More Bangkok

On my very first day in Bangkok, the Democracy Monument became the landmark signalling that I was near Khaosan Road; the first landmark I learned to recognize in this huge metropolis. A large traffic circle located roughly on the center of Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, at its junction with Thanon Dinso, is covered by an imposing structure which is impossible to ignore.

Oxymoron

At times,it seems to me that oxymorons are an intrinsic telltale of the Thai culture; more often than not that’s a sign that my understanding of that culture is incomplete. That’s the case with the Democracy Monument, which has a huge representation of the four branches of the Thai armed forces - army, navy, air force and police surrounding a tiny symbol of the Thai Constitution. That’s a strange representation of a democracy; but I’m running ahead...

Born in Violence

In 1932 there was a coup d'état that transformed the Siamese monarchy into the Thai constitutional monarchy. Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram (nicknamed Poh, or Phibun) led a hursh military regime that commisioned the Democracy Monument in 1939, as part of the Bangkok’s westernization process he began. The monument was intended to reshape Ratchadamnoen Road into something resembling the Champs-Élysées in Paris, creating a symbol similar to the Arc de Triomphe there.

Despite the Western style of parts of it, Ratchadamnoen is intrinsically Thai; few Westerners would recognize it as a single conceptual unit since it is technically divided into three parts, namely Ratchadamnoen Nok (outer), Ratchadamnoen Klang (middle), and Ratchadamnoen Nai (inner). Ratchadamnoen Nai starts from the Grand Palace and lies along Sanam Luang. Ratchadamnoen Klang starts from Sanam Luang and reaches the Golden Mount. Ratchadamnoen Nok connects the Golden Mount with the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and the Dusit area.

Ratchadamnoen Road is thus a symbol of the transition from the old Siamese absolute monarchy area of the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha to the new Thai area of the Dusit Palace of the modern constitutional monarchy. The symbol has also architectural representation; the Grand Palace is traditional Thai in style, while the parts near the Dusit Palace were built in European style.

The monument is roughly halfway between Sanam Luang and the Golden Mount, symbolizing that the 1932 Constitution was intended to become the center of the young Thai democracy. Eventually it succeeded in that; the area was home to the most influential protests area against various governments.

Before that success, the place was unpopular because the widening of Ratchadamnoen to create the ceremonial boulevard involved cutting down hundreds of mahogany trees planted in the reign of King Rama V, which symbolized the monarchy and because of the eviction of many people from their homes and shops.

The Monument

Designed by Mew Aphaiwong, an architect close to the new regime, the monument was executed by Corrado Feroci an Italian sculptor who became a Thai citizen (and used the Thai name Silpa Bhirasi), executed the relief sculptures around the monument’s base. He worked also on the Victory Monument.

At the center of the traffic circle is a carved representation of the Constitution, atop two golden offering bowls placed above a round turret. The turret features six gates representing the proclaimed policies of the Phibun regime: "independence, internal peace, equality, freedom, economy and education."

The turret is surrounded by four huge wings, each one placed at a different compass direction. As stated above, the wings represent the four branches of the Thai armed forces which carried out the coup. Facing outwards from the base of two wings are fountains shaped as naga, the protective serpents of the Hindu mythology.

What day did that the coup occur? There is no need to remember that; measuring the wings height or the monument’s base radius is enough. Each measures 24 meters, symbolizing the fact the coup took place on the 24th day of certain month. Which month? The central turret is three meters high, because June is the third month of the traditional Thai calendar. Fine. Now, what year did that happen? That’s harder, because the 75 cannons surrounding the monument where taken away. How does "75" symbolizes "1932?" Simply, in the Thai Buddhist calendar, that year was 2475.

At the base of the monument are relief sculptures carrying additional messages. The relief titled "Soldiers Fighting for Democracy" shows a heroic and united armed forces battling for democracy. The one titled "Personification of the People" shows a soldier protecting the Thai people.

"Personification of Balance and Good Life" is the title of the relief representing the social ideology of the military regime. A figure representing the nation is seated in a Buddha-like posture holding a sword and a set of scales, which represent the armed forces and justice. Around it are figures representing sport, education, religion and arts. The Thai king was not represented at all, despite formally being part of the new regime.

Distortions

The idyllic reality represented in the panels is somewhat distorted. In reality, the People's Party, a coalition of civil servants, princes, and army officers, seized power while the king was on holiday, and sent him a provisional constitution to King Prajadhipok along with an ultimatum from Party leaders. On 26 June, the King met the Party leaders and refused to sign the charter; however, he signed it the following day.

In Thailand, charters have been temporary instruments preceding new constitutions that usually follow military coups. Since 1932, 17 constitutions had existed in Thailand. Coming from a country denying even one constitution to its citizens, I am impressed. Following the charter, the first Thai constitution was promulgated in December of the same year. Despite this, the regime was a de facto military dictatorship.

Present Days

Since then, the monument have served as a rallying point during several key events, more notoriously in the 1973 mass student demonstrations against a different military regime, and the 1976 protests that triggered a military coup. Many citizens were killed there in 1992 during protests against yet another a military regime. The 2008 protests of the political party supporting the monarchy ("yellow party") were centered nearby, on Ratchadamnoen Nok, while the following protests of the party supporting Thaksin Shinawatra ("red party") chose the Victory Monument for their protests.

Unpopular at its beginning, the monument have become with no doubt the central symbol of the Thai democracy and a facinating landmark of Krung Thep, the City of Angels, as Bangkok is named in Thai.

One of the main landmarks of central Bangkok, the Khlong ("Canal") Saen Saeb is almost out of sight, hidden below the street level. The hidden landmark is one of the reasons the metropolis is known as "Venice of the East."

The canal connects Khlong Mahanak near the Mahakan Fortress and the Golden Mount to Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao where the canal ends at the Bang Pa Kong River; eighteen kilometers of it are used for an express boat service providing public transport.

Tumultuous Start

The Siamese-Vietnamese War of 1831-1834, started when Siam tried to conquer Cambodia. In 1832, the Cambodians were defeated at the Battle of Kompong Chang, and their king – Ang Chan II – fled to Vietnam. The Siamese continued to advance eastwards until the Vietnamese forced them to evacuate Cambodia.

Subsequently, the Saen Saeb Canal was built by the order of King Rama III between 1837 and 1840. Its purpose was to facilitate the water transport of soldiers to Cambodia in a future attempt to re-conquer that country.

After the canal was finished, the Siamese attacked, and the 1841-1845 Siamese-Vietnamese War began. The Vietnamese installed Queen Ang Mey on the Cambodian throne while the Siamese attempted to install Prince Ang Duoung. After four sour years, Siam and Vietnam agreed to place Cambodia under a joint protectorate, with a Siamese predominance. Ang Duong - supported by Siam - was crowned as Cambodia's king in 1848.

Complex Present

Nowadays the surviving canal reminds us of those violent events, while being also an important part of the way Bangkok looks and feels, providing beautiful views of traditional teakwood houses and charming bridges that ignore the metropolis dramatic modernization in the last decades.

Walking along the canal is possible in many places, providing an opportunity to see a different Bangkok at a relaxed pace. Near the Pratunam Pier, that means seeing the main commercial area of the city in a very different light. Moreover, the transition from the modern and busy Rama I Road to the old-fashioned canal while walking along the alley in which Jim Thompson's House is located, is an unforgettable experience.

Khlong Saen Saeb Express Boat

Roughly twenty meters wide, the canal determines the shape of the boats, which are long and narrow, with seats for some fifty passengers. Tarpaulins protect the passengers from the polluted water of the canal, but they make the boats even hotter than the streets and block any residual breeze that could have refreshed the passengers. Yet this is a great way of traveling across Bangkok during the rush hours. What are the rush hours in Bangkok? Kind of 24 hours a day.

Using the boats is simple; there are two lines that meet at the Pratunam Pier, not far from CentralWorld. The Western Line travels from there to the Golden Mount, while the Eastern one reaches Wat Si Bunrueang. Operated by the same company, the tickets are valid while changing boats; the fare varies according to the distance traveled, but it does not reach 20 baht. The boats are active from 5:30 AM until well after dark.

Main Stations

The Eastern Line first stop is at Pratunam, near CentralWorld and Pantip Plaza and then continues to Chit Lom, near Central Chidlom. Along Sukhumvit Road it has several stops including near Nana, Asoke and Thong Lo. From Asoke, the Metro Phetchaburi Station can be accessed. An important stop is at Klong Tan - near the important intersection of Petchaburi, Ramkhamhaeng, Rama IX and Phra Khanong roads, the Skytrain shuttle-bus service stops there as well.

The Western Line begins at the same pier – Pratunam – but advances in the opposite direction. Being shorter, it features few stops. The first is called Hua Chang and is near the MBK Center, which is reviewed in this journal. The Bobe Market Station provides access to a large clothes street market. Finally, Phan Fa Lilat Terminal is near the Golden Mount and can be reached by foot from the Grand Palace, Khaosan Road and other attractions in the vicinity, like the Democracy Monument (reviewed in this journal).

What is probably the cheapest transport method in Bangkok is also the fastest way to travel between many of its main districts... who can skip the opportunity?

Nicknamed MBK, Mahboonkrong is considered among knowing Thais as the best shopping mall for cellular phones. However, much more hides within this giant.

Location

MBK is on the southeastern corner of the Siam Square Junction; its location provides a spectacular visibility to the structure, which is an easily recognizable landmark.

On the junction’s kitty corner is the Siam Discovery Center; both malls are connected by an elevated bridge that provides access also to the Skytrain. A covered, air-conditioned pedestrian bridge over Phaya Thai Road connects MBK with Bonanza Mall, a popular mall in Siam Square which specializes in inexpensive apparel.

Reaching MBK

The best way of reaching MBK is with the Skytrain. The National Stadium Station is in front of the mall; Siam Station is across the junction and is connected to the mall through an elevated bridge. The last is important because it is the meeting point for both lines and can be accessed from many areas in the city.

The Hua Chang Pier of Khlong Saen Saeb is within walking distance; see the relevant entry in this journal for more details.

The mall is open daily, between 10 AM and 10 PM.

Venerable Shopping

MBK’s name is peculiar even when compared with other Thai names; simply it is the combination of the developer parents’ names: Mah and Boonkrong. Their statues are on the ground floor.

Neither the most luxurious nor the biggest, MBK is one of the oldest shopping malls in Bangkok. Despite its age – it was opened in 1985 – the mall is periodically subject to upgrades, offering a quite stylish environment. A series of interlaced escalators offers very attractive views, especially due to the reflections they create on their metallic surfaces.

As most other shopping malls in the Rama I – Ploen Chit – Sukhumvit roads commercial area, MBK is huge, housing 2500 shops in eight floors and a third of a kilometer length. Seeing all of it in a day would mean a running a mini-marathon along its endless corridors.

Most shopping malls diversify themselves and offer a wide variety of goods. That’s true also for MBK, but it is hard to avoid the impression that the mall sells mainly cellular phones and other electronic gadgets. Shops selling them occupy whole areas of the mall; stalls selling the same equipment are placed in front of the shops. In this cell phones-saturated environment, it is hard to see the other shops. Yet, it is possible to buy here also clothes, furniture, gold, jewelry and many other products; even a supermarket is hidden within the colossus. The Tokyu Department Store is on the side facing the Rama I Road, which offers a wide selection of international brands and is connected through a bridge to the Skytrain.

Services include several money exchange facilities, several banks and a Tourist Information Counter on the ground floor.

Cultural products are also well represented here; MBK features the SF Cinema City Multiplex (with 8 theatres), 28 bowling lanes at the SF Strike Bowl, the SF Music City Karaoke and large internet kiosks, some of them featuring luxurious coaches and excellent equipment. The Pathumwan Princess Hotel occupies the mall’s southern end. Beyond all these, MBK is remarkable for its food.

Food, Food, Food

The choices for a meal here are varied, including several international fast food outlets and restaurants; some of the most popular are Sizzler, Oishi, MK Restaurant, KFC, Mc Donald's and Pizza Hut.

However, MBK distinguishes itself from other shopping malls in the many options for a Thai meal it offers. The Fifth Avenue International Food Plaza at the 5th floor features five thousand seats; if that wasn’t enough, there are other, smaller, food plazas within the structure specializing in Thai dishes.

Thai cuisine can be divided into shared and individual dishes. While eating with other people, shared dishes are the most popular, thus individual dishes are harder to approach. Yet, they include many attractive options (see the Thai cuisine entry in this journal for more details). A visit to a shopping mall provides the perfect opportunity for trying these tasty products of the local kitchen.

Planning the Visit

With all these options, it is better to have at least an idea of how the mall is setup. Some types of shops – like restaurants, cellular phones and apparel shops – are scattered around all over the place; trusting serendipity while seeking one of these is the best advice.

Other shops are most exclusive. The ground floor is home to the supermarket; the next two floors feature jewelries and gold shops. The fourth floor is where the main banking area is located; this is also the main area selling electronic gadgets. The fifth floor is dedicated mainly to furniture; it would be also useless for a traveler if it wasn’t for the Fifth Avenue Food Plaza. The sixth floor is home to many restaurants and souvenir shops, the last are a good place for purchasing gifts due to the wide variety of products and the good prices offered. Finally the seventh floor includes the cinema, karaoke, bowling and internet facilities. The last floor is for offices.

Mottos

Seldom have I seen more accurate mottos; MBK advertises itself as "The Most Visited Mall in Bangkok" and "Thousand of shop, Millions of People, Endless Bargains" (sic). I adapted the charming last one for the description of this journal, since – to some extent - it fits also Bangkok.

Thai cuisine features a high level of complexity; the best way to approach it is learning to differentiate among the different types of dishes, and afterwards understanding the variations. The most obvious classification is regional, the main categories here being Northern, Isaan (northeastern), Southern and Central.

A less obvious fact is that it can also be divided into shared and individual dishes. While eating with other people, shared dishes are the most popular, thus individual dishes are harder to approach. Yet, they include many attractive options. In this entry, I describe some of the best known – and loved – dishes of this cuisine.

Laap

A dish from Isaan (and Laos) laap is an awesome salad containing minced meat; the main variations include chicken, beef, duck and pork, though other meats can be found. The minced meat is mixed with mint leaves and chopped chilies, sliced cucumbers are put next to the mix which is served with sticky rice on the same plate or in a small bamboo bowl.

The dish is served warm and eaten with a spoon, though the local way of eating sticky rice is picking a bit with the right hand, rolling it into a small ball, and then dipping it in the main dish. It can be eaten as a shared or individual one and can be found even in street stalls all over Bangkok.

Laap can be very spicy – depending on the variety and quantity of chilies used – thus care is recommended for the first bite.

Som Tam

Another fierce Isaan concoction is the som tam, or papaya salad. Hearing the popularized English name may be misleading; fruits in Thailand are often eaten unripe adding thus a sour taste to the dish instead of a sweet one. In fact, the name means "sour pounded."

This is the case here, where shredded unripe papayas are mixed with a variety of additional ingredients; the last change enormously, but the most common ones are peanuts and green beans, tomatoes and small fresh water crabs are also popular. Lime and chilies are the main spices added. As with most of the Isaan dishes, the chilies play an important role and create an incredibly hot salad.

More often than not, this is a stand alone dish, eaten with no additions, though sometimes sticky rice is added. A fork and a spoon are used for eating the dish. These two are the most popular cutlery used with Thai dishes and are used differently than in the west. The fork is used for putting food in the spoon, which is used for carrying it into the mouth. A fork is never put in contact with the mouth. Knives – being potential weapons – are never put on the table.

Green and Red Curries

Few dishes are more distinctive than the Thai curries. Red, green or yellow, they are added to many dishes, from meat to noodles, creating a landmark of this wonderful cuisine. The red and green variations are the most popular; the dish is a shared one, though in areas with many tourists it can be found also as an individual dish.

Green curry is prepared mostly with greenish ingredients, the main being lemongrass, coriander, fish sauce, shrimp paste, green chilies, garlic, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, Thai holy basil and coconut milk. It can be eaten over rice or added to meat and seafood dishes; often this is the fiercest curry and thus it should be tasted with care.

Red curry is prepared with shallots, lemongrass, red chilies, galangal, white pepper, cumin, coriander, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaf, shrimp paste, chili powder and coconut milk. The tricky point while assessing the potential hazard is to understand that there are several types of red chilies in the market, leading to a variety of results. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the chili, the hotter it is. The best advice is to check which chili was used and to taste the mix very carefully.

Tom Yam Kung

Tom Yam Kung may be the best known dish of the Thai cuisine. As always in Thailand understanding the name means knowing all the main facts about the dish.

Tom: means "soup." Remembering that is a piece of cake.

Yam: means "mix together," and is used for dishes mixing many ingredients, usually for items that westerners would classify as salads or soups. Usually such dishes are eaten as part of a shared meal consisting of various items.

Kung: means "shrimps." Of course, the dish can be prepared with other meats; under such circumstances the last word would change to reflect that.

Thus we are speaking about a soup mixing many ingredients together and including as the main one shrimps. The other ingredients include chicken stock as base, garlic, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, fermented fish sauce, green onions, mushrooms, lime juice, coriander and of course, lots of very spicy chilies. Variations include different meats, mainly chicken (and then the "kung" in the name is replaced by "gai") and fish ("phla").

Jok and Khao Tom

Breakfast may be the most important meal in the day; in Thailand the most popular dishes for it are based on rice. "Jok" is a rice porridge, while "Khao Tom" (literally "rice soup") is a rice soup served with tiny bits of meat in it. The term "soup" is a bit overstated in the context of this dish; "rice in hot water" may be a better way of illustrating it. These are one of the few dishes in the Thai cuisine which contain no or very few spices; Thais usually add generous amounts of soy sauce, fermented fish sauce, and ground chilies to eat. The last spices are always made available in Thai restaurants and even in street food stalls.

Meat and Rice

Meat and rice dishes are ubiquitous in Thailand. The variations are endless; however, the most popular probably is the khao mun gai. Chopped chunks of meat (so that there is no need to use a knife) are put over rice. Greens – sliced cucumbers or cooked leaves – are put next to it.

Thais usually want the dish adapted to their taste and would explain the cook what is the way they want it prepared. Thus many additions are often available, including items like eggs, ground peanuts and various types of pickles, vegetables and spices.

Khao Pad and Pad Thai

"Pad" is another useful word to know, it means "stir-fried" and is featured in many dishes names. Two of the most popular are Khao Pad and Pad Thai. Both are individual dishes and very popular in commercial areas, where they are consumed as snacks while shopping or working.

"Khao Pad" literally means "rice stir-fried." The rice is stir-fried with a meat, and myriad of other ingredients which may include onions, garlic, tomatoes, eggs, and practically every other ingredient available. It is usually served with sliced cucumbers.

"Pad Thai" means "Fried Thai-style;" to those knowing a bit of Thai this translation may seem strange. After all, doesn't "Thai" means "free?" The secret lies in the tones, "Thai" means "free" and "Thai-style" depending on the tone used; while referring to fried noodles, the "Thai-style" rendering is used.

Several regional recipes of pad Thai exist. The version served in Bangkok uses garlic, Chantaboon sen lek rice noodles (though several other types of noodles are available), rice vinegar, fish sauce, fried tofu, tiny dried shrimp, salted and preserved Tien jing cabbage, roasted and ground peanuts, roasted chili powder, sugar, mung bean sprouts, and scrambled eggs. Garnishes may include mung bean sprouts, Chinese leeks, banana flower and lime wedges used to add a last drop of taste.

Khao Niao Ma Muang

One of the most striking dishes in the Thai cuisine is not spicy at all; unluckily it is also seasonal. Mangoes (there are several variations, including a highly sour one) are usually eaten unripe in Thailand. Pickled mangoes also exist. Sweet, ripe mangoes are seldom used.

However, when their season arrives, khao niao ma muang becomes a popular dish for a while. "Khao niao" means "sticky rice," while "ma muang" means "mango." Slices of ripe, extra sweet mango are put atop sticky rice which was washed in coconut cream. To western eyes, the dish may be considered a dessert because of its sweetness, but this categorization is irrelevant in Thailand; khao niao ma muang is just another main dish, though sweeter than the usual.

Sweet Thai

Fiercely hot, pickled or not, washed in fermented fish sauce or covered up with tiny crabs, Thai cuisine is probably the sweetest in the world.

Bon Appetite!

Dealing with different types of money is one of the travelers troubles; knowing local prices and payment methods is essential for assuring a pleasant trip. After writing a journal of Thailand for every week of the year, it is time to dedicate an entry in one of them to the Thai baht.

Baht and Tical, Satang and Fuang

In old English texts, the name "tical" can be seen as referring to the Thai currency; however the name baht is in use since the 19th century. Both were units of weight used for silver and gold coins.

As such, there are many fractional subdivisions with special names which were used for various purposes, like weighing gold and gems. Until 1897 the currency was subdivided into eight fuang and the last was also subdivided into eight ath. In that year, King Chulalongkorn introduced the decimal system in use until the present, in which the baht is divided into 100 satang.

Unstable Stability

Being a weight unit, the baht value was fixed to 15 grams of silver until 1902; then the value was artificially increased until in 1908 was pegged to the British pound, with fixes in the rate every few years. During WWII the baht was pegged to the Japanese yen. Later, from 1956 to 1997, it was pegged to the US dollar; in the period between 1984 onwards it the value was 25 baht for one dollar. The Asian economies crisis of that year put an end to the pegging policies and since then the baht fluctuates freely; as of the beginning of 2009 the value is roughly 35 baht for one US dollar.

Satang Coins

Satang coins are of little value, few items are priced down to baht fractions. Since the regular bus fare was raised from 3.5 baht to 7, the use of satang coins has almost disappeared. The best place for finding them nowadays may be the 7-Eleven convenience stores, and even then only those with the two biggest values.

Made of aluminum, these tiny coins appear in the values of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 satang; the first three are mainly sold as souvenirs in a variety of ways. One side features the king while the other several temples. The 1 satang features the Haripunchai Temple in Lamphun, the 5 satang the Phra Patom Temple in Nakhon Pathom, the 10 features the Phrathat Chungchum Temple in Sakon Nakhon, the 25 the Mahathat Temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat and finally the 50 satang coin features the Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai.

Baht Coins

Baht coins are widely used. They appear in the values of 1, 2, 5, and 10 baht. All of them feature the king on one side and temples of Bangkok on the other, The one baht coin features the Phra Kaew Temple, the two baht coin the Golden Mount, the 5 baht coin features the Benchamabophit Temple and the 10 baht coin features Wat Arun. The ten baht coin is substantially larger than the others and appears in two colors, a silvery ring surrounding a golden center.

A point to keep in mind is that the lately introduced 2 baht coins are almost identical to the 1 baht one. Frustrated, many denizens spend their days and nights writing the number 2 with a blue marker on them. At the beginning of 2009 a new coin of a different color was introduced. All the coins feature Thai and Arabic numerals.

Many commemorative baht coins show different figures instead of the temples mentioned here; they abound and are interesting to see.

Baht Banknotes

Baht banknotes exist in 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 baht values. With the exception of the 1000 banknote, they feature on one side the current king, while on the other they show images of past ones. The 20 baht note shows the King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), the 50 baht one the King Mongkut (Rama IV), the 100 baht the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), the 500 baht shows the King Nangklao (Rama III) and finally the 100 baht shows on both side the King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

They differ in size and color. The 20 baht is greenish, the fifty baht bluish, the 100 baht banknote is red, the 500 baht is purplish and the 1000 features a kind of brownish grey.

The fifty baht banknote was until recently made of plastic, the bluish print tended to fade off and thus was very unpopular. It had been completely replaced by a regular paper note of the same color.

The 10 baht banknote was replaced by a coin; yet, in rural areas it can still be seen.

Collectors

It is worthy to note that banknotes and coins collectors abound in Thailand; shops selling old currency can be seen in most markets and commercial areas.

Many shops display on prominent places banknotes and coins that are out of circulation. They blend up well with the very popular black and white pictures from the 19th century Bangkok, which are almost compulsory in Thai shops.

Commemorative notes in a wide range of values (including odd ones like 60 baht) exist and can be seen, though they are not used for commercial purposes. The largest one ever issued note is worth half a million baht, roughly 140 thousand American dollars at the current exchange values. Attempting to pay with it for a bus ride is not recommended.

On Proper Behavior

A point to keep in mind is that the coins and banknotes feature the image of the king; thus, putting the wallet in a back pocket or stepping on coins is considered very rude.

It is hard to imagine this elsewhere, but a ten baht coin that was glued to a sidewalk with the face of the king upwards reached a prominent place on the Thai news and was carefully removed by a police officer.