Sak Yant - Recommendation and Basic Questions

[real_polite_canadian]

Hi Sylvie. I enjoyed your recent post about receiving your sak yant. Your tattoo is great, by the way, and your post was enlightening and very interesting.

I'm heading to Thailand in a couple months and have every intent of trying to find a place that will do this for me. I'm very preliminary in my research so far, I just know I want one - so any light you can shed on receiving a sak yant would be helpful. You mentioned you got yours from Arjan Pi in Bangkok, is this a place that you would suggest I go? Do I pre-book an appointment or something?

As well, from other people I know that have gotten sak yants before, they have mentioned that some places will choose it for you? Any truth to that? You mentioned that he had a book that you looked through, is this typically how someone would pick which one they wanted?

And lastly, is the aftercare similar to a regular tattoo? I will be in Thailand for 3 weeks and am not too sure if I should get it at the start of my trip or at the tail end of it.

Anyways, I appreciate your time and thank you.

Anyone who has any helpful advice, feel free to chime in.

[Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu]

  On 5/8/2015 at 4:37 PM, real_polite_canadian said:

 You mentioned you got yours from Arjan Pi in Bangkok, is this a place that you would suggest I go? Do I pre-book an appointment or something?

As well, from other people I know that have gotten sak yants before, they have mentioned that some places will choose it for you? Any truth to that? You mentioned that he had a book that you looked through, is this typically how someone would pick which one they wanted?

And lastly, is the aftercare similar to a regular tattoo? I will be in Thailand for 3 weeks and am not too sure if I should get it at the start of my trip or at the tail end of it.

Anyone who has any helpful advice, feel free to chime in.

Howdy. Arjan Pi Bangkrating is on a cycle between his office in Chiang Mai, Rangsit (Bangkok), and Taiwan. So it's best to go to his FB page and check his schedule and if that's hard to find just private message him. You don't have to book an appointment so much as let him know what day you're coming, or ask him, or whatever. His English is very limited in person, but he has assistants and Google translate and whatever else that makes messaging in English possible. But do be prepared for your face-to-face interaction to not have a lot of English exchange.

My friend Robyn was tattooed by Arjan Neng On Nut in Bangkok because Arjan Pi was away. He's a very well established Arjan with over 10 years experience and a large following. His process is a bit different from Arjan Pi's but only in the details, and their work looks different to my eye because - well, of course it would, they're different artists. All Sak Yant are the same at a glance and all are highly unique in the details, literally what kata are inscribed, etc.

Both Arjan Pi and Arjan Neng allow you to choose your own Yant. Arjan Pi has two binder's full of Sak Yant (combined they do not come close to exhausting the wide range of Yant options though) - you don't have to choose from the book though. You can show him a photo of any of his work as well (look on Facebook), and it should acceptable. If it's very large or in a position that is uncommon he may question you, or advise a change. Arjan Neng has a big book of photos of his own work, like the tattoo portfolios you'd see in the west. Arjan Neng uses a stamp to get the outline and then freehands the spells; Arjan Pi uses a stencil for some parts and freehands a lot.  I have heard that some Arjan choose your Yant for you, but I think this is far less common. If you go to a monk, however, it might be more likely that he chooses the Yant for you. (Arjans are unordained and practice out of their own homes; Monks look like monks, won't tattoo women and tattoo out of the monastery, generally).

Aftercare is similar to a gun tattoo. You won't be sent home with plastic wrap taped over it, but keeping it clean and occasionally putting Vaseline or A&D to keep it moisturized is good. It heals much faster than a gun tattoo - I went back to training after a day with all of mine - and it doesn't "scab" or flake like gun tattoos. It will itch though, after a few days and for a few days.

Given your handle, I don't think this is an issue, but as a general rule just be very polite when you interact with whomever you end up receiving your Yant from. Be polite according your own culture and that generally carries over across the language and cultural differences.

[real_polite_canadian]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. You were very helpful and I appreciate it.

Another query - Can you give me a range of what I should expect for a cost? And, as well, what would the cultural manner be regarding gratuities and if they are expected or accepted?

 

Thank you again.