Another river boat ride to the Artist's House where we watched a puppet show. That sounds like story time at the library but these were detailed full body puppets run by 2-3 puppeteers with long stickes, a little like Kermit and the muppets, but the dancers move with the puppets so when the puppet kicks the dancers do too. It was a simple story of two of the gods, but magical to see the puppets take on emotion and action and this is becoming a lost art here so I was glad to see it.
Speaking of gods, the Buddists do not have them - just the Buddha as a teacher, not to be served or honored. All the statues and bowing and gifts Might not have been in his original vision. But because Thailand is such a crossroads of cultures the Hindu gods are welcome and worshiped as well. So the typical Wat will be surrounded by statues of monkey gods and warriors but inside is a gold Buddah.
Also present are many Chinese statues, warriors, animals, not at all attached to any religion but everywhere! It seems the Thai used to send large shipments of rice and other goods to China. On the way home they did not bring as much so they needed ballast. China had lots of extra statues hanging around so they threw in a few on each trip. And populated the entrance of every temple with them!
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