thai soldier wears an amulet on the outside of his bullet proof vest along with ammunition as he takes up a position across from an anti-government barriade near Lumpini Park in downtown Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Pic: AP.

By Saksith Saiyasombut During the most recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border the Thai military have beefed up their presence in the area with more troops, more military hardware and apparently also more amulets…?! The chief of the 2nd Army distributed talismans to his troops to help protect them from evil curses which he believes...

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