Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thailand - the Country and its People
The Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Laos and Myanmar, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the southeast and Indonesia and India in the Andaman Sea to the southwest. The capital and largest city of Thailand is Bangkok. It is also the country's center of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of total area, roughly equal in size to Spain, with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 20th most-populous country, with approximately 63 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. The country's official language is Thai.
Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 95% of all Thais. The cultures and traditions in Thailand are significantly influenced by those of India, China and many western countries.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, as the ruling monarch. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch and the longest reigning current monarch in the world. The King is recognized as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and Defender of the Faith. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by a European power. During the Second World War, the country was however occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army.
*information by Wikipedia
Thailand is the world's 51st-largest country in terms of total area, roughly equal in size to Spain, with a surface area of approximately 513,000 km2 (198,000 sq mi), and the 20th most-populous country, with approximately 63 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes. The country's official language is Thai.
Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world. The national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by more than 95% of all Thais. The cultures and traditions in Thailand are significantly influenced by those of India, China and many western countries.
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, as the ruling monarch. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making him the longest reigning Thai monarch and the longest reigning current monarch in the world. The King is recognized as the Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, the Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and Defender of the Faith. Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by a European power. During the Second World War, the country was however occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army.
*information by Wikipedia
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thailand: Food and Attire
"1.The staple food in Thailand is rice, particularly jasmine variety rice (also known as Hom Mali rice) which is included in almost every meal. a Thai full meal typically consists of either a single dish or rice khao (Thai: ข้าว) with many complementary dishes served concurrently.
2.Men
The traditional outfit for men is long trousers with a shirt called "suea phra ratchathanss". This high-collar shirt can be short-sleeved for a casual look or long-sleeved for a more formal occasion. On formal occasions, a cummerbund is typically worn around the waist.
Women wore the sabai as the upper garment; the pa-nug, the lower garment, was a one piece cloth wrapped around the body from hips to mid-calf, with pleats at the front."
2.Men
The traditional outfit for men is long trousers with a shirt called "suea phra ratchathanss". This high-collar shirt can be short-sleeved for a casual look or long-sleeved for a more formal occasion. On formal occasions, a cummerbund is typically worn around the waist.
Women wore the sabai as the upper garment; the pa-nug, the lower garment, was a one piece cloth wrapped around the body from hips to mid-calf, with pleats at the front."
Thai Proverbs
*ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น*
* Transliteration: Kwam pa-ya-yam yoo tee nhai, kwam sum-red yoo tee nun
* Literal: Where there is a will, there is a way.
* Meaning: Try your best, and there's success.
ความงามไม่คงที่ ความดีสิคงทน*
* Transliteration Kwam ngam mai kong tii, kwam dee si kong ton
* Literal: Beauty fades, good deeds are permanent.
* Meaning: Don't judge people by their appearance, but their behaviour.
* Transliteration: Kwam pa-ya-yam yoo tee nhai, kwam sum-red yoo tee nun
* Literal: Where there is a will, there is a way.
* Meaning: Try your best, and there's success.
ความงามไม่คงที่ ความดีสิคงทน*
* Transliteration Kwam ngam mai kong tii, kwam dee si kong ton
* Literal: Beauty fades, good deeds are permanent.
* Meaning: Don't judge people by their appearance, but their behaviour.
Thailand Elephant - Symbol of the Nation
Ayutthaya Elephant Camp in Thailand
Elephants play with blocks of ice containing frozen fruit during Thailand's National Elephant day at Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal, 50 miles north of Bangkok, March 13, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thailand Elephants
Paper #4: Elephants of Thailand: Myth, Art, and Reality by Rita Ringis
Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. The beautifully illustrated book Elephants of Thailand by Rita Ringis presents Thai attitudes toward the elephant and explores the elephant’s role in present-day Thai life.
As the emblem of the Thailand nation, Thai elephants are a symbol of power and peace and are known for their strength and importance in battle. On many occasions in the past, kings mounted these sturdy beasts to defend their nation in battles against the Burmese. In present day, elephants are still useful for their immense strength. From four years of age, they are trained to execute exacting physical labor and quickly learn to obey the words of command. Elephant trainers familiarize the novice elephants with their mahout, or driver, and teach elephants the basics of labor – such as mounting and dismounting, kneeling, rolling, pushing, and carrying – while restraining them in a wooden ‘crush,’ which is made of chained logs. By age ten, elephants can lift seven hundred kilograms and haul two tons of wood.
As a social symbol, elephants are well known for their intelligence, memory and pleasant nature. A Thai legend has it that a marriage is like an elephant-- the husband is represented by the front legs, which are the sources of direction, and the wife is represented by the back legs, the powerhouse of the family. This metaphor translates into the Thai view on male and female roles in society; the woman provides the cohesion, stability, and driving force in a traditional Thai family.
Though most of the two thousand six hundred remaining Thai elephants are found in various elephant work camps in the forests and mountains, some of these elephants also play a large role in cultural aspects of society. Some elephants entertain thousands of people each year through dancing, playing music, and painting. Elephants are trained to perform dance routines to various genres of music such as rock, jazz and folk. Specially trained elephants can sway and prance to the rhythm, swing their trunks, keep the beat, and sway their heads back and forth to the rhythm. When the music changes, their steps adjust to the shift in music (i.e. from a fast tempo to a slow, melancholy waltz). Other talented elephants can hold a paintbrush and brush precise strokes to create paint masterpieces (see link*).
Elephants are a vital part of the Thailand way of life. They are not only a symbol of royal power, but they also embody the essence of Thai culture. As loved animals, they come to represent the cherished values of hospitality, work ethic, and talent in the arts in Thailand. Their widespread influence in the lives of the Thai people, whether they provide physical labor or spiritual guidance, is what makes them the most widely revered figure in Thailand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7Ge7Sogrk
Elephants have been revered in Thailand for many centuries. The beautifully illustrated book Elephants of Thailand by Rita Ringis presents Thai attitudes toward the elephant and explores the elephant’s role in present-day Thai life.
As the emblem of the Thailand nation, Thai elephants are a symbol of power and peace and are known for their strength and importance in battle. On many occasions in the past, kings mounted these sturdy beasts to defend their nation in battles against the Burmese. In present day, elephants are still useful for their immense strength. From four years of age, they are trained to execute exacting physical labor and quickly learn to obey the words of command. Elephant trainers familiarize the novice elephants with their mahout, or driver, and teach elephants the basics of labor – such as mounting and dismounting, kneeling, rolling, pushing, and carrying – while restraining them in a wooden ‘crush,’ which is made of chained logs. By age ten, elephants can lift seven hundred kilograms and haul two tons of wood.
As a social symbol, elephants are well known for their intelligence, memory and pleasant nature. A Thai legend has it that a marriage is like an elephant-- the husband is represented by the front legs, which are the sources of direction, and the wife is represented by the back legs, the powerhouse of the family. This metaphor translates into the Thai view on male and female roles in society; the woman provides the cohesion, stability, and driving force in a traditional Thai family.
Though most of the two thousand six hundred remaining Thai elephants are found in various elephant work camps in the forests and mountains, some of these elephants also play a large role in cultural aspects of society. Some elephants entertain thousands of people each year through dancing, playing music, and painting. Elephants are trained to perform dance routines to various genres of music such as rock, jazz and folk. Specially trained elephants can sway and prance to the rhythm, swing their trunks, keep the beat, and sway their heads back and forth to the rhythm. When the music changes, their steps adjust to the shift in music (i.e. from a fast tempo to a slow, melancholy waltz). Other talented elephants can hold a paintbrush and brush precise strokes to create paint masterpieces (see link*).
Elephants are a vital part of the Thailand way of life. They are not only a symbol of royal power, but they also embody the essence of Thai culture. As loved animals, they come to represent the cherished values of hospitality, work ethic, and talent in the arts in Thailand. Their widespread influence in the lives of the Thai people, whether they provide physical labor or spiritual guidance, is what makes them the most widely revered figure in Thailand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He7Ge7Sogrk
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Bangkok Post: Riveting Frontier
Sangkhla Buri, a cosy district in Kanchanaburi province, never fails to mesmerise visitors. Bordering Burma, its town area is a colourful mix of ethnic cultures - Thai, Mon, Karen and Burmese.
The earliest settlers in Sangkhla Buri are believed to be Mons. Making my second trip there in close to a decade, I was eager to observe the changes it had undergone in that time. Back then it offered very little in terms of accommodation to the few tourists who took the trouble to venture to the sleepy little town traversing winding roads up mountain slopes. Tourism was still in its infancy but Sangkhla Buri's rich ethnic diversity, where each group held fast to its tradition and culture, made it an attractive proposition even then, inviting travellers to come and explore the district on their own.
This time, the improved state of roads and general infrastructure leading to the town area meant that tourism has since made great strides but without sacrificing its rustic appeal. Numerous types of tourist accommodations have sprung up throughout town. Locals have become business savvy, with rows of souvenir shops lining main tourist spots such as the landmark 850-metre-long wooden bridge, also called Saphan Mon, the link for villagers to Sangkhla Buri town. Close by, clusters of guesthouses built as floating rafts proved an eyesore.
The wooden bridge provides a stunning view of Khao Laem reservoir. A student doubling as tour guide said during rainy season the level of water flowing under the bridge rises, sometimes almost touching the horizontal beams, but at other times of the year most of the bridge is in view. Given its poor state, motorcycles are not allowed on the bridge, although you can ride bicycles.
Tourism's ugly side is beginning to surface in the town area, but away from it you can still spot communities that welcome visitors with a genuine smile. One such village is Fang Mon that can be reached by boat or a walk across the wooden bridge.
One of the most photographed landmarks in Sangkhla Buri, this wooden bridge is a place to catch the sunrise, the surrounding landscape and laid back lifestyle of the locals. However, the cheap wooden guesthouses under the bridge were an eye sore to what once was a picture perfect setting.
Sangkhla Buri's other landmark is Wat Wang Wiwekaram and its highly revered abbot Luang Pho Uttama. The temple's architecture is a mix of Thai, Indian and Mon influence. Sometimes it is also called Wat Mon because most of the monks and villagers in the area are of Mon origin. It has a striking white marble Buddha image built in Mon style and murals depicting various stages of Buddha's life. The top of its stupa contains Buddha's relics from Sri Lanka.
The former Wang Wiwekaram temple, also known as Muang Badan, is another attraction. Submerged as a result of building of the Vajiralongkorn Dam in 1979, it is only on view during the dry season when water level in the reservoir, spawned by the dam's building, has receded to a sufficient level. Visitors can take boats from the town area to the temple.
Last but not least, is the Three Pagodas Pass. The miniature pagodas are reminders of the route favoured by Burmese soldiers invading Thailand during the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). It is also the site of a border market selling everything from wooden handicrafts to herbal balm from Burma.
URL: http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelnews/15106/riveting-frontier
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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