Map In Front Of Temple Is Misleading

[brahmburgers]

Maybe no big deal, but there's a rather nice looking map on display there, and the top is oriented to the east. There's no compass arrow, and there's no "you are here" - sort of marker.

The print/graphic quality is good, and a lot of work went in to it - getting commercial sponsors and so on - so you'd think they'd want to get the basic parts of the map right.

Just curious; do Thais and/or Asians have a tradition of having maps oriented to the east at the top?

[lukamar]

Just curious; do Thais and/or Asians have a tradition of having maps oriented to the east at the top?

From what I have seen Thai maps are traditionally oriented... Somehow. Often they are oriented with the important stuff, like their housing project, at the top or right in the middle with their entrance going toward the bottom no mater what compass position it is. Not often do they actually orient them with North as North which is the international standard.

[mcgriffith]

If it is any consolation, all the bus stop shelter maps in CM have the same nonsensical orientation, but not necessarily east at top.

I've seen west and south on top as well. With no "you are here" red arrow as well.

Ah, the mysterious Orient...

[brahmburgers]

that might partly explain why Thais were never known to be maritime explorers. They'd need decent maps to travel. Plus, having a language which has ever so slight difference between the word for 'near' and the word for 'far' (glai and glai - respectively) - wouldn't make orientation easier.