Rodent regalia

By Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photos by Varuth Hirunyatheb

Find gifts to celebrate the Year of the Rat

Forget about the fat and filthy rodents that hang around the garbage bins of Bangkok. This is the Year of the Rat, and Chinese people believe that rat-related items can bring good luck. By the way, celebrity rodents like Mickey and Minnie Mouse don�t count.

Student Weekly recently took a stroll around Chinatown to look for some rat-related treasures. We also wandered around teen hang-out Siam Square to get the low-down on the latest ratty fashion items.

These accessories might not bring you luck, but they�re adorable just the same. Every item can be bargained for, so don�t let the vendors rip you off.

Key chain, 79 baht

This cute, kitschy key chain lets you bring your lucky rat anywhere.

Card holder, 60 baht

Rats may be smarter than you think � this one can hold your business cards or reminders.

Rat-shaped resin decoration, 550 baht

This rat couple is meant to bring gold into your life.

Rat T-shirt, 180-280 baht

Show your fondness for Year of the Rat fashions with a red T-shirt from Chinatown or a black T-shirt from Siam Square.

Window and door decoration, 35 baht

Welcome the Year of the Rat by hanging friendly rodents on your windows or doors.

Jade ornament, 150-300 baht

These lucky jade rats will look great on your desk.

Figurine, 400 baht

This happy rat holds a sign to bless you and bring you wealth.

filthy (adj): very dirty and unpleasant
stroll (v): to walk somewhere in a slow relaxed way
vendor (n): a person who sells things, usually outside on the street
kitschy (adj): popular but lacking in good taste
resin (n): an artificial substance used in making plastics
mobile (n): a decoration that is hung from the ceiling and that has small objects hanging from it that move with the air
fondness (n): a feeling of affection for something or somebody
jade (n): a hard stone that is usually green and is used in making ornaments and jewellery
figurine (n): a small statue of a person or an animal used as an ornament

IDIOM

rip off: to cheat somebody by making them pay too much, by selling them something of poor quality, etc.