Let’s face it Asian ghosts are much scarier than their Western counterparts. Thailand has a long tradition of horror stories, some true, others not so much. Here we present a list of Bangkok’s 9 most haunted places for all ghostbusters out there who “ain’t afraid of no ghosts”.
9. Piyaporn Gated Community
Piyaporn Gated Community is situated on an area of over 100 acres right in the middle of the busy area of Soi Watcharapol. It is said that the village was built on the land of an old cemetery and the developers did not pray for forgiveness before clearing the land. This is a taboo according to Thai beliefs. Construction did not go as smoothly as numerous obstacles stopped the project from working efficiently and it was reported that several workers had fatal accidents. The pinnacle of all events occurred when 3 children drowned in the lake in the middle of the village, causing the project to be abandoned. Rumour has it that if you venture into the village late at night the spirits will reveal themselves.
8. Unfinished Colonial House at Soi Watcharapol
This unfinished colonial style house in Soi Watcharapol has remained untouched even though the land has been for sale for many years. According to locals, this house belonged to a family of 4 who left for a vacation, but an accident occurred and none of the family members made it alive. It is said that the spirit of the family lives on and frequent sightings of men, women and children, as well as flickering lights at night have kept people away from the house.
7. Shoe Factory at Bangpu Industrial Estate
Industrial estates may seem very scary, but this factory at the end of Bangpu industrial estate proves that horror stories can happen anywhere. This shoe factory had a freak accident when the air compressor blew up, causing many casualties in the process. The factory owner continued to operate the business, but frequent ghost sightings caused many of the employees to quit and business eventually went down the drain. The owner then shot himself at the top floor of the factory. Today, it is said that the factory is still full of shoe debris as no one dares to enter it.
6. Prasart Temple at Nonthaburi
Built during the Ayutthaya period, Prasart temple is Nonthaburi’s oldest temple with wall excavations suggesting that it is over 300 years old. The temple is said to be property of Nang Usadevi who is revered as a goddess status by the locals. At night the temple becomes desolated and it is said that those who do not speak well of Nang Usadevi have met with strange occurrences or in some cases even death.
5. Pen Factory at Kasem Bundit University
Inside Kasem Bundit University on Pattanakarn road lies an abandoned 80 acre pen factory. The torn-down building is rumoured to be haunted by poltergeists. During the construction of the factory, multiple accidents occurred resulting in the loss of many lives. An unusual freezing cold chill is said to occur when entering the compound and the story goes that if you tap the water tank 3 times, the poltergeist would appear.
4. Burnt-Down House at Rangsit Soi 13
About 2 kilometres from the main road stands the remains of a house which was almost burnt to ground. Some people say that a woman was immolated in the fire. The house is located in the middle of a tamarind garden but has been untouched ever since the fire. Nearby patrons often report ghostly sightings late at night. At times, they hear a woman screaming and wailing.
3. Abandoned House at Soi Rod Anand 1
Picture the perfect backdrop of a Thai horror movie and this place comes very close. This traditional Thai house full of overgrown bushes on Soi Rod Anand sits next to a swamp far from other houses in the area. People believe the house is haunted by the spirit of a grandmother whose family left to settle in other provinces, leaving her to die alone. According to nearby neighbours the spirit of the grandmother is always seen cursing at little children and trespassers. A popular local TV show once tried to film inside of the house, but quickly dispersed at the sound of an old lady screaming.
2. Bus Cemetery at Soi Sai Yood
The bus cemetery at Soi Sai Yood is home to several buses that have been wrecked in major accidents. The story goes that when a car passes by late at night, they would be barraged by the headlights of buses and encounter hitchhikers trying to catch a ride. There have been reports of “people” running in front of cars only to disappear right before the crash, and taxis drivers picking up passengers that suddenly disappear from the backseat.
1. Abandoned House at Ramkamhaeng Soi 32
Deep in Ramkamhaeng Soi 32, there is a house that has been abandoned for more than 20 years. The story goes that the house was once owned by a foreigner who lived with a maid. One day, some bandits who had been planning to rob the house, decided to break in while the owner went to work. The robbery went wrong and the maid was found brutally murdered, while the assailants got away. Since then, it has been reported that a faint but gruesome cry for help has always been heard along the hallways, so much that the original owner decided to sell the house. New buyers reported that they saw the spirit of a woman standing near the front door and garage on a regular basis.
Dubbed “Monkey City,” the province of Lopburi (150km northeast of Bangkok) in Thailand is known for its population of long-tailed macaques that guard its ancient ruins and temples.
Like a boss...
The Thai version of the Ramayana legend claims that the ancient city of Lopburi was created with the help of his friend Hanuman the Monkey King. Many of Lopburi’s residents consider the macaques descendants of Hanuman, hence this monkey feast is held in their honour.
Prang Sam Yot Temple (now monkey territory)...
To give thanks to the monkeys, the city holds an annual “monkey buffet” feast every last week of November at an ancient Khmer temple, Prang Sam Yot, built in the 10th century by the Khmer dynasty with similar architecture as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
And what a feast it is.
Too busy eating to bother stealing from tourists...
Buffet tables are laid out with with over 4,000 kilograms of food — peanuts, cabbage, watermelon, bananas, pumpkin, pineapple, boiled eggs, cucumbers, cakes, candies, and cans of soda and juice — all prepared for the monkeys. The fruits and vegetables are sometimes arranged in festive, colourful pyramids or simply laid out on mats by the temple, to the delight of the monkeys.
Buffet molesters...
The buffet sparks a feeding frenzy among the 3,000 macaques that live in the area, and the festivities have become a popular attraction for both local and foreign visitors.
Most of them suffer from severe lack of table manners...
The monkey buffet festival also hosts performances and activities that celebrate all things monkey, such as music and dances with people dressed like monkeys in monkey costumes and monkey masks. Monkey sculptures also flourish around the area.
Monkey statues dressed in fancy suits offering drinks and sweets...
Lopburi’s monkey population survives in part due to Buddhist discouragement of killing animals.
Lunch is served!
Because the monkeys that populate the town are used to human interaction, they have also been known to cheekily steal unwary tourists’ belongings or food. Officials remind visitors that the monkeys are wild animals and can get aggressive, and warn photographers against luring the monkeys with food.
Living life to the Max...
Milk for the young ones...
I need to stay awake to chow down more food...
Lopburi is a three-hour train ride from Bangkok via Ayutthaya. Entrance to the Prang Sam Yot temple is 30 Baht inclusive of sticks that will help ward off aggressively cheeky monkeys.
Thais are a very superstitious people and there are many superstitious beliefs and customs that have long been observed in Thailand. Some superstitions are about good luck and some are about bad luck.
Did you know that in Thailand there’s an auspicious colour for every day of the week?
As you can imagine, this tradition is no longer popular among young Thais, but many more traditional Thais still know the colours and when to wear them.
Days are marked by colours and are said to have hidden and secretive meanings. These colours influence the daily lives of people, not because of belief alone, but because many Thais feel that colour influences their perceptions and feelings.
Here’s what the colours represent from a historical and religious view:
Sunday = Red: According to historical records, there is mystic belief that Phra Isuan, a high God in the Hindu faith, since the beginning of the universe, captured six lions and ground them into powder. He then wrapped the powder with red cloth and sprinkled Nam Amarit or holy water on to the powder and thus created the Sun.
Monday = Yellow: Yellow is believed to be lucky for all occasions. According to Hindu mythology, Phra Isuan had captured 14 angels and used his infinite powers to turn them into powder. He then wrapped the powder in a yellow cloth and sprinkled holy water upon the powder creating the Moon.
Tuesday = Pink: Phra Isuan caught eight buffaloes and used his magical powers to turn them into powder, which he wrapped with soft reddish cloth and sprinkled with holy water, thus creating the Planet of Saturn.
Wednesday = Green: Green is worn on Wednesday because it is said that Phra Isuan rounded up 17 mystic elephants and turned them into powder which he wrapped with a green leaf. After sprinkling holy water he created the planet of Pluto.
Thursday = Orange: 19 hermits were powdered by Phra Isuan and wrapped in a reddish orange cloth, thus creating the Planet of Mars.
Friday = LightBlue: On this day, Phra Isuan used his powers to turn 21 bullocks into powder, wrapped them with a light blue cloth and sprinkled holy water to create the planet Venus.
Saturday = Purple: On Saturday, Phra Isuan caught 10 tigers, sprinkled powder on them, wrapped them in a purple cloth and created the planet Saturn.
Day
Lucky Colour
Unlucky Colour
Celestial Body
God
Sun
Red
Blue
Sun
Surya
Mon
Yellow
Red
Moon
Chandra
Tues
Pink
Yellow & White
Mars
Mangala
Wed (day)
Green
Pink
Mercury
Budha
Wed (night)
Grey
Orange & Red
None
Rahu
Thurs
Orange
Purple
Jupiter
Brihaspati
Fri
Light Blue
Black & Dark Blue
Venus
Shukra
Sat
Purple
Green
Saturn
Shani
The day of the week a person was born is very significant in Thai culture, historically. Each day has a lucky color.
In the past, many people would wear the colour associated with that day. It doesn’t happen so much now, but there are still signs of the old tradition to be found. The most noticeable of these is on Mondays where tourists will see many Thai people wearing yellow. The present Thai King was born on a Monday and wearing yellowon that day acknowledges the day which he was born. The King’s flag is also yellow for the same reason.
In recent years, the political protests have thrown a kink into the colour schemes. Since the anti-government groups have taken the colour of red (aka the “red shirts”), and the pro-government groups have taken the colour of yellow (aka the “yellow shirts”), the King decided to wear pink at a recent coronation.
In fact, there are some who say that the King’s lucky colour is actually pink, not yellow. You see, the King was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and while his date of birth in the US fell on a Monday, it was actually already Tuesday in Thailand.
So when in Thailand, choose your colours carefully. From a business perspective, it’s appreciated when doing in business in Thailand that you recognise their culture. If you have business meetings on a Monday, consider wearing something yellow. Thais believe that wearing the right colour on the right day would bring luck. Though most people don’t really seem to follow this practice anymore, some still wear or carry a small piece of clothing, like a tie or handkerchief, which is of the correct colour for the day.
9 haunted places in Bangkok you didn’t know about…
Let’s face it Asian ghosts are much scarier than their Western counterparts. Thailand has a long tradition of horror stories, some true, others not so much. Here we present a list of Bangkok’s 9 most haunted places for all ghostbusters out there who “ain’t afraid of no ghosts”.
9. Piyaporn Gated Community
Piyaporn Gated Community is situated on an area of over 100 acres right in the middle of the busy area of Soi Watcharapol. It is said that the village was built on the land of an old cemetery and the developers did not pray for forgiveness before clearing the land. This is a taboo according to Thai beliefs. Construction did not go as smoothly as numerous obstacles stopped the project from working efficiently and it was reported that several workers had fatal accidents. The pinnacle of all events occurred when 3 children drowned in the lake in the middle of the village, causing the project to be abandoned. Rumour has it that if you venture into the village late at night the spirits will reveal themselves.
8. Unfinished Colonial House at Soi Watcharapol
This unfinished colonial style house in Soi Watcharapol has remained untouched even though the land has been for sale for many years. According to locals, this house belonged to a family of 4 who left for a vacation, but an accident occurred and none of the family members made it alive. It is said that the spirit of the family lives on and frequent sightings of men, women and children, as well as flickering lights at night have kept people away from the house.
7. Shoe Factory at Bangpu Industrial Estate
Industrial estates may seem very scary, but this factory at the end of Bangpu industrial estate proves that horror stories can happen anywhere. This shoe factory had a freak accident when the air compressor blew up, causing many casualties in the process. The factory owner continued to operate the business, but frequent ghost sightings caused many of the employees to quit and business eventually went down the drain. The owner then shot himself at the top floor of the factory. Today, it is said that the factory is still full of shoe debris as no one dares to enter it.
6. Prasart Temple at Nonthaburi
Built during the Ayutthaya period, Prasart temple is Nonthaburi’s oldest temple with wall excavations suggesting that it is over 300 years old. The temple is said to be property of Nang Usadevi who is revered as a goddess status by the locals. At night the temple becomes desolated and it is said that those who do not speak well of Nang Usadevi have met with strange occurrences or in some cases even death.
5. Pen Factory at Kasem Bundit University
Inside Kasem Bundit University on Pattanakarn road lies an abandoned 80 acre pen factory. The torn-down building is rumoured to be haunted by poltergeists. During the construction of the factory, multiple accidents occurred resulting in the loss of many lives. An unusual freezing cold chill is said to occur when entering the compound and the story goes that if you tap the water tank 3 times, the poltergeist would appear.
4. Burnt-Down House at Rangsit Soi 13
About 2 kilometres from the main road stands the remains of a house which was almost burnt to ground. Some people say that a woman was immolated in the fire. The house is located in the middle of a tamarind garden but has been untouched ever since the fire. Nearby patrons often report ghostly sightings late at night. At times, they hear a woman screaming and wailing.
3. Abandoned House at Soi Rod Anand 1
Picture the perfect backdrop of a Thai horror movie and this place comes very close. This traditional Thai house full of overgrown bushes on Soi Rod Anand sits next to a swamp far from other houses in the area. People believe the house is haunted by the spirit of a grandmother whose family left to settle in other provinces, leaving her to die alone. According to nearby neighbours the spirit of the grandmother is always seen cursing at little children and trespassers. A popular local TV show once tried to film inside of the house, but quickly dispersed at the sound of an old lady screaming.
2. Bus Cemetery at Soi Sai Yood
The bus cemetery at Soi Sai Yood is home to several buses that have been wrecked in major accidents. The story goes that when a car passes by late at night, they would be barraged by the headlights of buses and encounter hitchhikers trying to catch a ride. There have been reports of “people” running in front of cars only to disappear right before the crash, and taxis drivers picking up passengers that suddenly disappear from the backseat.
1. Abandoned House at Ramkamhaeng Soi 32
Deep in Ramkamhaeng Soi 32, there is a house that has been abandoned for more than 20 years. The story goes that the house was once owned by a foreigner who lived with a maid. One day, some bandits who had been planning to rob the house, decided to break in while the owner went to work. The robbery went wrong and the maid was found brutally murdered, while the assailants got away. Since then, it has been reported that a faint but gruesome cry for help has always been heard along the hallways, so much that the original owner decided to sell the house. New buyers reported that they saw the spirit of a woman standing near the front door and garage on a regular basis.
Reference – http://toptenbangkok.com/bkk_topten.php?id=12
Biggest “Monkey Buffet” in the world…
Dubbed “Monkey City,” the province of Lopburi (150km northeast of Bangkok) in Thailand is known for its population of long-tailed macaques that guard its ancient ruins and temples.
The Thai version of the Ramayana legend claims that the ancient city of Lopburi was created with the help of his friend Hanuman the Monkey King. Many of Lopburi’s residents consider the macaques descendants of Hanuman, hence this monkey feast is held in their honour.
To give thanks to the monkeys, the city holds an annual “monkey buffet” feast every last week of November at an ancient Khmer temple, Prang Sam Yot, built in the 10th century by the Khmer dynasty with similar architecture as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
And what a feast it is.
Buffet tables are laid out with with over 4,000 kilograms of food — peanuts, cabbage, watermelon, bananas, pumpkin, pineapple, boiled eggs, cucumbers, cakes, candies, and cans of soda and juice — all prepared for the monkeys. The fruits and vegetables are sometimes arranged in festive, colourful pyramids or simply laid out on mats by the temple, to the delight of the monkeys.
The buffet sparks a feeding frenzy among the 3,000 macaques that live in the area, and the festivities have become a popular attraction for both local and foreign visitors.
The monkey buffet festival also hosts performances and activities that celebrate all things monkey, such as music and dances with people dressed like monkeys in monkey costumes and monkey masks. Monkey sculptures also flourish around the area.
Lopburi’s monkey population survives in part due to Buddhist discouragement of killing animals.
Because the monkeys that populate the town are used to human interaction, they have also been known to cheekily steal unwary tourists’ belongings or food. Officials remind visitors that the monkeys are wild animals and can get aggressive, and warn photographers against luring the monkeys with food.
Lopburi is a three-hour train ride from Bangkok via Ayutthaya. Entrance to the Prang Sam Yot temple is 30 Baht inclusive of sticks that will help ward off aggressively cheeky monkeys.
References:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/25/travel/gallery/lopburi-monkey-buffet/index.html
http://festivalasia.net/festivals/Monkey-Buffet-Festival-2013.html
http://www.weather.com/travel/monkey-buffet-thailand-photos-20131105
http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/visit/gallery-lopburis-annual-monkey-feast-sparks-feeding-frenzy-423899
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/9703067/The-annual-Monkey-Buffet-Festival-at-a-temple-in-Thailand.html?frame=2409767
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthpicturegalleries/6691127/The-annual-Monkey-Buffet-Festival-at-Pra-Prang-Sam-Yot-temple-in-Lopburi-Province-Thailand.html?image=1
Did you know that in Thailand, there’s an auspicous color for every…
Thais are a very superstitious people and there are many superstitious beliefs and customs that have long been observed in Thailand. Some superstitions are about good luck and some are about bad luck.
Did you know that in Thailand there’s an auspicious colour for every day of the week?
As you can imagine, this tradition is no longer popular among young Thais, but many more traditional Thais still know the colours and when to wear them.
Days are marked by colours and are said to have hidden and secretive meanings. These colours influence the daily lives of people, not because of belief alone, but because many Thais feel that colour influences their perceptions and feelings.
Here’s what the colours represent from a historical and religious view:
Sunday = Red: According to historical records, there is mystic belief that Phra Isuan, a high God in the Hindu faith, since the beginning of the universe, captured six lions and ground them into powder. He then wrapped the powder with red cloth and sprinkled Nam Amarit or holy water on to the powder and thus created the Sun.
Monday = Yellow: Yellow is believed to be lucky for all occasions. According to Hindu mythology, Phra Isuan had captured 14 angels and used his infinite powers to turn them into powder. He then wrapped the powder in a yellow cloth and sprinkled holy water upon the powder creating the Moon.
Tuesday = Pink: Phra Isuan caught eight buffaloes and used his magical powers to turn them into powder, which he wrapped with soft reddish cloth and sprinkled with holy water, thus creating the Planet of Saturn.
Wednesday = Green: Green is worn on Wednesday because it is said that Phra Isuan rounded up 17 mystic elephants and turned them into powder which he wrapped with a green leaf. After sprinkling holy water he created the planet of Pluto.
Thursday = Orange: 19 hermits were powdered by Phra Isuan and wrapped in a reddish orange cloth, thus creating the Planet of Mars.
Friday = Light Blue: On this day, Phra Isuan used his powers to turn 21 bullocks into powder, wrapped them with a light blue cloth and sprinkled holy water to create the planet Venus.
Saturday = Purple: On Saturday, Phra Isuan caught 10 tigers, sprinkled powder on them, wrapped them in a purple cloth and created the planet Saturn.
The day of the week a person was born is very significant in Thai culture, historically. Each day has a lucky color.
In the past, many people would wear the colour associated with that day. It doesn’t happen so much now, but there are still signs of the old tradition to be found. The most noticeable of these is on Mondays where tourists will see many Thai people wearing yellow. The present Thai King was born on a Monday and wearing yellow on that day acknowledges the day which he was born. The King’s flag is also yellow for the same reason.
In recent years, the political protests have thrown a kink into the colour schemes. Since the anti-government groups have taken the colour of red (aka the “red shirts”), and the pro-government groups have taken the colour of yellow (aka the “yellow shirts”), the King decided to wear pink at a recent coronation.
In fact, there are some who say that the King’s lucky colour is actually pink, not yellow. You see, the King was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and while his date of birth in the US fell on a Monday, it was actually already Tuesday in Thailand.
So when in Thailand, choose your colours carefully. From a business perspective, it’s appreciated when doing in business in Thailand that you recognise their culture. If you have business meetings on a Monday, consider wearing something yellow. Thais believe that wearing the right colour on the right day would bring luck. Though most people don’t really seem to follow this practice anymore, some still wear or carry a small piece of clothing, like a tie or handkerchief, which is of the correct colour for the day.
References:
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-meaning-of-color-thailand
http://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/thailand-a-color-for-every-day/
http://iluvthailand.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/thai-superstitions-about-color/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colors_of_the_day_in_Thailand
http://first2board.com/verygoodpoints/color/