Brunch with Battutah
Motorcycle ride - Koh Phangan, Thailand
Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 6 February 2008 in Transportation and Portfolio.
I saw whole families on little bikes like this, mother, father and two kids.
This mother and baby are looking at a western-style gym. I was sitting across the road waiting for a taxi. A little later, two big Western men with huge muscles from pumping iron came out of the building. It was a strange sight on this exotic Thai island. The men had come all this distance to do exactly what they do at home. The pair had a sleek, powerful, menacing look. I thought it was a good idea not to snap their picture.
dpm from malé, Maldives
What you describe is a common thing in some Asian countries; I guess if they could afford a safer mode of transport people will never put them selves in situations like that.
Wonderful story on the muscle men
6 Feb 2008 5:23am
@dpm: Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.
Babul Bhatt from Bombay, India
Sometimes you can see a complete family of 5 onto a two-wheeler or a baby hanging off mother's elbow... Dangerous ways of survival but then.... that's how life is in Asia. Sad but true. We sometimes tend to ignore and keep treading each day... Alas...
6 Feb 2008 7:26am
@Babul Bhatt: Thank you, Babul. It is only strange to western eyes because we are so safety oriented and would be arrested by the police in a second traveling this way. But i know it is an Asian necessity.
the lightwriter from oosterwolde, Netherlands
Hi Michael, this one is well framed in the back ground with the blue window and cycle.
6 Feb 2008 8:09am
@the lightwriter: Thank you, LW.
@ManuelaR: Thank you, Manuela.
@eddy: Thank you, Eddy.
givethemhell from Germany
It was a good idea to take a photo of the Thai mother and child instead of two big blown up white muscle dudes. Who wants to see those anyway? I certainly don't. If you could have taken photos of their brain size it might have been so small as not to be seen.
6 Feb 2008 10:01am
@givethemhell: Your comment really gave me a laugh. Thanks so much.
@Teresa Durães: A nice comment. Thank you, Teresa.
@Helma: Thank you, Helma.
Steven from Montreal, Canada
The colors and lines are terrific and the motorcycle scene is disturbing, great capture!
6 Feb 2008 10:41am
@Steven: Certainly disturbing to our safety-oriented eyes. Thanks, Steven.
@Sujit Sudhi: Thank you, Sujit.
Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, QC, Canada
I like how they look into the gym as a symbol of a foreign world for them.
6 Feb 2008 11:51am
@Wolfgang Prigge: Yes, Wolfgang. That's an excellent way of putting it. Thank you.
Judy from Brooksville-Florida,, United States
Perfect timing, Michael, to catch both Mama and baby looking left. I guess one of the first lessons for a young Thai child is BALANCE! Your caption is wonderful and I'm happy to learn that it's not just me who steers clear of "snapping" certain persons.
6 Feb 2008 11:52am
@Judy: Thanks, Judy. Great comment. There are a certain number of questionable people living in Thailand. Best avoided.
Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan
I was always amazed in my travels through southeast Asia to see such a huge number of motorcycles, all types and all colours! And then...the taxicabs...some were quite an experience!
6 Feb 2008 11:56am
@Japanalia: I agree. Like the Tuk Tuk taxi in Thailand. Thanks, Gabriela.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
I think the colors and angles are really great in this scene; and the 2 people on the motorbike are a real interest-grabber as an addition. I'm glad you didn't just take a shot of the colorful building without the people.
6 Feb 2008 12:14pm
@Viewfinder: Thanks, VF. I found the people and how they were traveling most interesting. The building was just there at the time.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
lol Brilliant of you not to shoot the two men, besides, this is a terrific photo. Love the family sentiment...and the unusual transportation of mom and baby ;)
6 Feb 2008 12:50pm
@Lorraine: Thanks, Lorraine. The kind of westerners they have there, I'd probably be taken as a police spy. Only unusual transport for us. There, that's how families regularly travel. No hard boots, no helmets, no leathers. Just like they were at the beach.
paola veneziani photography from Brescia, Italy
mi piace la composizione e i colori sono stupendi! bravo!
6 Feb 2008 3:13pm
@paola veneziani photography: Grazie, Paola.
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Love the colors of the composition, but I am not sure if I should be alarmed or saddened by the fact that the baby was riding like that. :-| I think you made the right choice on who not to photograph.
6 Feb 2008 3:17pm
@Steven: Thanks, Steven. This is how they ride in Thailand, sometimes four to one bike. It looks really unsafe to our eyes.
Henri from paris, France
J'ai toujours peur pour les enfants quand je les vois sur un deux roues!
6 Feb 2008 3:56pm
@Henri: Je pense que ces personnes ne pensent pas à la sûreté de la même manière. Merci, Henri.
Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States
A great snap by itself (not with the two guys). I once saw a family of 5 (believe it or not) on a motorcycle while traveling in the Philippines. In America they would be arrested and ticketed and their children may be taken away from them for child endangerment. I love the differences in cultures!
6 Feb 2008 4:00pm
@Craiger: I like the differences too. We are very rule and safety oriented in the west. Thanks, Craiger.
Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada
What a talking snap shot, a gym for the pleasure of whealty people
and an unsafe ride of motorcycle for a mother and her baby for the utility.
Gilles Martineau
6 Feb 2008 4:58pm
@Gilles Martineau: What an excellent comment you make. Thank you, Gilles.
Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada
Maybe the two toughs would have been proud to pose for you. Show off their bodies. Many mutants are like that. Oops, I hope I don't offend anyone.
6 Feb 2008 5:00pm
@Michael Rawluk: You make a good point, Michael. I've met body builders who are exactly like that. Thanks.
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Good shot, another top photo opportunity. Iwonder what they were waiting for outside the gym.
6 Feb 2008 5:09pm
@Richard_Irwin: The two muscle men got into a jeep wrangler and zipped off. Thanks, Richard.
Oswegan from Lake Oswego, United States
Yikes! What a scary thought. I hope they don't actually ride around like that.
Anyway, nice capture.
6 Feb 2008 5:52pm
@Oswegan: Thanks. This is a rather under-utilized motorbike. Sometimes there are two more.
standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France
Very nice capture. They seem very captivated by what's going on behind the window. I like the colours and the window frame. I bet you didn't shoot "muscle men"
6 Feb 2008 7:20pm
@standley: True, I didn't. Thank you, Standley.
Scotfot from Kabul, Afghanistan
Perfectly composed! 'Muscle men' Live dangerously... I'd have gone for it.. though I might have asked first :-) Bob
6 Feb 2008 7:44pm
@Scotfot: As someone pointed out, such people often want their photo taken. Thank you, Bob.
Laurent from Lyon, France
I like the colors of this shot.
Very interesting, the way they both look to the gym (even if we ant't see there faces). A kind of two different world meeting
6 Feb 2008 7:56pm
@Laurent: Yes, you sum it up well. Thank you, Laurent.
@Cathie et Michel: Thank you so much.
Frankie from Boxmeer, Netherlands
This image and your story make me smile. Nice composition. I hope she drove not to fast with the ittle baby in front of here.
6 Feb 2008 8:36pm
@Frankie: I'm so glad you had a smile. I think it was an everyday thing for her to carry the baby like that. Thank you, Frankie.
Ken McCoy from Orlando-Daytona Beach, FL, United States
What, no car seat? We would be arrested in the USA.
6 Feb 2008 9:47pm
@Ken McCoy: Certainly shocking to western eyes. Thanks, Ken.
Earnest from Oklahoma, United States
Without a motorized getaway vehicle I wouldn't have shot their picture either. Super sharp photo!
6 Feb 2008 9:50pm
@Earnest: I agree. It's hard to know who your dealing with in a place like that. Thanks, Earnest.
amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada
Cultural differences are what make the world go round. Great story again Michael!! This is also the way in the Cook Islands... flip flops, many people, one bike!! (and usually a scar or two on their legs from the mufflers... referred to as the Cook Island tatoo)
6 Feb 2008 10:40pm
@amy: Great and interesting comment, Amy. Thank you.
@Reza: Thank you, Reza.
@Jen: Thanks, Jen.
Photographs by M.E. from Encino, United States
nice! the colors and shapes seems to coordinate with each other - well spotted!
7 Feb 2008 2:11am
@Photographs by M.E.: Many thanks, M.E.
@alla: Only in the third world I guess. Thanks, Alla.
