Visitors to Thailand naturally have a problem with the language which has its own unique script based on Sanskrit. Fortunately a lot of signs are now written in Roman symbols. The signs in the photo shows the way to Chiang Mai's biggest hospital. So, if you are tourist in need of urgent medical attention because you fell on a Russels Viper when you were knocked off your bicycle by an elephant, you should have no problem getting to Maharach (first sign). Or is it Maharaj (second sign)? Actually, its pronounced Mah-hah-rrat, but this doesn't matter because the locals do not call it that. (If you ask a taxi driver to take you to Maharach or Maharaj he will not have a clue what you are talking about) They call it Rahmpreeabahn Suandoc, which is much easier, isn't it. Rahmpreeabahn Suandoc means “flower garden hospital” which is nice, but the hospital does not actually have a flower garden and never had one. It is called flower garden hospital because it is opposite Wat Suandoc, which means Flower Garden Temple. Of course, the temple does not actually have much of a flower garden…
Eric
1/5/2016 04:34:47 am
... and why do they write "rong payabaan maharat" in Thai if it's called Flower Garden (Suan Doc)?
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Conrad
1/5/2016 07:22:54 am
Maharaj is the official name, but most people don't use it
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Eric
1/5/2016 04:35:49 am
Forgot to click the "new comments" box, sorry, did now
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Dr Frank Gregory has been writing weird things for decades. Archives
December 2015
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