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decreaseThe object of the game is to save Sita from the giant Toksakan (and be rewarded with that harem!) You don’t have to be a Times crossword expert to succeed, though the clue, as well as being a riddle, is partly in Thai. Here’s a blow-by-blow ‘walkthrough’ of the poem:
In Part I, the essential thing is to go to the Royal Palace to get the breast cloth and ring from Pra Ram which will prove to Sita that you are not an imposter. The diamond trident, which you will find in the Armoury, or the cloak of invisibility, which you will be given by the Astrologer in The Astrologer’s Cell, will both protect you in your quest. Avoid The Lotus Pool. It sounds relaxing, but it is the home of Paklan the giant who will eat you if you don’t have the cloak (to hide you) or the trident (to kill him). Have fun visiting The Harem (the description of the dancing girls is based on the murals in the Grand Palace). One of the girls will steal your dagger - but don’t worry, you don’t need it!
In Part II, the essential thing is to visit The Hermitage, where Narot will tell you how to kill the giant Totsakan (albiet in the form of a riddle). The Lady Busmali, in Busmali’s Baan,will give you a magic mirror - though, I’m afraid, given her description (and my description pales compared to the one in the original) my quest would have ended right here! Mount Hemitran is to be avoided, as that is where the Dragon, Mangorn, has his lair, though if you have the cloak or the trident you will be able to escape. Who would choose to visit a Desert? If you did, you’ll have been forced to throw away your water bottle - and that will present a problem later on. As for the Short Cut, it will lead you to a jungle where you will die of fever, so it’s actually a short cut out of the game!
In Part III, if you wander into The Palace Garden you will meet the Guardian Giantess, Phi Sua, though the cloak or trident will save you as always. If you are foolish enough to visit Fort Lanka, you will bump into Totsakan’s army of giants. The only thing that will save you now is the magic mirror. The worse thing you can do is visit the Magician’s Tower - there is no way out of this one, so I’m afraid it’s Game Over! The essential things in this part are (in any order): go to The Sandalwood Palace and kill the giant Totsakan. You can only kill him if a) you have deciphered Narot’s riddle, and b) you still have your water bottle. Narot’s riddle was: Totsakan is invulnerable except to the inverted man - an upside-down man? No - man inverted = nam, the Thai word for water. Use your water bottle to squirt water over him and he will shrivel away. Then you must go to The Golden Pavilion and persuade Sita to come back with you. She will only agree to this if you can show her the breast cloth and ring given to you by Pra Ram.
If you managed all that, I hope you will make good use of your gifts from Pra Ram - by keeping your harem happy, and by developing the fledgling settlement of Grung-teyp into the city of angels that it is today.
You can read the original poem at www.seasite.niu.edu/Thai/literature/ramakian/ramakian.htm
© Bangkok Byron, 2007. All rights reserved by the author.
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