Some of the same Thai dancers are still performing at the Erawan Shrine in downtown Bangkok, Thailand. What you do is to make a wish along with an offering to the statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu creation god Brahma. And when your wish comes true, you pay to have the performers dance behind you as a form of appreciation.
The last time I was in town two years ago, it took me a while to figure out that the Thai Dance troupe were performing the same dance over and over, all day long until 1am in the morning. I like how they tell the patrons that its all done and for them to leave. In one case, as they were performing the patrons stood up and the performers promptly told them to sit down, not finished yet.
One of the musicians went somewhere and I got recruited to join them as the finger cymbal player for an hour. During their ever so slight breaks they briefly play video games on their electronic devices.
I went back to see the performers again and once again got recruited to play the finger cymbals, this for 2 hours so each of the other musicians could each take a lunch break one at a time. I walked away smelling of incense smoke because the wind was blowing it right onto us for most of the time.
(photos by Randy Magnus)
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