Miss Singapore Universe Cheryl Tay, left, and Miss USA Universe Chelsea Cooley pose in their swimsuits on the Grand Pearl on the Chao Praya River in Bangkok. (AP Photo/Miss Universe, Patrick Prather, HO)
Posted on 05/20/2005 1:11:34 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Miss Universe organisers scrambled on Thursday to calm a furore over photos of bikini-clad contestants posing near an ancient Buddhist temple in pageant host Thailand after the images infuriated religious leaders.
The photos, which showed beauty queens on a Bangkok river cruise with the famed Wat Arun, or "Temple of Dawn", in the background, were swiftly removed from the pageant Web site.
But religious leaders and culture watchdogs are still upset, saying the episode violated traditional values and morality just days before a key Buddhist holiday.
"This is the time of Visakha Bucha when we are reminded of Lord Buddha's teachings. But we have allowed this thing which will mark the country with sin for a long time," Phra Thep Dilok, head of the National Center for Buddhism Promotion, said.
The chair of the Senate tourism committee, Suradech Yasawat, said the photos, which were splashed on the front pages of most Thai newspapers, had hurt the country's image.
"It is completely inappropriate. When a contest is being held in Thailand, Thai traditions and culture should be respected," he told the Thai News Agency.
About 90 per cent of Thailand's 63 million people are Buddhist and any slight against the religion can trigger a public outcry.
Last year, the director of the US movie Hollywood Buddha apologised for offending Thais by sitting on the head of a Buddha image for an advertising poster. Thai Buddhists consider the head the most sacred part of the body and it is not to be touched.
And despite Bangkok's hundreds of go-go bars and its racy reputation as the "anything goes" sex capital of Southeast Asia, many Thais are uncomfortable with public nudity.
What! No pictures?
So... How many people were killed in the subsequent rioting?
Interesting ...in a country infamous for child prostitution ; sex tours ; etc...
Miss Singapore Universe Cheryl Tay, left, and Miss USA Universe Chelsea Cooley pose in their swimsuits on the Grand Pearl on the Chao Praya River in Bangkok. (AP Photo/Miss Universe, Patrick Prather, HO)
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
Duplicate (about 4 time ).
Still, nice pics ;-)
Yum. Now I can surf the archives...
I thought Buddhists were more laid back than that??
I wonder if some of those Hollywood Buddhist types will speak out about the intolerance of their fellow believers??? That is a rhetorical question of course. I figure since those same celebrities are so quick to denounce Christians.
<< Interesting ...in a country infamous for child prostitution ; sex tours ; etc ... >>
There are no more people per capita engaged in the sex business here in Thailand than anywhere else on Earth, including America. Child prostitution is hardly of the scale of bringing "infamy" and in any case almost every customer and every tour operator is a foreigner from such superior and one would presume infamy-avoiding countries as America and from Britain and the various other Europeon states.
And although I've been pretty observant during the 44 years since I first came to Asia, I have yet to meet a Thai [Or for that matter any other kind of Asian] slut.
BUMPping
Miss Singapore needs a burger and fries.
Sawasdee Krap'ing!
Thailand is very conservative.
" And although I've been pretty observant during the 44 years since I first came to Asia, I have yet to meet a Thai [Or for that matter any other kind of Asian] slut. "
Brian Brian ...chill out man ...It's only a bikini ...And sluts are everywhere ...Maybe you don't get around much these days ?
I'll take Miss Singapore ! HOT !
Your 44 years have not deceived you. One could as easily (and as inaccurately) say:
"In a country famous for Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, . . . ." Just making a point. It is too easy to take an incident and condemn an entire people.
You mean like
Good One!!! Have not seen it for years. "Old Frothingslosh...the beer with the head at the bottom" was the slogan
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