Good-bye Spirit Houses, Hello Bad Luck

[Mark Wolfe]

Coming home today I noticed that all the spirit houses that were at the viewpoint between Lamai and Chaweng beaches have been removed (save one concrete one). This is unconscionable on several levels.

Most important is that it was the only true, homegrown cultural stop in all of Samui. It was a genuine expression of belief and a genuine tourist attraction as well. Even if you didn't fully appreciate why the spirit houses were there, you could not help but be impressed by the meticulousness of the gathering of various icons and related materials.

I cannot even begin to imagine who thought this would be a good idea. It was utterly senseless and the person whose idea it was must not be Thai -- or they have a very un-Thai view of Buddhism and local traditions.

Moreover, the reason that the spirit houses were there was because they cannot be thrown away like trash. So where did they all go?

Is this the first move by the newly elected head of the island? Whoever was behind this, I hope his karma is duly reflected in such a heinous act.

[Birdman]

These are old spirit houses brought to a place with a spirit. They live in trees for instance and next to the viewpoint is such a tree. People believe in spiritualism and that's why many drivers hoot three times over there for good luck.

The Thesaban probably thought, that for tourists, that side could look like a dump and perhaps brought the spirit houses to another proper place for storage.

Edited August 1, 2009 by Birdman

[chelford67]

Very Very sad.... Another Samui landmark trashed.

[Mark Wolfe]

The Thesaban probably thought, that for tourists, that side could look like a dump and perhaps brought the spirit houses to another proper place for storage.

That has been home to the old spirit houses since I first came to Samui 10 years ago. I doubt that any tourist thought it was "a dump"; more that some misguided official thought that it wasn't tidy or some such nonsense.

Whatever the reason, it is pure idiocy.

Luckily, I took a bunch of photos last year.

[koheesti]

I never knew that's where old spirit houses "went to die". You could make a tourist attraction by making a spirit house park around somewhere (like the Magic Garden and its statures). anyone have a few rai to donate?

Edited August 1, 2009 by koheesti

[Mark Wolfe]

The thing about that was that it was not an "organized" affair; it was just where they were put (to overlook the sea, I presume) and naturally the "population" grew. Setting up a tourist site for old spirit houses would be artificial at best and someone would be looking to capitalize on it at worst.

[Birdman]

The Thesaban probably thought, that for tourists, that side could look like a dump and perhaps brought the spirit houses to another proper place for storage.

That has been home to the old spirit houses since I first came to Samui 10 years ago. I doubt that any tourist thought it was "a dump"; more that some misguided official thought that it wasn't tidy or some such nonsense. Whatever the reason, it is pure idiocy.

Luckily, I took a bunch of photos last year.

Speculation, Mark. Only the officials know that for sure. Many tourists know nothing about that.

And you are right in so far as the spirit houses have been there for many years.

[NHJ]

there used to be a lot of spirit houses on the road between 99 hotel and the end of the airport, then last year they were all removed.

[Kan Win]

That has been home to the old spirit houses since I first came to Samui 10 years ago. I doubt that any tourist thought it was "a dump"; more that some misguided official thought that it wasn't tidy or some such nonsense.

Whatever the reason, it is pure idiocy.

Luckily, I took a bunch of photos last year.

Hi 'Mark Wolfe' ,

I know a bit about Koh Samui, so is it possible that you could post those

bunch of photos last year

.

In Kan we have an old tree that they put their old 'Spirit Houses' by.

Thanking you,

Yous truly,

Kan Win

P.S. A map would help as well

P.P.S. Good topic 'Mark Wolfe'

Edited August 1, 2009 by Kan Win

[Rooo]

That has been home to the old spirit houses since I first came to Samui 10 years ago. I doubt that any tourist thought it was "a dump"; more that some misguided official thought that it wasn't tidy or some such nonsense.

Whatever the reason, it is pure idiocy.

Luckily, I took a bunch of photos last year.

Hi 'Mark Wolfe' ,

I know a bit about Koh Samui, so is it possible that you could post those

bunch of photos last year

.

In Kan we have an old tree that they put their old 'Spirit Houses' by.

Thanking you,

Yous truly,

Kan Win

P.S. A map would help as well

P.P.S. Good topic 'Mark Wolfe'

Here Kan Win:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Images-Samui...0&start=230

[Lite Beer]

Thanks for the news and the pictures Mark. My Wife cannot believe they have gone. She thinks it is terrible. Let's hope they are in a temple somewhere being taken care of. I took the liberty of putting a couple of your photos here.

[trashy]

There are still a lot of them on the southern ring road.

So, what are people supposed to do with them when they buy a house that already has one?

[Lite Beer]

There are still a lot of them on the southern ring road.

So, what are people supposed to do with them when they buy a house that already has one?

You take care of it or the spirits (Pee) will bring you bad luck. Is the belief.

http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/spirit_house.html

[limbos]

My wife who's local Samui thought it was great that the new Tessabaan took care and put a very nice, new spirit house there.

There are still a few places on Samui whit a clutter of spirit houses, this definitely wasn't nor isn't the only location, it was a very visible location though.

Here are a bunch of pictures of the mentioned spirit houses taken back in 2007.

Am I correct in the understanding that these road side spirit houses are put there because an accident happened at or near this location and the spirit house is for the spirit of the deceased?

The old spirit houses are probably brought to a temple, just like one does if a Buddha statue or your favorite King/Rama V statues 'breaks' or gets damaged in any other way, you bring the statue to the monks.

Edited August 2, 2009 by limbos

[Mark Wolfe]

My wife who's local Samui thought it was great that the new Tessabaan took care and put a very nice, new spirit house there.

Why? They were not hurting anyone and for people unfamiliar with Thai culture, provided a good touch-point (and they were conveniently right next to the viewpoint). Why would taking something so colorful and interesting to guests to Samui away be "great"?

I might add that the powers-that-be have not seen fit to actually make the water fountain next to the vanished spirit houses function. I guess it's easier to destroy something than actually make something work.

[sbk]

Am I correct in the understanding that these road side spirit houses are put there because an accident happened at or near this location and the spirit house is for the spirit of the deceased?

That has always been my understanding when there are spirit houses on the side of the road.

The large collection occurs when people then bring their broken spirit houses (or ones that need to be moved) and leave them in the same spot as the original that was placed when there was an accident.

[limbos]

Hi SBK,

Thanks for that explanation, that explains indeed the larger collections.

[limbos]

My wife who's local Samui thought it was great that the new Tessabaan took care and put a very nice, new spirit house there.

Why? They were not hurting anyone and for people unfamiliar with Thai culture, provided a good touch-point (and they were conveniently right next to the viewpoint). Why would taking something so colorful and interesting to guests to Samui away be "great"?

I might add that the powers-that-be have not seen fit to actually make the water fountain next to the vanished spirit houses function. I guess it's easier to destroy something than actually make something work.

Mark,

In my book they're also nice and colourful and very rich in 'colour locale'. It was an interesting site but it was also pretty messy and it had been relocated already a few meters after the latest renovations to the viewpoints about a year or so ago. It's unfortunate that it has been replaced but on the other hand, the new spirit house is very nice and in my opinion the new Tessabaan are workign very hard around the island to makes things, better, nicer and safer. Hats off to them for the time being.

[trashy]

My wife who's local Samui thought it was great that the new Tessabaan took care and put a very nice, new spirit house there.

Why? They were not hurting anyone and for people unfamiliar with Thai culture, provided a good touch-point (and they were conveniently right next to the viewpoint). Why would taking something so colorful and interesting to guests to Samui away be "great"?

I might add that the powers-that-be have not seen fit to actually make the water fountain next to the vanished spirit houses function. I guess it's easier to destroy something than actually make something work.

Mark,

In my book they're also nice and colourful and very rich in 'colour locale'. It was an interesting site but it was also pretty messy and it had been relocated already a few meters after the latest renovations to the viewpoints about a year or so ago. It's unfortunate that it has been replaced but on the other hand, the new spirit house is very nice and in my opinion the new Tessabaan are workign very hard around the island to makes things, better, nicer and safer. Hats off to them for the time being.

Agreed Limbos.

I always find them an eyesore, as for accidents, I can hardly see so many accidents occuring on the southern ring road or the road to the airport next to Bandon Hospital. Hopefully the new spirit house might yield enough power to stop the Thais hooting every time they pass.

[happylarry]

I take my dogs walking most days in the Isaan countryside and I am always coming across old spirit houses just dumped and more often than not, smashed to smithereens.

And I dont mean left by a "nice tree".....I mean dumped with a load of rubbish (fly tipped as they do out here).

So not all Thai's share these views of how to deal with an old spirit house.

Literally, I see so many that although I dont know, but I suspect that some think that if they smash the thing up then they get rid of the spirits???????

HL

[Birdman]

My wife who's local Samui thought it was great that the new Tessabaan took care and put a very nice, new spirit house there.

Why? They were not hurting anyone and for people unfamiliar with Thai culture, provided a good touch-point (and they were conveniently right next to the viewpoint). Why would taking something so colorful and interesting to guests to Samui away be "great"?

I might add that the powers-that-be have not seen fit to actually make the water fountain next to the vanished spirit houses function. I guess it's easier to destroy something than actually make something work.

Mark,

In my book they're also nice and colourful and very rich in 'colour locale'. It was an interesting site but it was also pretty messy and it had been relocated already a few meters after the latest renovations to the viewpoints about a year or so ago. It's unfortunate that it has been replaced but on the other hand, the new spirit house is very nice and in my opinion the new Tessabaan are workign very hard around the island to makes things, better, nicer and safer. Hats off to them for the time being.

Agreed Limbos.

I always find them an eyesore, as for accidents, I can hardly see so many accidents occuring on the southern ring road or the road to the airport next to Bandon Hospital. Hopefully the new spirit house might yield enough power to stop the Thais hooting every time they pass.

"See yaek wan jai" is the name of the intersection at Bandon road near 99. Translated "afraid that something bad may happen intersection"...

And why should the Thais stop hooting at spirit places. There is nothing wrong with that.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Birdman

[koheesti]

Am I correct in the understanding that these road side spirit houses are put there because an accident happened at or near this location and the spirit house is for the spirit of the deceased?

That has always been my understanding when there are spirit houses on the side of the road.

The large collection occurs when people then bring their broken spirit houses (or ones that need to be moved) and leave them in the same spot as the original that was placed when there was an accident.

Maybe now there will be less accidents there now that people won't be stopping or slowing down to check out all the spirit houses.

[Mark Wolfe]

limbos:

It was an interesting site but it was also pretty messy ... the new Tessabaan are workign very hard around the island to makes things, better, nicer and safer.

It's the destruction of a homegrown cultural site.

Let's next have the tesaban tear down all those old wooden buildings around the island -- eyesores and firetraps. Forget the historical significance, this is progress we're talking about.

[GarryP]

I don't believe that they are put there because it is an accident black spot or someone died in the vicinity in a car accident. Perhaps the first one to be put there but definitely not the others. When spirit houses and other Bhuddist paraphernalia get damaged, or just need replacing because of age and becoming unsightly they need to be put somewhere. It is bad luck to simply throw them away so an alternative is needed. Often the "dumping ground" of choice is under the shade of a Sai or Po tree. Often the first spirit house to be put up under the tree is for the spirit dwelling in or near the tree. This first house is not a damaged one but up for merit.

You can be sure that when they moved the houses from the "dump" certain rituals were carried out or non-bhuddists were hired to do the moving.

[Samuian]

.... yes and preferable hill crest's!

...shame it has been cleared!

and the site at the ""See yaek wan jai"or near there has been cleared too.

Maybe someone is out to bring some order in the messy spirit world in order

to clear things "down here below"..

I am afraid if this goes on, Samui may reflect the charm of the Tesco/Lotus parking lot soon.

The largest I have ever come across in Thailand is up the way to Chiang Mai

I think it was between Lamphun and CMX on a hill crest just by the highway.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Samuian

[koheesti]

1) Are the local Thais in an uproar over this or just the farang? It's a Buddhist issue, isn't it? [Edit: I was brought up with Judeo-Christian values and it doesn't seem right to dump a spirit house. Maybe they feel differently]

2) What is the procedure for disposing of old spirit houses in large population areas? I can't imagine a place near BKK where a million of these have accumulated over the years.

3) (OT) What happens to all that stuff people leave at grave sites back home? Do the spirits of our loved ones take it or just the groundskeeper?

Edited August 3, 2009 by koheesti