Thai beliefs and cemeteries

[myja]

I may be treading on the wrong ground here so stop me if this is taboo.

Trying to retrace my footsteps, I remember leaving RTAFB and heading to town. I think this is Route 2 or Thaham Rd. Heading to town I took a right on what I think is Samittayothin Rd. and walked down a block or two then turned right again to get to my friends house. I remember walking by a small cemetery everyday, to my right as I walked in and to my left as I walked out. This was my first time learning about ghosts in Thailand. I'm not sure of the roads (they were dirt) but I remember right then right.

I was wondering if that cemetery would still be there thinking that it would not be relocated because of the reverence Thai's have about their ancestors. This is a good solid reference for me if any of you know the custom or the place.

By the way, how's the dog situation over there now? I used to have to strap on a pair and walk through 20 - 30 lying around by the road. If one looked cross eyed at you, you'd have to kick the s___ out of it to show you weren't afraid. Never had to do it but I knew a couple of G.I's that got bit.

[Bandung_Dero]

Thais are usually cremated and their remains cemented into the wall around their local Wat. The families who can afford to may place a shrine in the Wat grounds with the ashes placed in there. Where the death was a result of an accident or other un natural cause the body may be placed in a grave for 3 years to be 'cleansed' and freed of evil spirits prior to cremation.

Yep still a 'healthy' dog population but at least here in Ban Dung (70 km East of Udon) we have a culling service provided by the dog gormeys of Sakon Nakhon.

[myja]

Damn, thinking back I'll bet I ate some. Had some kind of winged insect too! It it was cooked in Thailand it was probably tasty. Speaking of food, they had street vendors outside the bar (Jumpen back then) that took an egg, spread it thin on a hot surface, folded it up with sweetened milk of some kind and sugar. Sold them for 1 baht. Always had the munchies late at night. Know what they call them?

I don't think the cemetery looked like a western cemetery, can't really remember. I just remember it being there and my friend telling me not to walk by it at night. A "Wat"? Now I have someting to look up. I have an enormous amount of respect for the Thai culture and beliefs so I'm hoping it may still be there. If and when I get there I'll look it up.

[hey you]

the cemetery in thailand is of chinese orogin .buried with a mountain behind them and facing the sea

[ting_tong]

Damn, thinking back I'll bet I ate some. Had some kind of winged insect too! It it was cooked in Thailand it was probably tasty. Speaking of food, they had street vendors outside the bar (Jumpen back then) that took an egg, spread it thin on a hot surface, folded it up with sweetened milk of some kind and sugar. Sold them for 1 baht. Always had the munchies late at night. Know what they call them?

I don't think the cemetery looked like a western cemetery, can't really remember. I just remember it being there and my friend telling me not to walk by it at night. A "Wat"? Now I have someting to look up. I have an enormous amount of respect for the Thai culture and beliefs so I'm hoping it may still be there. If and when I get there I'll look it up.

Roti is now about 6 baht and 10 with the egg, not too many of those carts around, I ate some by the 7-11 on adunyadet last month.

I will PM you a link to my website about a ghost story, a personal one, about my friend that died.
I used to live next to the old paradise hotel, its haunted with lots of ghostly photo ops.

not too many dogs now, there are some packs here and there. Try the Thai way and pretend to pick up a rock and fake throw it, the dog will run.........try it anyway! you will laugh.

[maaka]

there is a cemetery called Thammasathan Foundation Cemetery for short, but not in Thahan Road, is there a Thahan rd, have you mixed the names up by mistake, or have shorten one..there is a cemetery in Phosri Rd, which would almost be a ' right and right, and a couple of blocks ', as you put it in your OP..there are also other faiths such as Christians, Bahai and Musllim in Udon/thailand and not just Buddhist, some which do not go for cremation.

[papaguido]

Damn, thinking back I'll bet I ate some. Had some kind of winged insect too! It it was cooked in Thailand it was probably tasty. Speaking of food, they had street vendors outside the bar (Jumpen back then) that took an egg, spread it thin on a hot surface, folded it up with sweetened milk of some kind and sugar. Sold them for 1 baht. Always had the munchies late at night. Know what they call them?

I don't think the cemetery looked like a western cemetery, can't really remember. I just remember it being there and my friend telling me not to walk by it at night. A "Wat"? Now I have someting to look up. I have an enormous amount of respect for the Thai culture and beliefs so I'm hoping it may still be there. If and when I get there I'll look it up.

Roti are 5bt now and 10bt w/egg. Roti vendors are usually around schools after they let out.

[tutone]

My wife is absolutely terrified of cemeteries. I once mentioned walking around a Chinese cemetery here in Udon and she wouldn't have any of that. When we were in the States we went to visit some old gravesites of some of my relatives and she didn't want to get out of the car. She is convinced there are ghosts in cemeteries. My experience is that most Thais think this way. Just their culture and I respect that.

[myja]

maaka. Your right. Never thought it would be a graveyard from another faith. I just googled a map and tried to trace my footsteps. I'm still using that as a navigation tool. If I can find the cemetery, I've found the street.

papaquido. what do they make it with if not an egg? Wow, the price doubled in 40 years. I'll bring extra Baht!

[kopkei]

myja,

the food is called lothie...,ghosts and thai , as they are with many things still primitive here , also with this one,
as in the small village i am staying they all believe in ghosts and almost every one has seen one ( i think mostly after to much laos kaaw) , as i have never seen one , i always say to them send the ghosts to me , i can take a picture.....
now inside the village there was a ghost home, how did it get this name ? well many years ago a family was staying there,
and the father decided to built a new home next to the old one , after the home was finished , the ghost liked it and came stay there to as strange things start happen, first the father died in a strange accident ( later more ) , 6 months later the mother died , and about 5 month later daughter had a motorbike accident and was dead, they all blamed the ghost in the home , the remaining daughter who lived next door in the ghost free home , decided to close down the newly build home because ghost there....., so now my logic explanation of this, first the father: he was working with the small tile cutter (makita they always call it) , he had the genius idea of removing the safety cap ( as many thai do) and replacing the small disc by a big fiber one ( from bigger machine ) , when he started the cutter the big disc was torn to pieces ( could not handle the rpm of the small machine ) almost like an explosion , many pieces flying around , even pieces sticking in the home wall, but bad was that one piece that cut his throat...., so here no ghost i think.., the mother died after being long time all ready sick , diabetic , the last years she couldn't even walk..so again nothing to do with ghost, than the daughter had the accident like it says" accident" ,thanks to drunk stupid driving small water truck , no ghost again , after standing empty for a few years they tried to rent the home but people who rented it did not stay long ..., they say when sleeping look like some one want to strangle them , doors not able to open even they where not locked etc, so the home ended up staying empty , i asked my wife if i could go sleep there one night , maybe i could catch the ghost and kick him out , but the lightning in her eyes told me better not... ,
as of today the home is broken away ( the home was more nice than the one they are staying now) , and all use full pieces are brought to the temple , as i asked them if they aren't afraid the ghost will now move to another home ...
they said no , ghost happy in temple now......
pfff , almost a small book....
also strange superstition, the land next to the temple , was taboo , nobody wanted to stay next to because to many ghosts....,but now( according to my wife ) no problem as the temple build surrounding wall
( ghost can not come out )

[BobHelm]

Thais are usually cremated and their remains cemented into the wall around their local Wat.

From a distant memory Dero, is there not a day of the year when there is a ceremony when family members go & visit the stored bones of their ancestors in the Wat wall??

[papaguido]

maaka. Your right. Never thought it would be a graveyard from another faith. I just googled a map and tried to trace my footsteps. I'm still using that as a navigation tool. If I can find the cemetery, I've found the street.

papaquido. what do they make it with if not an egg? Wow, the price doubled in 40 years. I'll bring extra Baht!

Don't know, usually only buy the 5bt version and the batter is already pre-made. For the 10bt version they add egg or comes with egg, haven't a clue.

[myja]

Fascinating story kopkel. I don't believe in ghost either but I'm not going against the system. Sounds like Thailand would make a great place for a ghost hunters reality show back here in the US. Could get rich! Now the spirit world is another story. My girlfriend back then told me that she believed your spirit could leave you in your sleep and go meet with another spirit. I've been trying this for a week now but all I got was a wake up call at 2:00 in the morning to take a piss.

[trubrit]

Fascinating story kopkel. I don't believe in ghost either but I'm not going against the system. Sounds like Thailand would make a great place for a ghost hunters reality show back here in the US. Could get rich! Now the spirit world is another story. My girlfriend back then told me that she believed your spirit could leave you in your sleep and go meet with another spirit. I've been trying this for a week now but all I got was a wake up call at 2:00 in the morning to take a piss.

Its called a hypnagogic state. Try this link if you are serious .
http://www.near-death.com/experiences/paranormal11.html

[Shado]

My wife's older sister passed away last year. The funeral ceremony and cremation took place at a small pavilion and crematorium that was located well of the main road in a rather isolated area. A few pickup trucks were able to drive all the way back to the site, but those of us with cars had to walk maybe half a kilometer to get there.

While walking with a large group of locals, I noticed that most of the village women were carrying knives. They carried them by the handle with the blade curled back along their forearm. I asked the wife why they carried the knives as I'd not noticed that before at other Thai funerals that I'd attended. She said that the knives were protection against ghosts. There were many pii (ghosts) in this area and they were not taking any chances.

I reckon it worked, no ghost attacks that afternoon.

[myja]

Nice stuff to be telling me at the stroke of midnight. It's 12:00 midnight here. Not to worry though, I have every knife in the house by me. Even the butter knifes.

[Bandung_Dero]

Thais are usually cremated and their remains cemented into the wall around their local Wat.

From a distant memory Dero, is there not a day of the year when there is a ceremony when family members go & visit the stored bones of their ancestors in the Wat wall??

Sure, we visit my 'father in law' on his birthday, fathers day (Kings Birthday) and special religious holidays eg. Song Khran to splash a little water over his shrine and top up his class of Lao Kow .

[FrazeeDK]

I figure you walked left at the RTAFB gate about 500 meters and hung a right down what is now Soi Lamun Utis. It leads right into Wat Photivararam (way back then simply Wat Photisat) and immediately to your right after you walked through the gate was an area of burial stupas.. Thieves were known to hide right at the gate and rob folks at night (I knew one AF MSGT who got jumped). Following the road straight through the Wat and a bit further then hang a left and you were at Paradise Pool.. If you continued straight on you'd be at Posri road just down from the Charoen Hotel. Regular Thais certainly didn't like to roam through the Wat late at night.

Whether or not a Thai is afraid of being near a Wat at night is debatable.. I've seen some that have no problems with walking in or by a Wat at night.. Others avoid it big time..

[myja]

Sounds like I'm getting closer. The area sounds just about right. My friend would walk by when she was with me cause I told her it was BS, no such thing as a ghost. The thieves using it for cover makes sense.

[siddiq]

the cemetery in thailand is of chinese orogin .buried with a mountain behind them and facing the sea

That's right, feng shui.