I offer you belated Lunar New Year blessings. Those of us born under the sign of the Pig are said to be lucky in Chinese astrology. However, my portents for the coming year of the Fire Pig are looking, well, ass.
Astrology.com says “Water–your fixed element–and Fire spell disaster, so don’t take any unnecessary risks.” (Emphasis mine. But still.) I apparently will have only two good months this year.
And then, this. I was in Chinatown last night for New Year’s festivities. At the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit), I put a 5-baht coin into the “Give Alms Hole” of a fortune-telling machine that had a statue of the god Brahma inside. 
Here is what I got: “Be faithful and firm. Watch your step. Support can be obtained from among honest people. Bad omen foreseen. Refill oil to the lamps at this place, and unfavorable situation will be alleviated. Patient recovering. No child forthcoming as yet. No lucks. Legal case defensible. Refill the oil.” (Emphasis mine.)
What oil?!?
I read in the paper today that turnout in Chinatown last night was way down from last year, apparently because of all the political unrest. It was still a giant red blur of a crowd. New photos uploaded–you may want to work backwards from the end of the set at this point. You can also always check out my linked-up Flickr page . . .
Speaking of taking unneccessary risks, I think I finally completed the circuit of using every available means of transportation in Bangkok when I rode home on the back of a motorcycle last night. It was thrilling to zoom in and out of traffic and speed down narrow alleyways. I tried taking pictures but I almost lost my balance and got scared and gave up. I.O.U. an even more life-threatening action photo. What have I got to lose? It sounds like I’m screwed no matter what.
More posts on the way. I’m trying to figure out how to allow embedded pictures & video in the comments section; also trying to get the map feature off the ground, as I’m hitting the road on Wednesday. Thanks everyone so far for commenting!
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February 19, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Forbis
Perhaps you are expected to provide oil for the lamps of the Temple of the Golden Buddha.
February 20, 2007 at 4:23 am
Marc
That sounds like the same fortune the Brahma gave the Bush Administration!
hahahahoh ho ho hahehHEHHA!
Bush Adminis…heh.
ahem.
Watch your step.
February 20, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Forbis
You said the puppet theater left you cold.
Did you last much longer through the Chinese opera?
February 21, 2007 at 10:31 am
Thomas
John, I looked for the stupid oil and the stupid lamps all over the Temple and couldn’t find them anywhere . . .
The Chinese opera was actually pretty entertaining, although I had to force myself to stay for a while and pay attention. This is something I’ve done a few times already here (such as at The National Museum), and I’ve found that patience and concentration is usually rewarded. The opera seemed like it was a court farce, with a number of what I took to be stock comic characters. There were a lot of older Chinese folk in the audience and they were really cracking up. I’d say I stayed for a good half-hour.
February 21, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Forbis
Yeah, judging from the photographs you took of the interior of that temple, it looked like it was alarmingly well lit with electricity.
Do folks in Bangkok chew betel?