Welcome to our third installment of 'Travel Tuesday.' William Murcia, our Denim Production Manager and newest addition to the team, spent a lot of time overseas during his career. In the year or so he spent in Thailand, he recalls a special place located close to Pattaya which embodies spirituality and modern life.
WHERE TO GO
William recommends a visit to 'The Sanctuary of Truth,' a wooden building constructed by Thai millionaire Khun Lek Viriyaphant as part of a series of projects to help preserve Thai culture and history. It is a shrine built with styles of Buddhist, Hindu, and Khmer architecture to remind the people of a higher truth beyond material wealth and enjoyments. The building's elaborately decorated with wooden carved sculptures by local artisans - these artisans inject the wood with a special substance to make it sturdy and strong. Art in the Sanctuary of Truth plays the same role it did in historical Thailand - as a reflection of ancestors past, human responsibility, basic thought, the cycle of life, our relationship with universe, and mankind's common goal of striving towards Utopia.
Photo sourced from thailand-festivals-life.blogspot.com
William also recommends a visit during 'Songkran,' the Thailand New Year Festival, which takes place in April, where residents pour water over one another as a way of cooling off from the hot weather. There were no shortage of water guns and buckets of ice cubes to commemorate the week-long festival.
Thailand left a lasting impression on William because he observed how the Buddhist culture of respect for one another extends beyond the shrines. Even when visiting a movie theater, the attendees will stand up prior to the movie to show respect for the King and one another. This sense of kindness and respect strongly appealed to him.
WHAT TO EAT
There is a special, delicious coconut soup that was William's go-to meal when he was living in Pattaya. It's simple, hearty and hits the spot.
Photo sourced from spicegasm.com
WHAT NOT TO BELIEVE
Never believe a Thai local when they say to you, "Don't worry - it's only a little bit spicy." Thai chile is a very, very hot chile. Be warned, but don't be too cautious - it's delicious!
WHERE TO SHOP
William liked to shop at J. J. Market where he could see how raw denim was supplied to farmers and turned over to local artisans who added professional-looking labels and turned them into worn-out, trendy, and fashionable styles to be resold in the vintage market. As a denim wash specialist, William was fascinated that handmade could look as good or better as the high-tech wash houses that he worked with!