Thai Superstition

[lomuamart]

We sometimes get a bird in the garden at night that makes a strange screeching call .I have been told I must ignore it as it is a bad omen .Anyone know what kind of bird it is .

It sounds like a lesser spotted mia noi.

[Roel]

Superstition levels:
Innocent level: Lottery numbers, afraid to sleep alone because of ghosts etc.
Dangerous level: the believe that an amulet can protect you against car accidents, bullets etc.
Disastrous level: politicians who make decisions based on the advice of fortune tellers

All three quite common though.

[bozzman101]

may be its a bannshe in the back garden or an ex falang wife singing combing her hair!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vital Spark]

... the bird whose screeching gets louder and more shrill every time? If so, I can't help you with the species but they're all over the place in Thailand. There's one nesting in a big tree near us but I've never seen it. Heard them all over golf courses but again have never seen them and no-one has been able, so far, to tell what sort of bird it is.

It's a Common Koel - you never see them as they're pretty good at disguising themselves, but boy do they make a din!


We had a well-educated ex-student staying with us, and she said that she couldn't sleep because of the mirror on the wall. She asked if we could take it down because a ghost might come out of it . She'd seen a Thai film....etc......etc...and, of course, it must be true.

Blimey, I wish I was in marketing here - they read it, or watch it, and they really believe it!

VS

[STEVE G]

Whilst eating some fish in the village yesterday, I was told that if you get a bone stuck in your throat, you have to rub the paw of a cat or dog on to the front of your throat to clear it.
When I asked why that would work I was told it's because cats like fish.
And the inevitable reply to me asking why you would use a dog; if you couldn't find a cat!

[richard]

Over the years here I've learn't many Thai superstitions but many more seem to crop up everyday

Many are attributed to the number 3

Round the temple three times at ceremonies
Round a new house three times
Robe your man with a sarong three times
Wai your mans feet 3 times when you've made him angry
Monks give you three dousings of water at a ceremony blessing you or a car or a motorbike
Knock 3 times on a table and throw your right arm in the air (get's rid of evil spirits)

Latest one I stumbled across was weird

I was with a friend and he touched his g/f on the head and was told 'that's the third time and tonight I will pee in the bed when I'm asleep'

I love it . Don't believe it but they do. Something to be said for the simple life

[Khundon1975]

Superstitions???

The wife, a well educated Thai lady, often has dreams in the night, which wakes her and me up. She phones her mum (also well educated) in Thailand to discuss them.

They speak for an hour or so on the phone, then all is well.

She has tried to explain them to me but all I want to do is go back to sleep.

I have given up trying to figure her out and when she has one of these dreams I just say yes, no really! or an ah, every now and again.

It works for me. Touch wood.

[richard]

Back tracking on my last post

Been informed that you can touch the wife, g/f head once you have consummated the relationship. Also Ok with young children

Learn every day don't you

So thankful I'm still learning

[Khundon1975]

Back tracking on my last post

Been informed that you can touch the wife, g/f head once you have consummated the relationship. Also Ok with young children

Learn every day don't you

So thankful I'm still learning

My wife touches my head all the time, is that allowed? She also gently slaps my leg when she is talking to friends about me.

I can tell you, if you touch wife and girlfriends head at the same time, your dead.
So some superstitions are true.