It appears to have been a slow day for this tuk tuk driver in Banghlampu.

As the capital city in a devoutly Buddhist country, Bangkok has no shortage of temples and shrines. Though, while they may offer you a chance at reaching enlightenment, they can’t promise that you’ll get your shoes back once you have it.

Generally, spirit houses are meant to evoke the building that they belong to- luxury hotels have elaborate shrines, financial complexes have sleek modernist spirit-houses, and upcountry homes often have theirs built in a traditional style out of wood. So does this elaborate gold spirithouse outside of a rundown wooden home suggest a desire to move up in the world?

The streets and sidewalks of vendors are crowded with stands, where a wide range of vendors sell their wares. Most stands have obvious purposes: some sell tasty grilled chicken, others offer bootleg DVDs, and some sell cheap tourist t-shirts. But what does the stand topped with the giant cowboy hat sell?

It’s unclear whether it takes it’s name from the image of the King above its entrance, or it’s close proximity to the Royal Palace. Whichever it is, with it’s faded beige walls and graying exterior, The Royal Hotel is looking anything but regal these days.

It’s not quite a hallowed shrine, but even in a dark and dusty alley, these statues of the Buddha retain their serene expression and beatific glow.

The strange, flaking texture of this Buddha’s gold is not a sign of its neglect or abandonment- rather, its a sign of devotion. Visitors to this temple can purchase tiny squares of gold leaf. By affixing the gold to the Buddha, they are helping in the upkeep of the temple, and thereby earning merit for the next life.

Most visitors to Thailand visit the Grand Palace, shop at Chatuchak Weekend Market, and maybe take in a competition of Muay Thai, the local martial arts. But for a real Thai experience, why not play the lotto? Little books of tickets are sold along nearly every boulevard in Bangkok- there are even small markets and special sidewalks devoted to the sale of the tickets. But if you want a little extra luck, try to buy your ticket from a disabled person- though it might not make much sense, they’re said to be the luckiest.

Though they appear delicate and insubstantial when strewn along a temple’s altar, marigolds are an essential offering on any Buddhist shrine. Keeping Bangkok’s many temples, spirit-houses, and altars supplied with marigolds is big business. Just visit Bangkok’s teeming flower markets, and you’ll likely see mountains of the glowing yellow flowers.

Not life forms from an alien planet, not genetic abnormalities- these are simply jack fruit, the world’s largest fruit. Inside the knobbly green shell are pods of dark-yellow flesh. Though the smell is a little strong and the flavor off putting, it can be cooked in delicious curries, and baked into tasty crisps.