I mentioned that our ticket to the Grand Palace also included a trip the Khon Theatre. We didn’t use it right away but, kept our tickets. Then when we met a couple of other Servas members for a day, Tatjana had a brainwave to ask people coming out of the Grand Palace if they were going to use their theatre tickets? We managed to get two extra which meant we could all go without paying an extra fee.
The show is not very long but, it was really beautiful. The hand movements and the way one of the characters seemed to float when she moved was lovely (swan like, serene on top and frenetic padding feet underneath). Many of the characters are masked. In one of our many many museum visits we got to try the hand positions used to convey meaning in the dance. Thai people have hand exercises to make their fingers flexible from an early age but, it also appears that people with Asian DNA may have a propensity to flexibility in their joints from what I have read. Have a go! Hahaha!
The dance was mentioned from 16th century writings. It was only for the eyes of the Royal Court and is considered a high art. It nearly died out completely until King Rama IX resurrected it. Now it only appears to be for tourists. We tried to see if we could see it elsewhere, without success.
Anyway we were all agreed that it was enchanting.
Now to a different sort of show. The Lady boys of Bangkok, a Cabaret. I felt I should see this but, at the same time had mixed feelings about it. These Transgender women were traditionally not considered transgender but, often thought of as a separate sex all together in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
The show was well presented but, I was left with the feeling it could have been so much more!
At the end you could have your pictures taken with the performers if you paid a few Bhat. It felt rather off to me especially as some of the men and women didn’t get many takers. I guess the money goes directly to them, a bit like the bars that are the seedier side of this, where the girls get the guys to buy drinks for the pleasure of their company and more.
Finally another show with Oy our Servas host and another member from Switzerland, Carmen. A water dance at the Icon Siam.
A short one this time was struggling to keep up with the events of the last few days!
The Travelling Bee 