King Ping

Ever play Slug Bug when you were a kid? If you aren't familiar, it's a driving game - the first one to spot a Volkswagen Beetle says 'Slug Bug' and punches the other players on the arm.

In Thailand, there is a great national appreciation for their king. There are shrines and images of him everywhere, and on many are the words in English "Long Live the King". We created our own version of Slug Bug and call it King Ping. Every time we see an image of the king, we 'ping' each other on the arm, hence 'King Ping'! We started this little game while on a short road trip but when we got back inside Bangkok was had to stop. There were pictures of the king everywhere: on bridges, on buildings, in the mediums, on poles and at intersections. Had we not stopped our arms would have been bleeding by sundown.

Another interesting note about their patriotism - every day at 8:00am and 6:00pm their national anthem (the Phleng Chat Thai) is played on all TV and radio stations, all public places such as bus stations, sky train stations, schools and public markets. The Thai people all stop what they are doing and face the flag if near one, and all business stops until the song is through playing. Its not like in the USA when the National Anthem plays. While many people face the flag with hand over heart, many do not and to others its still business as usual. But in Thailand its almost like someone hits a giant pause button and literally everyone and everything stops. Immediately after the song finishes, it's back to business as usual. It is quite a moving experience to behold.