Contemplations 1: Bangkok, Wednesday, 16.01.2010.

Weather: mild, cloudy (to match a genial mood)

If ever i were amazed by art, this would most certainly be it.

Think: walls and ceilings covered in rich gilt (the guide assures me that its real gold), delicately set with tiny and tinier squares of glass, painstakingly carved wooden pillars etc, all handpainted in vibrant, glorious colour. (and lets not forget the brilliant wall canvas of scenes from the Ramayana painted onto, was it a 100 rooms of the Grand Palace? i forget. but breathtaking, nonetheless)

You see, they honour their king by building him marvelous palaces to represent his sovereignity (also having his portrait displayed in every conceivable place), because he is a symbol of the country they love, and in doing him homage they honour the country he stands for.

If ever i were awed by the love a people have for their country, this country would be a shining example of it.

I can feel the love of the people pouring out of the shining walls of their palaces, their temples, out of every soft 'sawatdee', and mostly, how sincerly polite and helpful they are to everyone, not just those who have yellow hair and white skin.

I watched a simple tour guide stoop down to pick up a milk box that a careless tourist'd tossed onto the palace grounds and put it in the bin. such a simple thing, really, but so profound.

With that, i can only conclude that the thai love their country very, very much. through the peoples' actions a country is reflected, and i can safely say that they have managed to honour their country in the highest degree, simply by showing courtesy and respect to others and therefore giving a good impression of themselves, and anything associated with them. something, unfortunately, that my own countrymen and women (never say i am sexist) lacks the ability to do.

It's only been my first day in Bangkok, but as you see, i've already found so many things malaysians could do well to learn from.

First of ALL: i would like to emphasize on the astonishment i felt on stepping out of the sky train (their version of our LRTs) to be greeted with a sea of people, neatly arranged in lines, all waiting for their turn to enter the big worm. no pushing, no shoving, no queue-jumping.

I am in awe. and in absolute disgust for my country people, who cannot so much as enter a doorway without some degree of pushing or squeezing.

Second: POLITE cab drivers! an absolute rarity in the bloody mess of roads that is kay elle, but seemingly common in bangkok. you definitely do not get any cabbies in kay elle deigning to open car doors for you.

Having said all that, i shall move on.

Visited a gem factory today, and by all accounts, it is under royal patronage. i watched several of the workmen at their craft, and i have to marvel that their rough, big fingers and primitive tools could create such delicate work. there was this craftsman moulding a flower on a stub of wood, slowly hammering away till he'd gotten the perfect shape, then hammering pinpricks into the surface, and painstakingly lay gold dots into them.

But how many of these craftsmen were there? three? four? precious few to continue what seems to be a dying art. while i am infinitely grateful for mass-produced costume jewelry (otherwise how would we all afford any?), it breaks my heart to think of how technology robs us of many traditional ways.

Still, while danger of repeating a cliche, i can only say, such is life, i suppose.