Gavin008

I spent four months in Chiang Mai and in Lisu villages in the mountains north west of Chiang Dao. After becoming friends with some Thais, I was offered to go with them to a monk outside of Chiang Mai who has been doing Sak Yant for about 16 years os so and has a great reputation with Thais there.

When we arrived there, I was the only westerner. There were several Thais receiving Sak Yant tattoos. The monk interviewed me through one of my Thai friends as an interpreter. Apparently he does not do everybody.

I was 62 when I was there last year, and never had a tattoo before. This monk uses Khem Sak. A brass rod in which he inserts double pointed sharp spikes. The ink is drawn up between the double points by Capillary action. I think the bamboo ones are called Mai Sak. I can't remember.

He did the Gao Yord nine peaks tattoo on my upper back, measuring first with a ruler and drawing lines in pen before beginning the actual tattoo. Then he started.... and it hurt. A couple of minutes in I thought to myself... "Maybe this was not such a good idea." But then I just zoned my mind out and simply let the pain continue and stayed absolutely still. Also I did not want to show any emotions while all those Thai men were watching me get this done.

There is also script lettering done with this tattoo... some form of Pali/Khmer maybe called Khom script..... not sure... prayers and blessing given by the monk accompany the tattoo.... you make offering.... the cost ? ? In my case... you offer whatever you think it is worth to you.....

There're are a few famous ones that do tattoos near Bangkok.... and now they have a reputation among Thais of being in it to make the big bucks... charging Farangs lots of money for simple Sak Yant. And you get to brag about who did your tattoo. I didn't want that. The monk that did mine is not in it to get rich... and he did fantastic artwork on me. Better than many others I have seen.

After getting my Gao Yord..... and going through the pain.... a couple days later I wanted more..... and returned to the monk twice more with my Thai friends ... I ended up with a total of nine sacred Sak Yant Yantra tattoos..... five across my back... and two on each arm...

My Thai friends had a party for me after the tattoos and temple visits.... and they told me... "Now you are Thai, wherever you go in the world. And someday you will return to Thailand and Chiang Mai. "

I caught no diseases from the experience...... perhaps all my vaccinations I got before I left Canada helped.......I don't know...

Now back in Canada... and planning on returning to Chiang Mai this coming year... four months there was not long enough...

Do you know where outside of Chiang Mai you got the Sak Yant?

Do you know where outside of Chiang Mai that you got the Sak Yant?