Just lately I have been out and about a fair amount, and funnily enough, a lot of people have, for some reason, started having a conversation with me again that I haven’t had in quite a long time. This conversation can be boiled down to “Can I help them search for a decent farang man?”. I was like WTF! I wonder if they think that I am some sort of “farang hunter” just because I have a farang boyfriend and happen to speak very good English? This doesn’t mean I would do this “job”. I really could not be bothered with talking to them, so I usually just make my excuses and walk away.

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Alright, before it gets too warm and the boyfriend is coming to visit me soon, I feel I should share this with you guys, as the previous entry I wrote on this topic seemed to be very popular and got a lot of viewers… “Thai beliefs and superstitions”. I have more on the subject to share to you guys and this time I will add more about specific Isaan beliefs and superstitions just in case the farangs who got married with Isaan women may find it useful.

Here they are:

• Do not hit the dish with a spoon or fork 

Because it means you are giving a signal to the spirits to come join you for meals, it is related to the Buddhist religious practice of funerals, where the relatives offer food to the dead body. They usually put the tray in front of the coffin and then will hit it with the spoon or fork calling to the ghost (inside coffin) to come eat.

• Do not clean the house at night time 

Haha here in my house we clean the floor by broom (but in western countries they may use a vacuum instead) because it means you might as well take away your money or expensive stuff apart from dust and trash

• Pregnant woman should not go to a funeral 

Because the spirit will get into the tummy and replace the child inside.

• Do not skip three steps because you wont be successful in life 

So just do not skip at all, just take it easy. Oh wow I normally skip two steps as I have long legs, odd really I got tired! In the hotel our room was on the fourth floor *sigh* he was behind me and had to push my butt so I could walk.

• If you smell of joss stick 

It’s means the spirits are around you.

• While eating in the house 

If your hand is touching with another a family members hand, it means you will have guests coming to visit you soon.

• A Barn Owl on the roof 

Is a sign of evil, it brings you bad luck. If you have a family member who is ill, then that person may die soon.

• After three days of death 

The spirit will return home and will realise that they have died.

• When you sleep 

Do not turn your head to the west because that is for dead people, plus it will bring you bad luck.

• When you buy a new wallet 

You will have to put money inside, usually 900 or 9000THB as this is considered a lucky number. C’mon, I’d like to put 900 THB in but cant afford 9000THB! I didn’t do this, I lost my wallet a month ago and bought a new wallet with a few thousands in it. I shall change the wallet again and ask my boyfriend for 9000THB to put in it. Don’t worry! Baht babe not GBP haha!

• Black ants coming to your house 

It’s the sign of rain

• Do not cut your nails at night time 

You shouldn’t do that anyway not enough light! I barely cut my nails I like them long so I can scratch someone! :P

• Do not sing while you’re eating 

Because you will have an old husband… err I honestly don’t know about this one, but I know for sure its dangerous. A friend of a friend almost died when she was eating and singing at the same time. She was eating Santol and the seed got into her throat, luckily she survived as she was sent to hospital quick enough. If you’ve ever seen the real big Santol seed you’ll know what I mean, it’s pretty scary just thinking about it!

• Don’t hold a funeral on Friday 

Or it will bring you bad luck.. Friday is considered a good day for weddings and other good events

• When you see people who has Conjunctivitis (red eye) just show them your tongue 

This reminds me of when I was a student. I used to have red eye, it’s a kind of virus and of course it can be transferred, it usually happens in the rainy season, and I’ve had my friends come to show me their tongue to protect themselves from this virus.

• When you have a bad dream its considered good, but when you have good dream then it will turn out to be bad… well mostly 

Thai people seem to pay a lot of attention to what they dream about, including me. When I wake up I try to think about my dream, and then start searching for the meaning of it. Some people even interpret their dreams to numbers, especially on the lottery day ( every 1st and 16th of the month).

• In the area of their house, Thai people like to grow lucky fruit trees 

Like Starfruit, Jackfruit and Star Gooseberry, as these names have good meanings:

Star Gooseberry – Mayom = You will have a lot of people who admire you.

Jackfruit – Khanun = You will have a lot of people who support you or back you up.

Starfruit – Ma Fueng = The sign of flourishing.

Well, that’s it for my second instalment of “Thai-Isaan beliefs and superstitions”. I hope you found them as interesting to read as I did to write about them, and look forward to hearing your feedback on this or any of my other blogs.

Take care for now, and good luck with everything!

Kit