Mar 9, 2018
As a special treat to those of
you who stay subscribe to our podcast, we’ll be releasing some
special, long form audio over the coming weeks as we travel to
Cambodia, China, Japan, and Korea before landing back in
America.
Today, you’ll hear a long-form ambient audio
recording of one of the most bizarre -- at least by western
standards -- religious events in Thailand. It’s called the Sak Yant
Wai Kru. It takes place every year at a temple called Wat Bang Pra,
which is about 50 km NW of Thailand.
Each
year in early March, more than 10,000 afficiantos of the sak yant
tattoos gather at the temple and well… go a little crazy. The
reason for the gathering is to get the tattoos recharged. In the
strange amalgamation of religion and mysticism that is Thai
Buddhism, sak yant tattoos imbue their owner with special
protective powers. And just like it’s a good idea to reboot your
computer or update the apps on your phone once and awhile, the
tattos need a little recharging.
Or a
lot, as you’ll hear.
What
follows is just over 2 and half hours of un-cut audio I recorded at
the 2018 event, my third time attending. Sheila took a bunch of
pictures and has them on Flickr. She also has a great video from the 2017 event on
YouTube.
In the audio, you’ll heave me
interacting with some of our favorite people that we’re going to
miss a lot when we leave Thailand in just a few days. Ric, Jack,
Karina, Ian… and a bunch more. You’ll also hear me clearing my
throat a lot, as I was just getting over a cold. And from time to
time, you’ll hear my reactions and Sheila’s reactions to the quite
literal insanity of the event.
If
you can’t make it through all 2 and a half hours, I understand. The
first three minutes of the audioclip gives a fairly good
representation of the rest of the audio. Of course you might be
sucked in after that. IT happens.
So
here we go. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back from time to time
with more audio. And eventually, season five of our podcast will
start up again. Whatever we decide to call it. Cheers!