A TripAdvisor™ TripWow slideshow of a travel blog to Chiang Mai, Thailand by TravelPod blogger Oriolesman titled “Finding Religion” Oriolesman’s travel blog entry: “Although nearly 95% of its people are Theravada Buddhists, Thailand has no official national religion. This policy supposedly reflects the county’s spirit of religious tolerance and respect for all faiths. I have another theory, however, to explain the government’s lack of action. Trying to make Buddhism the official religion of Thailand would raise the specter of another deity in this county — a faith as powerful and pervasive as Buddhism itself. That’s right….I’m talking about shopping. Here in Chiang Mai, the Thai people have found religion. And God is carrying a Motorola phone and wearing knock-off Prada pumps. Indeed, Thailand’s national religion may well be shopping. And, for those of you keeping score, its national passion is motorbikes, its national obsession is small dogs, its national sport is smiling, its national pastime is eating, and its national shame is the child sex trade. Confession…I’m not a shopper. But I am awed and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of goods, the variety of wares, and the low, low prices!! And while shopping is popular with tourists, it is unquestionably a local phenomenon. My suspicions were confirmed when I left the Western shopping district and headed to Warorot and Lam Yai markets, just east of the Mae Ping River. Of the thousands and thousands of shoppers, I was …
Tags: around, Chiang, Finding, Oriolesman's, photos, Religion, Thailand