Via se-boy

By this article I start “Stupid Tunings” series about stupid, senseless and funny modifications of Thai vehicles by Thai people. Let’s speak about number plates again. Do you agree: ugly “ears” of wide number plate, overhanging by sides of a rear mud guard, aren’t something perfect. If something looks unbeautiful (“mai suai”) – Thais apply a plastic surgery to correct it. Even if it’s standardizated by Goverment motorcycle number plates. So, usually they cut that ugly “ears” only, to make a shape of a number same as mud guard (in a shape of upside down trapezium). But some guys with true artistic style cut plates in some beautiful shapes: rhombus, heart or shield (on 3rd photo).

Motorcycles from a neighbor parking

The most cute number plate I’ve ever seen

Several days ago I discovered blog with a great conception. Dale Konstanz, the author of the blog, uses Bangkok taxis and takes pictures of inside decorations, fantastic in their craziness, every single day. Because a car is a house on wheels, taxi drivers have unlimited possibilities to decorate their vehicles. Of course, the first thing most of them do is installing bunches of amulets, feng shui statuettes, photos, posters and statuettes of respected monks and gods from around the world. Drivers, who still childish at heart, put various kawaii toys and sculptures. Drivers with subtle sense of style make modern designs inside their car. Some guys trying to send a message: “I like dogs!” “I’m an artist!” “Give me some extra money!!!” The last one refers to guys who setup additional biz of selling simply drinks and chewing gums, or even amulets and some rare collectible statuettes. So, it’s a different world with its own laws and ecosystem. It’s the “Still live in moving vehicles” world!

Buddha picture on envelopes of local mobile provider. Being empty, they are good to use as an icon to defend a taxi from bad luck!

Tiger on a taxi ceiling

“I have 2 dogs! I like them and want to share it with you, my dear passenger!” – lovely, isn’t it?

Sometime Dale can’t pick a taxi meter and has to use Tuk-Tuk

“Why not to decorate my taxi with Godzilla? Maybe, it’ll amuse customers and repel bad luck!”

Mini-shop in a taxi

OMG… You know yourself what is it

Funny Buddha

Monk paintings: “still not enough!”

Some 3rd class bus. It has even more decorations

Crazy pattern from coins. Money is amulet to appeal, of course, money

Toys for big children

Golden beans and a symbol of money: some Chinese traditional feng shui stuff

Enlightened…

Big collection of holy statuettes – you can buy one

Mask from traditional Thai drama. Of course, it’s here for good luck

Modern design. “Did you listened a last single of Yoshinori Sunahara?”

And of course, The King. Long live The King!

When one comes to Thailand, he quickly notices a system of symbols on Thai trucks, pickups and motorcycles. Usualy it’s stickers, because a sticker is a modern, cheap and quick way to put some information on a vehicle. It’s an Asian way also, because of well developed production. Sometimes, it’s authentic old style paintings and hammering, seometime – aerography. So, I’ll try to explain the meaning of several pictures and symbols.

1. Frank Serpico, an Al Pacino’s character from the same named movie

Firstly, we noticed Serpico on Thai trucks’ mud fenders. The picture was partially covered by mud or dust, so we thought it was Jesus Christ. But later we saw glasses in his hair and was confused – Jesus with glasses? Lately, we learned it’s Serpico – the character who fought with corrupted traffic police. Because of his actions, Thai truck drivers respect him and use his images as amulets to prevent illegal requisitions from traffic policemans. You can easily find his image on stickers and stick it to your scooter or pickup.

2. A rescue guy who carries a lifeless girl body

The picture is drawn in funny comic style, so I thought it’s just some Thai comics characters. Unexpectedly, they are not – JoeB in his “Letters from Thailand” explained meaning of these stickers. It is the logo of one of Thai volunteer road rescue Foundations!!! So, guys with stickers on their vehicles want to get a bit of respect for their volunteering.

3. Thai King and King’s symbols

Thais greatly respect everything related to Thai King, his family and his symbols. They believe King cares about Thai nation and protects them. So, that is why King’s pictures and symbols are best amulets! Long Live the King!

4. Strange white hieroglyphic drawings

Also, Thais belive in Buddhism and respect monks. It’s strange, but instead of asking monks to give advice on how to follow the way of Buddha, lay people bring generous donations to temples and ask monks to put some defending drawings on their shops, houses and, of course, pickups and motorbikes.

5. Bullet hole

I wrote about it before – it’s just a funny patch covering ugly scratches and holes from accidents past.

6. Naked Woman

Nobody knows what this sticker means. It is drawn in same style as “a rescue guy with a body”. We can guess only, maybe, it’s a next scene of a story of relations of a rescue guy and a saved woman?

7. Shield and sword

Originally, it’s a Thai Police symbol. Once some guy on motorbike came to me, and when I waited for green light, he saluted me and with sign language asked me several things about my driving. The guy was dressed in civilian clothes, he didn’t showed any documents, what he had was only this sticker. I’m not sure was he a real policeman or not, you can easily buy this sticker at a local market.

Some photos are from Greg to differ, Letters from Thailand, Thailand Life blogs, Motorcycle tours thailand and Thaivisa.com forum.

Stickers industry is very popular in Thailand. Stickers are cheap and of various kind. Let’s take a look.

Religios and royal stickers:

Imitation of bullet holes – good for very old cars:

Ganja and peeing boy:

Very popular theme – a rescuer carrying a girl:

Last one for goodbye:

Are you curious enough to take a look at a Thai flea market? Well, well…

The market is kind of standart, nothing fance. In Chiang Mai it’s considered to be some sort of secret for people “who know”. They say, tourists don’t know and don’t visit it. I wouldn’t say tourists lose anothing.

The market operates only at weekend. It sells everything, not only used stuff. Everything Thai use to sell.

Some stuff, new or old. I guess, both:

Old details, new umbrellas and plastic anti-ants bowls:

Second-hand apparel, 10 baht a piece:

Limes for 5 baht:

Old utensils:

Collection of Coca-Cola stuff:

A nice one – kids’ railway:

Empty alchohol bottles:

Thais, by the way, sell all kinds of empty tare like bottles from shampoo, soap, chewing gum and so on – for 10 baht a piece. They also sell used usual containers.

Nethertheless, sometimes you can find interesting things on this market, usually new. Like some wooden articles or small bags. But shopping for this is much better at Night Market – it offers more choice.

I’ve written about Honda Chaly before, but I posted photos of beautifully tuned bikes. Some members of СhalyThailand.com shared photos of restoration process itself. As you can see, guys started from a completely dead bike, a real pile of scrap metal, and changed almost everything. I can’t call it “tuning” or “styling” – it’s a process of creation of something new, based on a Honda Chaly frame

Usually Thais highly respect a digit nine as a lucky number. They pick lottery tickets with as many nines in a ticket number as possible to increase a chance of winning. They buy car and motorcycle number plates with lucky digits from special sellers for higher price. But this case is special – some tough Thai dude found somewhere this provocative motorcycle plate for his KSR. Considering Kawasaki KSR is a very fractious horse, the guy comletely destroyed his karma. Or, as other people believe, he conversely protected himself from some accidents. I don’t follow both believes, what about you?

As I said before, Thai laws regulating capacity of motorbike engines allow no more than 250 cc. As a result, Thai moto-market evolutions in a different way than European. In this post I’ll tell about the most popular bike groups.

Usual Mopeds

Usually they come with half-automatic or manual transmission, kick starter and for a cheap price (which, of course, means cheap parts and cheap design). At first view, this kind of bikes looks like boring bike for poor people, but if you familiarize yourself with these bikes you will discover some cult models. Honda Sonic, for example, is an accessible way for Thai youngsters for crazy riding and cheap tuning. Honda Dream is Thai working horse, useful and reliable independently of how old it is.

Automatic Scooters

The mainstream of Thai motorbikes. Easy to mastering (“bike for my mother”), very comfortable, good looking and hi-tech inclusive. Better than European weak scooters (you said 50 km/h? LOL!) and not frightening like big nakeds and choppers. Popular among tourists, some of them felt so much in love with Thai scoots that they import bikes to their countries.

Minis

Various mini-something: mini-supermotards, mini-mopeds, sometimes even mini-choppers. Toys for big guys. Recommended for moto-addicted, because bikes sometimes are nor comfortable neither useful. But they are always beautiful.

Retros

90% of this class is presented by legendary Vespas, sometimes – by glamorous, recovered and tuned, sometimes – by half dilapidated that looks like Terminator in the end of movie, pieces of scrap metal owned by the uncle Lee from China Town. Other 10% – by various legendary mopeds and second hand Japanese bikes.

Gray Import Bikes

Nothing special – usual big sport bikes, nakeds, choppers, tourists, off-roads. Usually imported for/by rich Thais and expats. As this class is expensive and requiring more skillful driving, it’s not so popular on Thai roads.

Loy Krathong or Yie Peng (Northern name) is coming! Prepare to float a krathong, let khom loys fly in the sky and decorate your house. It’s the most beautiful festival of the year!