เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่วให้หลิ่วตาตาม
kao muang dta lew hai lew dta dtam
When you enter a town where people wink, wink as they do.

Good morning!

Every foreign trip I've made, the trees have always been important to me, and the happiest places I've visited around the world, have been those blessed with an abundance of green.

Today, I wish to share some Thai beliefs and superstitions regarding their own beautiful trees. Thailand has some lush forests, and even many cities enjoy some fine gardens, though the country that only a couple of decades ago could boast, (off the top of my head), around 80% cover with tropical forest, has lost at least twenty per cent of that from massive developments. However, the vegetation still impressed me greatly, as did the people, the elderly with so much to teach, the young with so much of their culture to show, Thailand to me is a nation of culture, honour, beauty and deep sensitivity, and I wish more farang would see it that way.

Soak (Saraka indica).

This means 'anguish' or 'sorrow' in Thai, which is perhaps not the best name a tree can have, (though we ourselves have the Weeping Willow). It is thought to possibly be from the Indian asoka bearing red clusters of flowers, together with it's pleasant fragrance. Indian belief suggests it flowers after being "struck by the foot of a beautiful damsel". Indeed, in Sanskrit, 'asoka' means sorrowless, but in transit, the word lost it's original meaning, through the ommission of it's accent, became 'soak' or 'sok' in Thai, meaning the complete opposite of sorrowless!

Lanthom.

Known as the 'Temple or Pagoda Flower Tree' or frangipani. The Thai word 'rathom' rather resembles Lanthom, and means 'apony' and is something of a taboo. This tree is often found near a Wat or Thai monastery, and belief informs us and unlucky or ill will lose it's negative effects.

Rak (Calotropis gigantea).

The Araka of India, the flowers of this tree hang round criminals necks in the form of garlands, when they are led to execution. Thailand hosts these trees, growing wild in deserted dry regions, and the flowers made into floral tributes used for cremations. The trunk and branches have a milky sap. Recently, it has almost become the norm for bride and bridegrooms to wear a garland made from these flowers, due to the lovely fact that 'rak' means 'love' in Thai.

Tau Rang (Caryota mitispalmae).

A palm tree, which has poisonous fruit walls from it's berries. Can be found in ornamental homes are arboretum in Europe, however, in Thailand, the second syllable of the word 'tau rang' resembles another word meaning abandonement or deserted. There, this point and the poisonous nature of it's fruit makes it somewhat un-economic and a little taboo in Thailand.

Sala and Rakam (Zallaca wallichianapalmae).

Two trees which are very alike, these ratan-like palms have sharp spines around the stem. In Thai, 'sala' means 'foresaken' while 'rakam' means 'affliction' therefore you will not find them near a home, or in a garden. However, their edible fruits, often sour, but some regions produce sweet flavours, have high commerical value. Gardeners will though, plant them as hedges, thanks to their sharp spines which adds some security within.

by lauren6

~~~

Just now the sky, the streets, the houses, the people, are all dingy grey. There is neither light nor shade from morning to night.

-M.S. Holland, November 30th, 1879