Surprising Things You’d Only See in Thailand

Thailand’s Khon performances can look like an ancient fantasy movie brought to life. Dancers dressed as demons, warriors, gods, and monkeys perform highly controlled battles in glittering costumes and elaborate masks, accompanied by music, narration, and singing.

The stories traditionally draw from the Ramakien, Thailand’s version of the Rama epic, and every gesture carries meaning. Khon combines dance, literature, music, ritual, costume-making, and craftsmanship, which helped earn it recognition on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Even the monsters have choreography.