Phuket

jimholio · #1 25-01-2005, 06:57

I was gonna ask this alot of times but i allways forget. Anyways, ive got a big dragon tattoo, covering most of my left arm, and i dont know how many times people came up and asked me questions about the tattoo and touching it.

It's REALY wierd, everyone from a middle age man in a jewelry factory in Bangkok to the locals in Kamala asked me questions and wanned to touch it.

Once i was sitting on a beach chair in Kamala and the whole crew of jetski renters came up and asked me questions about it and wanned to touch it.

The staff in a bar called me dragon boy, one of the shopkeepers in Kamala called me dragon. There wasnt one day without atleast 3 people came up and asked me questions about the tattoo and wanned to touch it.

Is there something special about chinese dragons in Thailand? It's not that it bothers me, it was just rather strange

ancientmariner · #2 25-01-2005, 09:26

In most Asian culture the dragon represents power and wealth. It was used as a symbol for the emperor and the royal court, as well as heads of triad rganizations and its members, but usually on their back instead of the arm.

jimholio · #3 25-01-2005, 10:12

hmm that explains why the very drunk russian on our fishingtrip kept saying triad, yakuza while he pointed at my arm. Thanks.

I was thinking that dragon was something special in Asia as iv'e seen dragon decorations around restaurants and stuff like that.

scholtz · #4 25-01-2005, 10:36

It's funny reading this, as I had similar experiences when I was over there last October. I don;t have dragons or anything on my arms, but two half sleves, from the shoulder to the elbow, both fairly bright and colourful. It used to happen all the time walking down beach rd, alot of the tailors who were touting for business would stop me to look and touch them. At the time I thought it was just another way to try and get me to buy suits or something. It even got to the point while buying t-shirts one day, the 2 girls who were working the stalls starting to try and take my clothes off to see if I had any more that they couldn't see.

I don't know what the reason is, maybe they just admire the work as I noticed alot of the thais had work done as well. That's just my 2cents worth anyway.

ancientmariner · #5 25-01-2005, 11:30

Many Asian cultures believe that the dragon is heaven’s messager, or a sign from the above that foretells the future, so someone with a dragon tattoo would be seen as an appointed, or a chosen one from heaven. And those who had the chance to witness the one who bears the dragon, and to actually touch it, were count as good luck and believe that it would bring good fortune.

The other creature that has similar symbolic meaning to complement the dragon would be the phoenix. This is more mythical than religious.

IreMark · #6 25-01-2005, 18:16

I found this also, I have no dragon tattoo but anything unusual seems to get alot of attention. I had a huge mohawk(punk type) and everyone loved it. I couldnt walk down the street, it was like I was famous or something.

andy50 · #7 26-01-2005, 01:15

i found the same thing happened to me, ive got a huge beer gut ,and everyone shouted "pom-pouy"!

eric-the-viking · #8 26-01-2005, 01:46

thats nothing Andy you should see them grab my man boobs

jimholio · #9 26-01-2005, 04:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy50

i found the same thing happened to me, ive got a huge beer gut ,and everyone shouted "pom-pouy"!

LOL yea, you have been working on that belly alot longer then the 9 hours it took to finish my tattoo, so i guess you should be proud

dizbuster · #10 26-01-2005, 04:52

Oh yes !! The LBFM's sure love a pom-pooey !!

I am always getting girls running up to me and trying to put their arms all the way around me !! At first, I thought it was a rouse to try and grab my wallet, but now I realise it's not and I enjoy the experience !!