Like many nations built around rivers, Thailand has a tradition of water-based parades. The National Museum of Royal Barges hold the official boats between ceremonies.
These barges are 30-45 meters long. And they are decorated in the same, detailed glory as the palace – especially the figureheads.
I guess it takes more than grabbing a barge and putting it in your pocket, but it’s surprisingly easy to get very close to these national symbols. However, they are guarded by active Cruise Boys.
“None shall pass.” That was damn funny.
The depictions of people, i.e. the figureheads, make the bodies seem a lot fuller, a lot stouter than my own impression of Thai people. Is this intentional, e.g. they are depicting gods who are larger? Or is my impression that the Thai tend to be narrow and skinny is just wrong?
Most of the figures are “Garudas“, a figure from Hindu mythology that migrated from India to SE Asia. It seems the art work of them show a more squat creature.