Although it looks like a Christmas tree, it's actually a Happy New Year tree - as Thais do not celebrate Christmas.
That being said, those are definitely red and white Santas at the base of the tree.
I think these are gingerbread cookie men, but the one on the left is Frosty the Snowman.
With the slumping world economy, I'm guessing the Thailand-based Christmas decorations factory had a surplus this year.
The video below is not from Korat, but it gives you a good idea to what extremes some hotels and shopping malls will go to share their Christmas spirit.
The snowman in Korat is a mystery to me, but I can understand these decorations as most guests at 5 star hotels are foreigners, and the Thai department stores, like any other capitalist institution, are paying homage to materialism, personified by Santa and the Christmas Tree.
Actually, if you ask most Thais why do the stores and city centers put up Santa dolls, Christmas trees and Christmas lights, they'll tell you because it's beautiful. Fair enough.
The video below is not from Korat, but it gives you a good idea to what extremes some hotels and shopping malls will go to share their Christmas spirit.
The snowman in Korat is a mystery to me, but I can understand these decorations as most guests at 5 star hotels are foreigners, and the Thai department stores, like any other capitalist institution, are paying homage to materialism, personified by Santa and the Christmas Tree.
Actually, if you ask most Thais why do the stores and city centers put up Santa dolls, Christmas trees and Christmas lights, they'll tell you because it's beautiful. Fair enough.
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