Flowers, Bangkok

Flower-power I always adored in the 60's with the lovely Hippie childeren. I guess it is the smell of nature, and you see in Thailand those special flower-shops of arranging flowers used in decorations. On altars, in shrines and at places special dedicated to their beloved ones I saw these decorations of bright-yellow marigold garlands, by the Thais named "Phuang Malai". Literally that is "Jasmine Garland".

Garlands are also for good luck and worn at birthdays, weddings, graduations (festivals). They has different shapes and are arranged in a unique way, beautifully done with 2 strands of flowers or with a ribbon. The circular form as a necklace also is done in a very artistic way. You can visit the flower market Pak Khlong Market or another, but you can see these garland ornaments on street market, too. It is such a pleasure to watch the women who make these Phuang Malai ...

Bougainvilla seem to like to grow like wild weeds in hot tropical weather. I've seen them in Dominican Republic, Okinawa (Southernmost Japan), Bali, etc.

On the other hand, Junichi's grandfather used to work hard to raise them in Hiroshima.

This charming wonderful violet flowers can be found in Bangkok in many public gardens and even in some hotels gardens. In Spain we don't use to see such rare flowers often, so it surprised me a lot to find them so frequently here. You could even buy a whole bunch of them by the streets for about 1 USD!!

The image of the lotus is omnipresent in Southeast Asia whether in a flower display at a hotel such as this one at Narai Hotel in Bangkok or as an offering at the various shrines.