Michael LaPalme: 2012 Year End Review

A look back in photographs at some of the more interesting events I've attended over the last year.

With the new year nearly upon us its hard to believe another year has wrapped up so quickly. I feel very fortunate to live in one of the most amazing regions of the world. I spent the majority of the past 12 months working on IT & software development projects for the United Nations. I was not able to dedicate the amount of time I would have liked to photography. Despite the heavy workload, I did manage to get out from time to time to work on some of my own personal photography projects.

The Best of 2012 - A look back in photographs

I have been documenting the people, places and events in this part of the world for many years now. Here is a look back at the past year through my photographs. I hope you enjoy them.

Interesting Events of 2012

Mass Alms for 22,600 Monks

In order to promote a new year of reconciliation after the recent political violence, mass alms and other Buddhist acts of merit were performed for 20,000 - 30,000 monks at various spots around Bangkok & Samut Prakarn. I was fortunate to be able to attend a couple of these unique events here in the inner city. The idea of having tens of thousands of monks converging on one of Bangkok's major shopping districts intrigued me. I have been photographing those same neighborhoods for many years and the contrast in scene and characters was a welcome change.

Photography Year-End Review 2012 © Michael LaPalme

Buddhist monks during the mass alms in Bangkok's Chinatown

Mass alms - Looking towards Pratunam (Watergate District) from Ratchaprason

Ratchaprasong Intersection

Looking towards Ratchaprasong

30,000 Monks at a ceremony at Yaowaorj Road in Chinatown

Buddhist monks during mass alms

Genuine Smile from Buddhist Monk

Sign for 30,000 monks in Bangkok's Chinatown

These events were organized by the Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, in Pathum Thani. Normally these types of large events are held outside of the city. The roads are closed 12 hours prior to the ceremony and various stages are set up in the different neighborhoods.

Wai Khru Day at Wat Bang Phra

The annual Wai Khru ceremony at Wat Bang Pra in Nakhon Chaisi district of Nakorn Pathom located about an hour or so outside of Bangkok. I had the good fortunate to be able to attend this event again this past spring. The crowds keep getting larger from year to year.

Devotee becomes possessed by the spirit of the animal tattooed on their body.

The ceremony at the temple is for the blessing and renewal of the power of the attendees' tattoos. The tattoos have such a potency that some of those who attend actually become possessed by the spirit of the animals that are personified on their bodies. Every year thousands of devotees flock to Wat Bang Phra to recharge their sacred tattoos by honoring the teacher ceremony.

This is the place to witness spiritual rapture in its purest form.

Possessed Devotee at Wai Khru Day

The ceremony is usually held at an auspicious date and time around end Feb/early March and is announced a few months before it is set to start. Wat Bang Phra is located about 45 minutes west of Bangkok. You can hire a car, taxi or min bus to get you out there.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

This past spring (hot season) I found myself in Phnom Penh for a few days and had some time to continue documenting the city. Phnom Penh has been transforming itself at an incredible pace. It always feels as if I were travelling back in time whenever I make the commute into Pochentong Airport from Thailand. I imagine that the Thai capital would have been quite similar 80 years ago. The two cities have very few similarities now.

Phnom Penh Street Mual

Buddhist Monk on Khmer Motorcycle Taxi

Phnom Penh at Night

Phnom Penh Skyline 2012

Khmer Muslim Girl at Kandall Market

Independence Monument

Khmer Taxi

Colonial Architecture - Phnom Penh Street Scene

Khmer Snacks

Burmese Python Extracted from Neighbors Yard

Every once in a while one of the friendly neighborhood cats would suddenly disappear from our neighborhood. After many years of wondering what might have happened my neighbor discovered one of the likely culprits in his garage. Judging by its size, this beautiful Burmese python must have been picking cats of my backyard for many years. I was a aware that snakes this large inhabited Bangkok but never thought I would find one so large next to my own home. A telephone call was made to the district office and a team of professional were dispatched. They captured the extremely large snake and took it to a sanctuary where I am sure it was transformed into a snakeskin leather handbag or wallet.

Burmese "Cat Killer" Python

Bangkok Photo Fair

Save one or two notable exceptions, camera & photography shops in Bangkok tend to be carbon copies of each other. They sell the same brand items for the same exact manufacturer suggested retail price without ever competing and rarely offering any official discount. These types of photography trade shows have hard to find lighting and other camera equipment. The beautiful Thai models are more than happy to advertise their sponsor's product.

Thai Model at Bangkok Photo Fair

Japanese Anime Inspired "Cosplay"

This is another really fun event if you happen to come upon it. Most of the major malls (MBK, Siam Paragon and Central World) will host at least one or two of these types of Japanese anime costume play events a year.

There are usually scores of young people all decked out in the most amazing costumes and outfits.

The best place to check for upcoming cosplay events is on the Props&Ops: Cosplay Event Calendar.

Thai Cosplay

Thai Cosplay at Siam Paragon

Thai Cosplay

Thai Cosplay at Siam Paragon

9 Emperor Gods Festival / Vegetarian Festival

Phuket, Thailand - During the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar devotees of various shrines around Phuket island perform religious ceremonies meant to protect themselves and their communities from evil. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a couple of days in Phuket during this period and document parts of it with my camera. The Mah Song are those disciples who have been chosen by the gods to become spirit mediums of the festival. Mah ม้า is the word for horse in Thai, and the name Mah Song refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. Amid a chorus of firecrackers and drum beats, they perform amazing acts of mutilation, self torture and flagellation.

Mah Song - Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 © Michael LaPalme

"Mah Song" of the 9 Gods / Vegetarian Festival

"Pitak Siam Ant-Government Rally"

Thai Politics - Living in Bangkok means that you experience Thai politics whether you are interested in it or not. Arguments spill out of government house and parliament and are settled via pitched street battles in and around major tourist destinations freaking out even the longest & most jaded expats. Thai society is sharply divided among yellow and red factions.

Pitak Siam Anti-government rally

Fortunately this anti-government rally did not manage to garner enough steam to trigger the explosive change that the organizers had envisioned. The rains washed away the tear gas and drove the protesters home. The next phase of this battle will involve rewriting the constitution that will allow Thaksin to return to Thailand a free man. TBC.

Bangkok Motorshow Pretty มอเตอร์โชว์ พริตตี้

The 2012 Thailand International Motor Expo came to pass at the IMPACT Arena in Pak Kret. These types of automobile trade shows are well known for having scores of beautiful women working as presenters, dancers, models, saleswomen and show girls promoting the auto industry. The 2012 Thailand International Motor Expo held at the IMPACT arena in Bangkok seemed to trump previous events in size & scale. The newspapers ran several stories about the record sales and pre-orders there were for this year.

Motor Show Models

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Motor Show Models

New Members of Our Security Team

This year we also welcomed the addition of two (junior) security experts into our family home. We experienced one incident where someone attempted to gain access into our home via a sliding glass door. Fortunately, the locked steel cage they found prevented them from entering but I was still a little unnerved to see that someone had attempted to break in. Jack has done a great job so far in letting strangers know that he is on duty!

Jack

Cody

I would say it has been a very good year. Let's hope for the best in 2013.

Michael LaPalme

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Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012 Year End Review