Pokemon: Thai style

Remember my explanation about Buddhism? And my description of the Thai variety and its quirks? Silly me. All that explaining when a good everyday example is right up for grabs: the Jatukam Ramathep -craze. The what?! They're amulets. I see them everywhere. There are being traded in the markets, at our school and along side mobile phones and computer games at shopping malls all over Thailand. And everybody has them: monks, bus drivers, kids, politicians, movie stars, cleaners, housewives, even some farangs.

Now hold on: amulets have been a part of Thailand since time immemorial. But in the last couple of years it has become a fad that seems to know no bounds. Amulets used to be worn under the shirt to protect the wearer from all kinds of evil. Back then it was more or less a harmless personal superstition (if those exist). Costly. But easy. You didn't have to knock on wood ever again. Walked under a ladder? Who cares!

In recent years however it has become all about showing off. Some Buddhist leaders have tried to do something about it. But the amulets got bigger, ever more elaborate and al lot more sparkly. So did the names. You can now get yourself a Extra-Super-Rich-amulet with special ingredients from temple X. But better get an Ultra-Strong-Life-amulet that's been touched by monk Y too! Who knows what will happen if you don't. And of course you wear it over your shirt. How else is everybody gonna see it? And it all wouldn't be complete without a heavy golden casing. So what do you look like now? That's right: a rapper.

What this has to do with Pokemon? Combine the craze, the power ups, the estimated 20 billion Baht in turnover and you do the math.