Buddhist Invisible Man
I think its fair to say that Thai Humour is different to what you might experience in the West particularly as far as satire and cynicism go.
Mind you things that the PC brigade back home would ban from public airing are certainly not off limits here. With Thailand’s third gender and the rural dwellers of Isaan, who are often depicted as country bumpkins, getting their fair share of exposure along with plenty of humour relating to foreigners.
However away from the overt often slap-stick style humour you find on TV shows I much prefer the more subtle Thai humour, which can be found in some unusual places if you look closely enough. Believe it or not Thai temples are often a great source for such humour. For example, in the past I have found wall paintings in the most sacred buildings where the artist has added characters that are totally out of context with the actual theme of the painting. My favourite probably being the footballers that were added to this historical scene painted on the wall of an ordination hall. Click on the image and you will see what I mean.
However it seems judging by the photograph at the top of the post which I took at Wat Ko Lak in Prachuap Khiri Khan recently the humour is not always that subtle and was probably added by a worshipper rather than the original artist.
The photograph is taken in a new building at the temple that houses a shrine which is surrounded by the images of four revered Thai Buddhist monks. The statues, as is the custom, have been adorned with gold leaf for merit making, but some wit has added a pair of reading glasses to each individual.
Incidentally the glasses still have the lens magnification information stuck on them too and I noted that each monk has a different prescription 
Now it was only when I later reviewed the photographs that it struck me that the image reminds me of the Invisible Man albeit his bandages are gold coloured and a bit worse for wear.
What’s your take on Thai humour and can you think of a better caption for the photograph?
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