Wild Postcards

Linkenel in Bangkok, Thailand was kind enough to share with me this image of a reclining Buddha, which is in stark contrast to the standard image of a fat, jovial Buddha usually seen in American culture. According to the card, the existing temple was built on the site of an older monastery.

Like Buddha, it looks as though the postman has been lying down on the job, too; the card isn’t postmarked, but she dated it 24 September 2009, and it arrived on 12 February 2010. She sent this card about 20 days after I last sent a card to her – which she had already received by the time she sent this, as she references my card in her message.

Linkenel in Bangkok, Thailand was kind enough to share with me this image of a reclining Buddha, which is in stark contrast to the standard image of a fat, jovial Buddha usually seen in American culture. According to the card, the existing temple was built on the site of an older monastery. Like Buddha, it [...]

I have yet to see a postcard from Thailand that is anything less than stunning, but this one from Bangkok is in a class by itself. In fact, according to the card, this photo by Phisit Senanansakun is the winner of the second “Amazing Thailand Through the Lens” Contest. I don’t know what that is, but this photo certainly deserves honors.

Almost as remarkable as the photo is the 9-baht stamp used on this postcard, which depicts a royal barge (on the same river, no less) and is nearly as long as the postcard itself!

The smaller stamp depicts someone called “Theng”, the Jester, and inexplicably celebrates International Letter Writing Week 2008. Perhaps Theng used his off-hours to write to his penpals and complain about the daily grind. Maybe you should use your off-hours to check out the other blogs celebrating Postcard Friendship Friday today!

I have yet to see a postcard from Thailand that is anything less than stunning, but this one from Bangkok is in a class by itself. In fact, according to the card, this photo by Phisit Senanansakun is the winner of the second “Amazing Thailand Through the Lens” Contest. I don’t know what that is, [...]

“While training, elephants enjoy their leisure time on a small river.” That description sort of implies that it is the elephants who are in charge and not the men. In fact, it looks as though the human leader is getting a reminder of that.

This postcard was sent to me by the lovely Linkenel, who herself lives in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

“While training, elephants enjoy their leisure time on a small river.” That description sort of implies that it is the elephants who are in charge and not the men. In fact, it looks as though the human leader is getting a reminder of that. This postcard was sent to me by the lovely Linkenel, who [...]

“The most well-known wat (that is, temple — Ed.) in Chiang Mai, built in the 14th Century A.D. on the Suthep Mountain. The relic of the Buddha was placed inside the original pagoda when it was built.”  That relic is said to be the shoulder blade of the Buddha himself, found by a monk called Sumanathera after being told in a dream to search for it.  Michael Holland tells us more at Thailand for Visitors:

“According to this legend, a Buddha relic, which some say glowed, magically replicated just before it was about to be enshrined in the big chedi at Wat Suan Dok. The ‘cloned’ relic was placed on the back of a sacred white elephant, which was allowed to roam wherever it wanted.

“The elephant eventually climbed to the top of Suthep Mountain, trumpeted three times, turned around three times, knelt down and died. This was taken as a sign that this was the spot where the relic wanted to be, so King Ku Na built the original of the chedi on Doi Suthep.”

If you’re so inclined, feel free to take the tour:

“The most well-known wat (that is, temple — Ed.) in Chiang Mai, built in the 14th Century A.D. on the Suthep Mountain. The relic of the Buddha was placed inside the original pagoda when it was built.”  That relic is said to be the shoulder blade of the Buddha himself, found by a monk called [...]