Laughter is definitely not the best medicine for coronavirus, but perhaps, in difficult times like this, we all could use it the most. While we're all practising self-isolation, social distancing or working from home, I present you examples of people who find humour in the Covid-19 climate to brighten up your days.
Social Distancing
YouTuber and bike buff Tawinun "Pear R1" Phoemphun pokes fun at a ridiculous length one may go to practise social distancing while riding a motorcycle taxi. In her staged picture, Pear sat on the pillion as furthest as she could from the rider while both wore face masks. Props to her for double protecting herself against Covid-19 virus with face mask and crash helmet but she didn't nail the social distancing part, though, as the minimum distance is six feet. Obviously, she did it for laughs and no one should try this on the road.
Social Distancing on Motorcycle Taxi. (Photo: Tawinun Phoemphun Facebook)
Read Between the Spaces
Many organisations have shown their support for social distancing by tweaking their logos for comic effect (us guilty as charged). Among the first to do is perhaps McDonald's which splits its M, forming what looks like lines of your eyes while you're laughing. The most extreme length I've seen so far is, however, surprisingly from Thailand's Department of Mental Health, which puts a space between every word of their recent Facebook announcement. It calls on the public to, well, practise social distancing to help curb the spread of Covid-19. Apt yet gimmicky? Yes. Does it catch the people's attention long enough so they will read it? Possibly. A little chuckle? Definitely.
McDonald's Social Distancing. (Photo: McDonald's Facebook)
A Nail in the Coffin
Pictures of young undertakers at a temple in Phitsanulok holding signs with macabre but very timely messages went viral earlier this week. The messages in red reads, "If you don't stay at home for the doctors. We're ready to work hard 'for you'." These pictures were originally posted by Facebook user Nop Noppadon Intaptim. Apparently he visited Wat Poe-thiyan to make merit and was impressed by the undertakers' creativity. Obviously, this is a Thai spin on the message "I stay at work for you, you stay at home for us", which has been doing the rounds online. According to a New Straits Times report, the original message was posted online by Dr Gee Teak Sheng at Pantai Hospital in Penang, Malaysia, who shared a photo of him holding a paper with the message printed on it. It's a call for people to stay put to help lessen the burden that the medical workers, who are on the front line of combating the pandemic, have to face every day. It's very little for them to ask of us, when they literally risk their lives to save others', for Buddha's sake. But, if the original message isn't enough to persuade you, I sure do hope this undertaker's version does.
Undertaker Message. (Photo: Nop Noppadon Intaptim Facebook)
Edible Face Masks
Roti Inter food cart in Bang Lamphu puts a smile on netizens' faces when they post pictures of their roti in the form of a surgical mask, crispy folds included. A co-owner of the shop told me over the phone that this wasn't their original idea as they had seen someone did it before so they made one by themselves for fun. Unfortunately, they don't actually sell the specially-shaped roti for real. However, Roti Chao Koh in Suan Phlu 8, the other roti mask maker I've come across, does. Only available upon request.
(Photos: Roti Chao Koh Facebook)
Afterlife Protection
If you're a Thai of Chinese descent (me included), you know the Qingming Festival arrives in early April. The fest brings with it the memory of paper offerings in the form of earthy possessions to be burnt so ama or agong can live their best lives in the afterlife. Ironic, I know, but burning stuff is fun. Paper money is mandatory, obviously, but, over the years, I've seen the evolution of paper offerings from condos, smartphones, Gucci shoes, Mercedes-Benz with chauffeur to massage chairs. During this troubling time, it's understandable that you may wonder if there's a pandemic in the afterlife. No worries, because someone has invented afterlife face masks to protect your deceased loved ones from any pandemic in the afterlife. Khanjasin Punnasett posted a picture of them on his personal Facebook on March 17. Now we wait for someone to invent paper hand sanitisers.
Afterlife Face Masks. (Photo: Khanjasin Punnasett Facebook)