Thailand: Spirit house at Hat Ao Noi, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province

Many Thai people believe that every house should have its own spirit house providing for the well-being of the locality spirit. These may be anywhere in the garden (even, in big cities, on the roof), with the important proviso that the shadow of human habitation should never fall on the spirit house, the home of the original and true owner of the land – the chao thii.

Naturally, this belief extends to shops and commerce as well. Scarcely a business in Thailand – from corner shop to multinational – is without at least one, and often two spirit houses. The first of these, raised on a pillar or in some high place, is purely Thai in origin. The second, generally to be found on the ground and decorated with Chinese characters and images of Confucian or Taoist sages, is purely Chinese and represents the pre-eminent position of Thai-Chinese in the world of commerce.

Hat Ao Noi means 'little bay beach', and that description more or less sums up this quiet bathing and relaxing destination. Connected with busier Ao Prachuap to the south, the beach is sheltered by a line of casuarinas trees.

This bay is popular with joggers and strollers from nearby Prachuap Khiri Khan. There is also a small fishing village here.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia