Triple Numbers: Eye-Catching CPs
The triple numbers - 111, 222, ..., 999 - had a particular word in Thai, Tong (ตอง). For instance, 111 could be called 'nueng roi sib ed' (หนึ่งร้อยสิบเอ็ด, one hundred and eleven), 'nueng nueng nueng' (หนึ่งหนึ่งหนึ่ง, one one one), or 'tong nueng' (ตองหนึ่ง, triple one). The word was probably originated from a traditional Thai card game, Pai Tong (ไพ่ตอง), which was too complicated for me to play. I guessed that the word became popular in daily life because it was short and provided a quick mental grasp. Some Thai attached significant meaning to these repeating numbers and believed that these numbers could influence one's life. Specific car license and phone numbers were sold at exorbitant prices for luck or showing off the wealth and power in acquiring that unique numbers for personal uses. The most desirable numbers in Thai language is '999' as it was pronounced 'kao kao kao' (เก้าเก้าเก้า), which is very close to 'kao k