Rojak #84: Ghosts, Giants, and Galleons

A Monthly Mix of the Mysterious, the Monumental, and the Almost-Impossible

Welcome to this month’s Wednesday Rojak, our supporters-only deep dive into all the stories that aren’t strictly Southeast Asian archaeology—but still somehow are! Think of the Rojak as a collection of oddities, off-the-beaten-path finds, and unexpected connections that enrich our usual scope of history and heritage.

This month, the past is making a comeback in all kinds of eerie and enormous ways. In Thailand, Ayutthaya’s Goosebumps Festival summoned a unique mix of the supernatural and the spectacular, bringing neon lights, ghost stories, and a six-meter statue of Mae Nak to the historic city’s streets. Locals and visitors alike lined up for spooky thrills, 1960s horror films, and fortune-telling booths—a “spirited” approach to heritage that only Ayutthaya could pull off!

Meanwhile, ancient giants made a surprise appearance over in Hong Kong, where the city’s first dinosaur fossils are now on display, adding a touch of “Jurassic” drama to its history scene. It’s not every day that both ghosts and dinosaurs share the spotlight, but this month’s mix of supernatural lore and prehistoric finds reminds us that the past—whether haunted or fossilized—has a way of capturing our imagination and never quite staying buried.

Thank you for joining me in this month’s Wednesday Rojak, where we dive into the unusual and unexpected side of heritage. This edition is exclusively for supporters, so if you’re enjoying these monthly explorations, consider becoming a supporter—you can even Buy Me a Coffee to keep the stories coming (and the coffee flowing)!No ghosts (or dinosaurs) were harmed in the making of this newsletter.