We went to one of the summer events at Nathan Philips Square in Toronto last weekend. In this multicultural City of Toronto, there are many such wonderful open-air festivals taking place. Although it was called “Taste of Thailand,” it wasn’t just about tasting Thai food. Getting a “taste” of a people or a country involves all the aspects of the people and their culture that it is possible to represent. We did have some nice Thai food to eat, and on an open stage, we saw some beautiful tango dancing. There was also a demonstration of Muay Thai Boxing. Many Thai arts and crafts were on display and available to buy. There was also a Thai fruit carver demonstrating her skill and showing off some carvings she made.
The photos in this collage are my own. The background photo is one I took when I was in Thailand and visited the exquisite Wat Arun temple. It is a detail from the temple. Unbelievably, there are over 31,200 Buddhist temples spread around Thailand. In Thai these are called wat. One of these, the Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn, is named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn. Sitting majestically on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, the legendary Wat Arun is one of the most striking riverside landmarks of Thailand. Despite the name, the most spectacular view of the glittering monument can be seen from the east side of the river at sunset, when the spires of Wat Arun make an impressive silhouette against the skyline.
The lovely ladies and the young girl in the foreground were splendidly dressed in these georgeous Thai outfits that they were going to model last Sunday. I asked them if I could photograph them and the result is here for you to see. This collage is about the Thai culture but also represents a cross-cultural experience.
I visited Thailand over thirty years ago and took the background photo and I photographed these lovely ladies right here in Toronto last Sunday. West to East and East to West could be said. Canada is really a “world” culture as it allows people of other countries and cultures to share in “exotic” experiences. In Toronto, especially, we are certainly privy to living closely with one another and having the opportunity to share in these experiences with one another. I, personally, have come to consider myself an “international” person. We may have different cultures and ways of being but we are all “human” beings and need connection.
“Everyone in the world smiles in the same language.”
– Unknown
Hope you enjoy Wat Arun and these lovely Thai ladies and young girl and their beautiful smiles. Keep smiling!