Homepage > My Holidays Around Thailand > Buffalo Racing Photo Gallery 01

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If someone called me a “buffalo”, I definitely would not be happy about it. That is because in Thailand, when someone is acting like an idiot, we call them “buffalo” or kwai in Thai. I am not sure how this tradition started. I can understand why a teacher calls a naughty student “monkey” but is a buffalo really stupid?

As a city boy, I had never really seen a buffalo close up. Of course, I had seen pictures of them ploughing the rice paddies and pulling heavy carts. To me, they looked like hard working animals. Maybe people call buffaloes stupid because they are slow animals. Anyway, that is what I thought until I heard about the buffalo racing in Chonburi! Yes, you heard right!

Of all the festivals in Thailand, I think the Buffalo Racing is the most amazing. It all started over a hundred years ago when there were two men arguing about whose buffalo was the fastest. They ended up having a race between the two buffaloes. That’s how it became a tradition. So, this year I decided to go and see for myself.

During my holiday in October 2003, I went to Chonburi with my friend to watch the famous "Baffalo Racing" festival. From where we are, Samut Prakan, it only took us about one and a half hours to go down there in the morning. I really have to say that it's more than worth it to come all the way here, I am glad I made the right decision. Before we went to see the race, we walked pass one kind of game that is called "Climb up the greasy poll".

When we first arrived it looked just like the temple fair we have in Samut Prakan. There were bumper cars and shooting galleries and a lot more. But, there were a few differences. I was amazed to see a boxing ring, which really interested me. It was so exciting to have a chance to watch real boxing. This was the first time in my life.

About fifty metres away there were a lot of people standing around a pole watching some kids trying to climb to the top. At first I didn’t understand why. Then I looked up and saw some hundred baht bank notes hanging up there and a bit higher up there was a five hundred and a thousand baht bank note. They tried lots of different ways but each time they kept slipping down the greasy pole!

Some adults and kids are trying to get to the top where the money is, it's quite funny and exciting standing there watching them!

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