Thailand - The Land Which Buddhism Reigns Mighty

When someone mentions Thailand, what images or impressions might the word conjure? A few words immediately comes to mind e.g massage, wats (temples), tuk-tuk vehicles, polite manners, tomyum, good food, etc. These few words are so synonymous with the country that if a visitor fails to grasp these few impressions, it would've been a futile visit to the country of smile and politeness.

I was there for three (3) days last week on a business trip to explore the running of a few ports. Staying along Rama IV, opposite Lumphini Park, is not really a nice spot. It was located smack in the middle of chronic traffic congestion. However, a call for taxi was immediately served within minutes. How efficient they are. It's just a call away even though traffic was snarling.

I never cease to be amazed at the cleanliness level of the whole of Bangkok and its immediate surrounding areas. Even though some of the buildings may be old, it's only covered with moss which grew over time in damp areas. However, there's nary a plastic or pieces of unwanted paper lying strewn on the road and passageways. Perhaps being a majority Buddhist country helped to nurture this discipline of cleanliness. Even it's public toilets are spotless. I'm sure many of those who've visited the country's capital can attest to this.

Peaceful the town of Bangkok was during my visit. Even though the politics wasn't favourable to Thaksin, the people of Thailand were not violently protesting the rule of Abhisit. The days of early protest were over and I can still hear praises of Thaksin even as he continues to live in self-exile. From the support from the poor and the football fans when he acquired Manchester United, the great man continues to live on as a legend, the white elephant of ordinary Thais. The mere mention of the word Thaksin brings smile to the people as they recall his efforts to help the poor rise above their poverty.

The streets opposite Siam Paragon were a hive of business activity. From street peddlars hawking food, to street performers busking for a bit of change, to transport providers aka tuk-tuk waiting by the roadside, to people buying lotteries in the hope of striking and subsequently obtaining a richer future...they mind their own business as each goes about their daily activities, in the hustle and bustle of city life. I should be ashamed at the lack of creativeness of the Malaysians in doing business. In between buildings, the streets were converted into little restaurants with both eastern and western fare on offer. Proper chairs and tables which are normally found in restaurants found their way into these cramped 'lorongs'. If one doesn't look at both ends of the alley, one would have imagined oneself to be in a comfortable but cramped restaurant. You have to see it to believe it.

The cost transport is phenomenal compared to what we pay here in Malaysia. Fuel price ranges from Bt21.79 to Bt41.30 which is equivalent to about RM2.18 to RM4.13. Even as we complain of paying a high price for fuel at RM1.80 for RON95 and RM2.05 for RON97, we should consider the suffering of the Thais as they battle the high cost of transport in their country, even though they don't produce fuel and therefore, suffer the high cost of purchasing the carbon energy to run their mechanised vehicles. But they're not the complaining type. They'll simply find a way to reduce their fuel consumption. Tuk-tuk drivers often switch off their engines at intersections as they await the change in traffic lights. Complaining and grumbling is not their cup of tea.

Being devout Buddhists, they'd rather live with it and consider it as one of the challenges in life and one must accept it and get on with life. It's part of the cycle of karma where one keeps on improving in the many lives that each has. I hope to be able to emulate them in this simple philosophy of life and I wish that everyone would do the same and accept that no matter how one well one succeeds in life or how rich one can earn to be, life will still end but how it ends will depend on how we handle this journey called LIFE...