Two joking, laughing and giggling monks
About ghosts, phantoms, ghosts and other creeps…
Belief in ghosts, phantoms, specters and other supernatural phenomena is more vibrant than ever in Thailand. The concern to keep 'those across the street' happy or at least satisfied leaves traces throughout society. Ghosts are serious business in Thailand, so I'd like to take a quick look at some of the most notable inhabitants of Thailand's very diverse and very colorful ghost kingdom.
Where do the Thais come from?
Who are they, the Thais? Or the Tai? Where did they come from, and where did they go? When and why? Difficult questions that can only partially be answered. I'm making an effort to do so.
Ramwong, Thai traditional dance (video)
At Thai parties and cultural festivities you regularly see a graceful dance with many hand movements. This dance is called Ramwong. The dancers look beautiful in Thai costumes and are beautifully made up.
One of the most beautiful books I read in recent weeks was the book 'The Ten Great Birth Stories of the Buddha' mentioned below. It is an excellent translation from the Pali of the last ten births of the Buddha as he himself related them to his disciples. A quality of an almost-Buddha, a Bodhisatta, and a Buddha is that they can remember all their past lives. Those stories are called jataka, a word related to the Thai word châat 'birth'.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 37. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Ber Bla Too (บ้านเบ๊อะบละตู) live in an area that has been promoted to a 'national park'. This step makes traditional crop rotation in the fields impossible.
Narin Phasit, the man who fought the whole world
Narin Phasit (1874-1950) fought the whole world. Tino Kuis would like to have met him. What makes this man so special?
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 36. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Tha Ta Fang (บ้านท่าตาฝั่ง) oppose the construction of a dam because they live from fishing and farming along the Salween River.
Tino Kuis unravels the connection between culture, personality and behaviour. He contests the view that personality and behavior are largely determined by the culture in which someone lives and grew up. Culture describes gardens and not flowers.
Pieter, a 43-year-old businessman, leaves his predictable life in Groningen for an adventure with 25-year-old Noi in Pattaya. He leaves his wife and children, but the dream quickly turns into a nightmare. Plagued by regret, alcoholism and abandonment by Noi, he ends up in a downward spiral of loneliness and isolation.
Bram, a quiet, introverted 43-year-old man, is looking for love in the vibrant nightlife of Pattaya, Thailand. After a series of unsatisfying relationships, he meets Joy, a seductive dancer who turns his world upside down. While experiencing the intense passion of their connection, Bram grapples with the reality of their relationship and the inevitable heartbreak that follows.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Part 35. The Sgaw Karen. Residents of Ban Huai Makok (บ้านห้วยมะกอก) are opposed to plans for a fluorite mine in neighboring Mae La Noi district.
“Bittersweet Love: The Story of Fred and Sumalee”
Fred Dijkstra, a 69-year-old man from the Netherlands, has lived for years in the serene landscape of Surin, Thailand, far from his native land. His life there was not only an adventure but also a love story. Twelve years ago he married the love of his life, Sumalee, a sweet and caring Thai woman. Together they found happiness and security in each other's arms. However, beneath the surface of their love story, a crisis was brewing that would eventually undermine their marriage.
Here I show six cartoons with explanations that bitingly criticized the royal-noble elite in Bangkok a hundred years ago.
From the series 'You-Me-We-Us; indigenous people in Thailand'. Volume 34. The Pow Karen. About the planned lignite mine in Ban Ka Bor Din (บ้านกะเบอะดิน) and its impact on life and nature.
Foreign influence on the architecture of Siam/Thailand has been, so to speak, timeless. In the Sukhothai period when Siam was first mentioned, the architecture was clearly determined by an eclectic mix of Indian, Ceylonese, Mon, Khmer and Burmese style elements.
Mae Thorani, The Earth Goddess
Siddharta Gautama was meditating under the Bodhi tree when a jealous Mara, the Evil One, wanted to deny him Enlightenment. Accompanied by his soldiers, his beautiful daughters and wild beasts, he wanted to prevent Siddharta from becoming enlightened and becoming a Buddha. The daughters danced before Siddharta to seduce him, the soldiers and the beasts attacked him.