also a member of the royal family can attract what he want and wearing tattoos as he wants – in his age he know what is flattering or unflattering for him when he appears in public.-
that this is his normal clothing show us a article in the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that quote the mayor of tutzing ( the cronprince new hometown at starnberger see):
the crown prince came in a white Porsche. He was dressed in a fashionable jeans with cracks and was wearing a midriff-baring T-shirt and a black leather jacket, then Botas recalls. “He was very pleasant and not at all pretentious.” Accompanied had him 20 people in eight minibuses: bodyguards, employees, women.
süddeutsche Zeitung : http://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/starnberger-see-der-kronprinz-von-tutzing-1.3089082
The Crown Prince has often made headlines in German media – so he knows what he is doing with his public appearances…
My bet is on non permanent tattoo stickers. He wears the tank top in order to not ruin them because they where freshly applied while he was on the plane. What else you could do on a boring time consuming flight. Maybe he plays a dad joke on his son or is on a way to a private pool party which has a little silly motto. He did this for fun.
It is just a private man caught in a private moment by a paparazzi. Stepping out his private plane and walking to his private car to be driven to his private home. He is human too and will not dress every minute around the clock as he would in a more official and public situation.
Glad to see that no harm came to anyone. But honestly, the authorities’ reaction should surprise no one, and could have (should have?) been anticipated. Given their fondness for arbitrary detention, it’s more surprising to see her freed so quickly. Regarding the photos, what’s the big deal? A middle-aged aged man overdoes the tattoos and dresses like a fool– welcome to Thailand. If we believe in individual freedoms, perhaps we should restrain ourselves from such gleeful gossip–itself highly conservative and prescriptive–and concentrate on more meaningful matters of reform and democratization. Mature, serious advocates for human rights and justice have better things to do.
[…] The pictures of the prince are parts of two posts at New Mandala, one by Paul Handley and the other by Christine Gray. Both worth reading in the context of the Bild stories. THe […]
[…] The pictures of the prince are parts of two posts at New Mandala, one by Paul Handley and the other by Christine Gray. Both worth reading in the context of the Bild stories. THe […]
As i have a bit of a collection of tattoos myself, i may share a few points. Soon after tattooing a crust builds on the tattoo, similar to a fresh wound. That, depending on the needles used, can be thicker or thinner. Also, it depending on the aftercare, where one applies either Vaseline or a healing creme on the freshly inked skin. This leaves the skin soft, which is quite important. After several days to a week when the skin is healed the crust falls or peels off. The fresh tattoo is in the first months the brightest, and will fade over the years, depending on the ink used, quicker or slower.
Traditional Thai Sak Yant are far more painful than western style tattoos, but they heal much quicker, as not large sectors of skin are affected, but only points. Also, Sak Yant are not just applied visibly with ink, but also in oil, which is not visible. For many professions, especially in civil service and police, tattoos are not allowed. People still want to have the powers a Sak Yant will give, be they protective, aggressive (lower body), or charms. So, even if one does not seem to be tattooed, one may still be covered in Sak Yant.
I guess there will be confirmation next time he puts on a t-shirt or a wife beater. He lives in Germany and unlike Thailand it’s a free country so I’m sure Bild will do a follow up after their integrity has been questioned.
Die thailändische Polizei behauptet jetzt in einer offiziellen Stellungnahme, die besagten Fotos seien Fälschungen. Außerdem wurde suggeriert, Journalist Marshall sei möglicherweise Urheber der Fälschungen.
Diese Behauptungen sind unwahr.
Eine Sprecherin der Axel Springer SE stellt klar: „BILD hat die Echtheit der Fotos überprüft. Der Leser-Reporter ist nicht Andrew McGregor Marshall.“
Ploy and Charlie departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 0950 local time this morning on a flight to Paris and will be in Scotland by the end of today. I would like to offer my warmest thanks to everybody who gave us help and support over the past two days.
Special thanks to Mish Khan and New Mandala. A huge number of articles were published yesterday about Ploy having her home raided and then being detained for questioning. The global media attention was decisive in safeguarding Ploy and her family and ensuring a positive outcome. Indeed, yesterday afternoon while she was still in detention, Ploy was given her phone back by Thai police specifically so she could call me and implore me on their behalf to help dial down the relentless media attention.
Of all the articles published yesterday that helped us, the first was by New Mandala. Thank you.
You are quite right that Vajiralongkorn did not appear to be tattooed in 2015, Mike Johnson, as we saw in the photograph at the swimming pool in Germany, and the photographs from the Bike For Dad event.
However you are stumbling into an obvious logical fallacy if you believe that just because the crown prince was not tattooed in 2015, there is no way he could have tattoos in 2016. Obviously it is perfectly possible that he got tattooed sometime between the Bike For Dad event and now. Indeed, as several people have pointed out, it may be the case that the tattoos are fresh, and this is why he was wearing no shirt (it’s very painful to have clothes making contact with newly tattooed skin) and why he then borrowed a singlet from his wife, which (to put it politely) was a little too small for him.
There are plenty of people with enough expertise in photoshop to be able to determine if these photos are faked. I can guarantee you that nobody with genuine expertise will step forward to say the pictures ate fake, because they are 100% genuine. Axel Springer, the parent company of Bild Zeitung, has also released a statement confirming the photographs are genuine.
So there is no need to worry about New Mandala being “left looking ridiculous”. You are the one who will be left looking ridiculous if you continue to insist the images are fake despite clearly not knowing what you are talking about.
Well a big thank you to Professor Jory for clarifying what he’s on about re. Khomeini. That’s certainly an interesting exercise : compare and contrast Iran to Thailand. Mossadegh to Pridi ? There’s actually a lot of angles to Jory’s very insightful comparison. From a historical point of view – for starters – Khomeini’s rabid anti-socialism (anti-Marxism) would have to be factored in, and terms such as republicanism (of WHAT VARIETY ?) very clearly defined. During the Cold War it was noted by scholars such as Frank Knopfelmacher that Islam appeared to be THE most Marxist-resistant thought system (ditto socialist resistant ?), but Khomeini adapted this in a HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE republican direction, coming to power on the one thing the vast majority of Iranians could agree on, i.e. Islam. I would n’t think Buddhism is anything like as resistant to either republicanism per se, or its’ socialist variants, given how many Buddhist majority countries have adopted either outright republicanism or very constricted constitutional monarchy. Plenty of food for thought in Jory’s very intriguing comparison.
Please do your research before accepting silly fake photos. Prince Vajiralongkorn fully showed both his arms (no tattoos whatsoever) at the Bike For Dad charity cycling event quite recently. These photos are widely available – indeed hundreds of photos were taken by hundreds of people on the route fully showing both the Prince’s untattooed arms. He was not wearing tung kairn (sun sleeves) to cover anything up.
You must now state publicly that you accept the Bild photos were fake. If you don’t your web site will be left looking ridiculous.
I have a recent photo in my possession that even shows the Prince in only swimming trunks at the pool with his son. No tattoos.
Thanks for a detailed and persuasive comment. I still think the argument about critical literacy applies generally, but with modifications and limitations for different régimes.
The excessively authoritarian Thai public education system reflects the tight control of the elite. It has crippled science for Thais because they can’t think inductively: they can’t invent new rules to fit data because inventing rules is strictly for their masters, never for them. Rules are always handed down from above.
There is a link here between science and democracy which explains why they evolved together. In science, everybody is allowed to have a go at finding rules to fit the data. It’s whether the rule works when tested by others that counts, not the status of the person who proposes it. In a democracy that is working well, an electorate which can think critically has to be persuaded by evidence which laws (rules) operate best, and gives their elected representatives the job of shaping them.
Arguably Buddhism has always been “elitist”, especially compared to Christianity (a Jewish carpenter’s son challenges the Roman Empire) or Islam (an illiterate merchant challenges the Arab elite).
The Buddha was the son of a king. In the popular Jataka stories, where most SEAsian Theravadins traditionally learnt much of their Buddhism, the bodhisatta-hero of the story is almost always a prince, king, brahman, or merchant. As I’ve argued, the theory of merit easily lends itself to elitism. Powerful and wealthy people can make more merit than poor people because they have greater resources at their disposal.
Re. “many interpretations”, but isn’t this precisely the reality of practising Buddhists? Apart from state Buddhism we have the Buddhadasa followers, the Dhammakaya, Santi Asok, the Northeast forest monk tradition, cults like the one around Luang Pu Thuat, and the myriad local Buddhist practices, which McDaniel talks about in his Lovelorn Ghost book. And that’s just Thailand.
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Royal ink
also a member of the royal family can attract what he want and wearing tattoos as he wants – in his age he know what is flattering or unflattering for him when he appears in public.-
that this is his normal clothing show us a article in the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that quote the mayor of tutzing ( the cronprince new hometown at starnberger see):
the crown prince came in a white Porsche. He was dressed in a fashionable jeans with cracks and was wearing a midriff-baring T-shirt and a black leather jacket, then Botas recalls. “He was very pleasant and not at all pretentious.” Accompanied had him 20 people in eight minibuses: bodyguards, employees, women.
süddeutsche Zeitung : http://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/starnberger-see-der-kronprinz-von-tutzing-1.3089082
The Crown Prince has often made headlines in German media – so he knows what he is doing with his public appearances…
Royal ink
My bet is on non permanent tattoo stickers. He wears the tank top in order to not ruin them because they where freshly applied while he was on the plane. What else you could do on a boring time consuming flight. Maybe he plays a dad joke on his son or is on a way to a private pool party which has a little silly motto. He did this for fun.
It is just a private man caught in a private moment by a paparazzi. Stepping out his private plane and walking to his private car to be driven to his private home. He is human too and will not dress every minute around the clock as he would in a more official and public situation.
Thai authorities target critic’s wife
Glad to see that no harm came to anyone. But honestly, the authorities’ reaction should surprise no one, and could have (should have?) been anticipated. Given their fondness for arbitrary detention, it’s more surprising to see her freed so quickly. Regarding the photos, what’s the big deal? A middle-aged aged man overdoes the tattoos and dresses like a fool– welcome to Thailand. If we believe in individual freedoms, perhaps we should restrain ourselves from such gleeful gossip–itself highly conservative and prescriptive–and concentrate on more meaningful matters of reform and democratization. Mature, serious advocates for human rights and justice have better things to do.
Royal ink
No, that’s how he stands.
Royal ink
[…] The pictures of the prince are parts of two posts at New Mandala, one by Paul Handley and the other by Christine Gray. Both worth reading in the context of the Bild stories. THe […]
Royal ink
[…] The pictures of the prince are parts of two posts at New Mandala, one by Paul Handley and the other by Christine Gray. Both worth reading in the context of the Bild stories. THe […]
Royal ink
NO, that’s how he stands.
Royal ink
As i have a bit of a collection of tattoos myself, i may share a few points. Soon after tattooing a crust builds on the tattoo, similar to a fresh wound. That, depending on the needles used, can be thicker or thinner. Also, it depending on the aftercare, where one applies either Vaseline or a healing creme on the freshly inked skin. This leaves the skin soft, which is quite important. After several days to a week when the skin is healed the crust falls or peels off. The fresh tattoo is in the first months the brightest, and will fade over the years, depending on the ink used, quicker or slower.
Traditional Thai Sak Yant are far more painful than western style tattoos, but they heal much quicker, as not large sectors of skin are affected, but only points. Also, Sak Yant are not just applied visibly with ink, but also in oil, which is not visible. For many professions, especially in civil service and police, tattoos are not allowed. People still want to have the powers a Sak Yant will give, be they protective, aggressive (lower body), or charms. So, even if one does not seem to be tattooed, one may still be covered in Sak Yant.
Royal ink
I guess there will be confirmation next time he puts on a t-shirt or a wife beater. He lives in Germany and unlike Thailand it’s a free country so I’m sure Bild will do a follow up after their integrity has been questioned.
Royal ink
Die thailändische Polizei behauptet jetzt in einer offiziellen Stellungnahme, die besagten Fotos seien Fälschungen. Außerdem wurde suggeriert, Journalist Marshall sei möglicherweise Urheber der Fälschungen.
Diese Behauptungen sind unwahr.
Eine Sprecherin der Axel Springer SE stellt klar: „BILD hat die Echtheit der Fotos überprüft. Der Leser-Reporter ist nicht Andrew McGregor Marshall.“
Royal ink
Wouldn’t it be equally or more logical to assume this is body paint rather than permanent tattoos?
Royal ink
I assume Mike Johnson was Thai Royalist because the way he claim the photo is fake was normal reaction like many stupid Royalist.
Royal ink
Is it possible to be a body paint?
Royal ink
To my eyes, the tiny shirt and the peculiarly stiff posture are evidence that the tattoos are not merely recent but rather fresh and painful still.
Thai authorities target critic’s wife
Ploy and Charlie departed from Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 0950 local time this morning on a flight to Paris and will be in Scotland by the end of today. I would like to offer my warmest thanks to everybody who gave us help and support over the past two days.
Special thanks to Mish Khan and New Mandala. A huge number of articles were published yesterday about Ploy having her home raided and then being detained for questioning. The global media attention was decisive in safeguarding Ploy and her family and ensuring a positive outcome. Indeed, yesterday afternoon while she was still in detention, Ploy was given her phone back by Thai police specifically so she could call me and implore me on their behalf to help dial down the relentless media attention.
Of all the articles published yesterday that helped us, the first was by New Mandala. Thank you.
Royal ink
You are quite right that Vajiralongkorn did not appear to be tattooed in 2015, Mike Johnson, as we saw in the photograph at the swimming pool in Germany, and the photographs from the Bike For Dad event.
However you are stumbling into an obvious logical fallacy if you believe that just because the crown prince was not tattooed in 2015, there is no way he could have tattoos in 2016. Obviously it is perfectly possible that he got tattooed sometime between the Bike For Dad event and now. Indeed, as several people have pointed out, it may be the case that the tattoos are fresh, and this is why he was wearing no shirt (it’s very painful to have clothes making contact with newly tattooed skin) and why he then borrowed a singlet from his wife, which (to put it politely) was a little too small for him.
There are plenty of people with enough expertise in photoshop to be able to determine if these photos are faked. I can guarantee you that nobody with genuine expertise will step forward to say the pictures ate fake, because they are 100% genuine. Axel Springer, the parent company of Bild Zeitung, has also released a statement confirming the photographs are genuine.
So there is no need to worry about New Mandala being “left looking ridiculous”. You are the one who will be left looking ridiculous if you continue to insist the images are fake despite clearly not knowing what you are talking about.
Thailand’s hidden republican tradition
Well a big thank you to Professor Jory for clarifying what he’s on about re. Khomeini. That’s certainly an interesting exercise : compare and contrast Iran to Thailand. Mossadegh to Pridi ? There’s actually a lot of angles to Jory’s very insightful comparison. From a historical point of view – for starters – Khomeini’s rabid anti-socialism (anti-Marxism) would have to be factored in, and terms such as republicanism (of WHAT VARIETY ?) very clearly defined. During the Cold War it was noted by scholars such as Frank Knopfelmacher that Islam appeared to be THE most Marxist-resistant thought system (ditto socialist resistant ?), but Khomeini adapted this in a HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE republican direction, coming to power on the one thing the vast majority of Iranians could agree on, i.e. Islam. I would n’t think Buddhism is anything like as resistant to either republicanism per se, or its’ socialist variants, given how many Buddhist majority countries have adopted either outright republicanism or very constricted constitutional monarchy. Plenty of food for thought in Jory’s very intriguing comparison.
Royal ink
Please do your research before accepting silly fake photos. Prince Vajiralongkorn fully showed both his arms (no tattoos whatsoever) at the Bike For Dad charity cycling event quite recently. These photos are widely available – indeed hundreds of photos were taken by hundreds of people on the route fully showing both the Prince’s untattooed arms. He was not wearing tung kairn (sun sleeves) to cover anything up.
You must now state publicly that you accept the Bild photos were fake. If you don’t your web site will be left looking ridiculous.
I have a recent photo in my possession that even shows the Prince in only swimming trunks at the pool with his son. No tattoos.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/thais-bike-for-dad-in-bangkok-1449835569
Thailand’s hidden republican tradition
Thanks for a detailed and persuasive comment. I still think the argument about critical literacy applies generally, but with modifications and limitations for different régimes.
The excessively authoritarian Thai public education system reflects the tight control of the elite. It has crippled science for Thais because they can’t think inductively: they can’t invent new rules to fit data because inventing rules is strictly for their masters, never for them. Rules are always handed down from above.
There is a link here between science and democracy which explains why they evolved together. In science, everybody is allowed to have a go at finding rules to fit the data. It’s whether the rule works when tested by others that counts, not the status of the person who proposes it. In a democracy that is working well, an electorate which can think critically has to be persuaded by evidence which laws (rules) operate best, and gives their elected representatives the job of shaping them.
Thailand’s hidden republican tradition
Arguably Buddhism has always been “elitist”, especially compared to Christianity (a Jewish carpenter’s son challenges the Roman Empire) or Islam (an illiterate merchant challenges the Arab elite).
The Buddha was the son of a king. In the popular Jataka stories, where most SEAsian Theravadins traditionally learnt much of their Buddhism, the bodhisatta-hero of the story is almost always a prince, king, brahman, or merchant. As I’ve argued, the theory of merit easily lends itself to elitism. Powerful and wealthy people can make more merit than poor people because they have greater resources at their disposal.
Re. “many interpretations”, but isn’t this precisely the reality of practising Buddhists? Apart from state Buddhism we have the Buddhadasa followers, the Dhammakaya, Santi Asok, the Northeast forest monk tradition, cults like the one around Luang Pu Thuat, and the myriad local Buddhist practices, which McDaniel talks about in his Lovelorn Ghost book. And that’s just Thailand.