Don't worry. Be happy!

I think that the phrase that best defines Thailand to me is ‘mai pen rai’. It’s the first few words in Thai that I learned when visiting the Land of Smiles 15 years ago. It translates roughly as ‘don’t worry’, ‘it’s not important’, ‘don’t mention it’. The truth be told, this attitude bothers me at times.

I believe there are times when people should be held accountable for their bad conduct. Mai pen rai just doesn’t cut it when a person’s action has a major negative effective on a person or a community. And yet, Thai people will go to lengths to explain to me the law of Karma. I know that Karma will eventually catch all of us, there is no escaping this most powerful law of the universe. And as much as I wholeheartedly accept that, there are times I want to short circuit Karma and have the culprit pay now, in this lifetime, not the next. Now! Dammit.

And there are times when the beauty of ‘mai pen rai’ soars high in the heavens. Today was one of those days. I was confronted with a situation in which a friend of mine, a foreigner, made a big deal out of something very minor. As this person went on and on, ranting about stuff that they won’t remember in a couple of weeks, I was overwhelmed by the absolute beauty of the concept of ‘mai pen rai’. But this person obviously didn’t get it and wasn’t about to get it anytime soon. I have had somewhat of a checkered past (I’m a changed person now, I swear) and if I had understood this powerful concept back then I could have saved myself a lot of grief. But perhaps that’s how Karma works, forcing us to go through the same experience time and time again until we actually get it. I am still working on this. Nirvana is a long way off for me. But Thailand has changed me. Although I don’t lay claim to being Buddhist, living in a Buddhist society has also changed me. Contemplating a visit to Thailand? It could change your life, if you are open to it. It did mine so many years ago, and continues to do so today.

At Bangkoksong we won’t promise to change you. The only change we we can do is sheets and towels. We defer the rest to Karma.

Guest post by Randall

City of Angels

No no, we're not discussing Los Angeles even though her name makes her a legitimate one.

We're going to explore why Bangkok can be the city of angels too.

First of all, "Bangkok" is not the name Thai people give to the capital of the country. In the past, yes, but now we call her "Krungthep."

"Krung" means city or metropolis while "thep" is used to refer to the beautiful immortals that populate the paradise.

While Bangkokians are adamant that they are understood to resemble the gorgeous citizens up there, upcounty people, pitifully looking at themselves, have no choice but to play along. And, visiting Bangkok is in any small town person's to-do list before, well, they actually (hopefully) ascend up there.

Then, there is another celestial element about Bangkok.


Anywhere you go, whether it be a house, a hotel, an office building, a mall, a police station, the immigration bureau etc., if you look closely, you will see that every compound is protected by a guardian that resides in an ornate little house. And us mere mortals, should never ever degrade him or her or them w/ the word "dead people."

They are not dead. They are angels. It's true they might have been one of us several hundred lives ago. But obviously, they had done some noble things, so after the transition (which might be bluntly described as "death,") their souls were elevated big time! Who elevated them? No one! Just the way the universe works.

There are several classes of angels and the closer they are to human beings, the further away from Nirvana. These property guardians are very involved in human affairs and do respond to our wishes. Generally, it's the prosperity of the business operated within their jurisdiction that we expect of them.

The strategy is daily provision of fine food, good drink, beautiful desert, and appropriate flowers. Make sure you don't eat, crave, smell, or appreciate any of those first. Our angels really do not tolerate second-hand offerings!!!


Back to touchable "angels", of the Bangkokian type. They are everywhere and available in all kinds of form, or 'orientation" if you want me to be specific.

While some deserve the title, some simply seem to think that they do. I'm strictly talking about appearance here. Just go to, for example, any Starbucks, any Califonia Fitness, Bed Supper Club, DJ Station, or any skytrain or subway.

As for me, I'm about a hundred light years away from resembling an angel, but if you insisted, I wouldn't decline.

I mean I'm already a citizen of a city that many nickname "A Shopping Paradise," "The Thai Food Paradise" and of couse "A Sex Paradise."

I mean Why not?

Homely Joe

P.S. Note that I put the spirit house photo above the people one.
Well, 'cause it can never be the other way 'round!