Moments in time

We often look for, and as a result only see, the "big pictures" in life. We then miss the small details, or subconsciously ignore what may seem commonplace.

Seeing double. These boys were taking a beak from their job of waving advertising flags on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok. They reminded me of organ grinder capuchin monkeys.

I find I've amassed quite a number of these "moments in time" that at the time caught my eye, but then had been relegated to nearly forgotten files. As I looked through them, however, I was taken by the many subtleties of the beautiful and the repulsive, the plain and the elegant, the commonplace and the quirky, all aspects of culture in both the city and countryside of Thailand. Here they are, some simple yet often compelling fragments of scenes from my walk through Thai life.
(Photos by the author, all rights reserved. Do not use without permission.)

All over Bangkok one sees twisted masses of electrical wire, coiled and bound together.
When new wires are needed, they are simply added to the tangle.
Despite its dangerous appearance, it appears to work just fine...most of the time.

The monsoon season runs from May to November. Even rains of short duration often are heavy, flooding streets and making travel difficult. Here students negotiate a flooded street near their school in eastern Bangkok.

A forgotten house gate pillar on Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok.

What may seem to westerners as an unfortunate, or perhaps spicy name for a spa, "Porn" is actually quite a common name in Thailand. Poorly transliterated originally, the spelling persists. The name is pronounced "Pohn".

Tibetan theme on a neighbor's gate.

I'm not going to get the ball. YOU get the ball!

Scene from a restaurant along a village klong (canal) in eastern Bangkok.

Trucks and buses are often moving art canvases.

All rice is not the same. Some regions are well known for the high quality of their rice and this is reflected in the price.

Portable monk: blessings delivered to you. Bangkapi.

A clever advertising scheme for a pub in Pattaya.
They will take good care of him alright.

Beached European tourists. Jomtien.

An act from a Thai upcountry-style disco in Minburi.

Many cities are famous for their "red light" districts and night clubs. It can be argued that all of Bangkok should be considered such a district. Above is Soi Cowboy near Asoke and Sukhumvit Roads, one of the city's better known "entertainment" areas.

A converted VW van, now a mobile bar. Sukhumvit Soi 11, Bangkok.

The town of Minburi in eastern Bangkok Province displays its loyalty to Thailand's popular monarch with ornate overhead pedestrian walkways.

Restaurant wall detail.

Fruit syrups for making sweet drinks.

In a restaurant in eastern Bangkok. Do not ask: I don't know.

Sidewalk preparation of loogtan, a sweet seasonal fruit for sale at a local market.

Ramkhamhaeng Road