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pck Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Columbus, OH
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:17 am Post subject: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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I keep seeing those primary colors pennants or flags hanging in lots of van videos and pictures. There's something written on them but I can never make it out. What are those? |
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vik Samba Member

Joined: January 13, 2005 Posts: 238 Location: back in Czech
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:21 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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Picture would help.
But I think you do refer about the prayer flag: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_flag _________________ T3 Syncro camper in progress |
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joetiger  Samba Member

Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5234 Location: denver
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:26 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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A guy I work with did a trek in Nepal and I had but one request, bring me some Tibetan prayer flags (it seems pretentious even beyond me to buy your own--from what I understand, they should be gifted.)
He forgot. So now I gotta go to Nepal. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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si2t3m Samba Member
Joined: September 08, 2005 Posts: 80 Location: Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:33 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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Must be for the different Vanagon gods (WBX, tranmission, coolant circuit gods) to keep them happy and make a pleasant trip. Apparently burning sage before a trip also helps to keep them happy.  _________________ Marc-André Morin
90 Westy Syncro EJ25
90 Weinsburg Syncro EJ22
76 Westfalia EZ30D
72 911 Targa
70 914-6 conversion
69 Ghia convertible
68 912 coupe
67 912/911 coupe |
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joetiger  Samba Member

Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5234 Location: denver
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:42 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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si2t3m wrote: |
Must be for the different Vanagon gods (WBX, tranmission, coolant circuit gods) to keep them happy and make a pleasant trip. Apparently burning sage before a trip also helps to keep them happy.  |
My van has been saged. I can't tell if it did anything or not, but it got rid of the fuel/exhaust smell for the evening.
This guy deserves to have prayer flags in his van. He and his girlfriend drove from Berlin to Tibet.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=488112&start=0 _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Justice for Megan: https://linktr.ee/justiceformegantrussell |
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pck Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Columbus, OH
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 8:49 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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Yes! That's what it is. Either there are a lot of Buddhist Vanagon owners, or they're all taking roadtrips to Tibet. |
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djkeev Samba Moderator

Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32987 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7164 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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A friend went mountain biking Nepal, he brought me back some, I appreciate the thought but I can't display them, I don't believe in any of it to begin with and it became such a vanlife stereotype item, I don't want to be associated with it  _________________ Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 4140 Location: MD
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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si2t3m wrote: |
Must be for the different Vanagon gods (WBX, tranmission, coolant circuit gods) to keep them happy and make a pleasant trip. Apparently burning sage before a trip also helps to keep them happy.  |
There is only the Omnissiah when it comes to keeping mechanical objects happy. I need to find a spot to put a Cog Mechanicum on the van. Maybe the Machine God will bless my little transport.
Yes, yes.. nerd alert.  _________________ '87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition |
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mtnhome  Samba Member

Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 612 Location: Summit County, CO
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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joetiger wrote: |
A guy I work with did a trek in Nepal and I had but one request, bring me some Tibetan prayer flags (it seems pretentious even beyond me to buy your own--from what I understand, they should be gifted.)
He forgot. So now I gotta go to Nepal. |
Hi Joe, Send me a text before the next Denver get together and I'l bring some prayer flags for you. Think I have some around, my daugther in law is Nepali so I have a source. _________________ '84 Westy, '93 Subaru ej22 and Subarugears 5speed
Build thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=763098&highlight= |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member

Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12161 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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The most relevant vanlife flags to be displaying are the strings of bath and dish towels drying in the sun and wind.
I want a flag that says Namaste Mutherf@#kers _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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Abscate  Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 23776 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 12:07 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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When I asked the Dali Lama if his favourite pizza was “ one with everything” they tied me up with those flags and threw me off the mountain. _________________ 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊 |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2930 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 4:43 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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Yeah prayer flags...I'm that stereotype I guess. I like the way they look and guess what? They have meanings for me. I like that they're swaying above my motor sending goodwill to it and the people I pass in life. They also remind me of some really amazing experiences I had trekking in the Himalayas so many years ago the only evidence is on film photos. One of these directly involved prayer flags and being invited to help.a community set some at a 19,000 foot pass, a moment of serendipity I hope I never forget. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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campism Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007 Posts: 4669 Location: Richmond VA
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:40 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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Abscate wrote: |
When I asked the Dali Lama if his favourite pizza was “ one with everything” they tied me up with those flags and threw me off the mountain. |
What did Jeffrey Dahmer like on his pizza? Everybody.
Okay, so you had to be around in '90s to appreciate those cannibalism jokes. _________________ '87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic, tragically crushed by a falling hickory tree in my own driveway and now gone, leaving me Vanagonless and with no plans to replace it, alas. |
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vanis13 Samba Member

Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 4373 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 6:05 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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mikemtnbike wrote: |
....I like that they're swaying above my motor sending goodwill to it and the people I pass in life..... |
HOLD ON!!!! You mean the prayer flags give power to a 2.1!?!?! _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make
Last edited by vanis13 on Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mikemtnbike Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015 Posts: 2930 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 6:33 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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vanis13 wrote: |
mikemtnbike wrote: |
....I like that they're swaying above my motor sending goodwill to it and the people I pass in life..... |
HOLD ON!!!! You mean the prayer flags give power to a 2.1!?!?! |
No they just remind it that power doesn’t really matter, enjoy the moment. _________________ 1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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vanis13 Samba Member

Joined: August 15, 2010 Posts: 4373 Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:49 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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mikemtnbike wrote: |
vanis13 wrote: |
mikemtnbike wrote: |
....I like that they're swaying above my motor sending goodwill to it and the people I pass in life..... |
HOLD ON!!!! You mean the prayer flags give power to a 2.1!?!?! |
No they just remind it that power doesn’t really matter, enjoy the moment. |
circular Zen  _________________ 83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1894
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 10:49 am Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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I can see it now: GoWesty Prayer Flags  |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member

Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12161 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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The wit and wisdom of Carl Spackler transcends your flagging vanlife..."which is nice."
Link
_________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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bryanarchy Samba Member
Joined: September 16, 2020 Posts: 38 Location: Alberta
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: What are those string of flags I keep seeing in vans? |
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4Gears4Tires wrote: |
There is only the Omnissiah when it comes to keeping mechanical objects happy. I need to find a spot to put a Cog Mechanicum on the van. Maybe the Machine God will bless my little transport.
Yes, yes.. nerd alert.  |
hehe |
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