BANGKOK, Thailand – After muttering a prayer, Thai taxi driver Sopee Silpakit strings a chain of amulets around his neck then jumps behind the wheel — buoyed by the peace of mind the ritual gives him against COVID-19.
The 65-year-old’s job driving a cab in Bangkok puts him in contact daily with the public, and his way of life is now plagued with worry, with the Thai capital the epicentre of a third wave.
“I pray to these amulets every day: ‘Don’t let the virus come near me,'” he tells AFP.
“I really do believe that they could protect me from the virus and keep me in good health.”
Buddhist-majority Thailand has a deeply superstitious culture, with much of the po…
Keep on reading: Holy amulets give Thai cab drivers virus ‘peace of mind’