Inside Bangkok’s bustling used book stores, where English and Chinese readers search for hidden gems
- Bangkok has a thriving second-hand book market popular with English and Chinese readers who can find titles of all kinds, including out-of-print books
- According to the city’s ‘godfather of the second-hand book industry’, Chinese customers often buy books to translate into Chinese for the local market
Buddhist monk Ratha Vayagool, 51, is a frequent visitor to Dasa Book Café. One of Bangkok’s most popular second-hand bookshops, it is situated in the middle of the city’s main residential neighbourhood for well-off Thais and the expatriate community.
“I come and browse,” Ratha says. “Sometimes I go to the third floor and I will stay for six hours. You never know what you will find. That’s what I like about it.”
Ratha is an atypical Thai monk. His father was in the diplomatic service, so from the age of two to 24 he lived abroad, attending international schools where he became fluent in English and French. After returning to Thailand in 1992, he worked at a bank. After failing the foreign service exam four times because of his imperfect Thai language skills, he became a monk at the age of 30.
He studied meditation for several years and ended up teaching Buddhist practice at a temple in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, using English to instruct mostly foreigners. Ten years ago he settled at a temple in Ayutthaya, the old capital 90 kilometres (56 miles) north of Bangkok.
Styling himself as an “independent spiritual adviser” Ratha now takes on individuals (mostly Thais) seeking private consultations on religious or personal matters. Keeping himself well-informed, partly through his extensive and eclectic reading, is one way he keeps his wits keen and is one of the reasons he frequents Dasa and other bookshops.
“When people are coming to you for advice they will ask a lot of questions,” Ratha says. “At some point you need to find different ways of teaching. I am always learning; I have to update myself constantly. The mind needs to be flexible to see the inner shadows of the psyche.”
