Dusk on the waterway
Ussiri Thammachot was born in Hua Hin in 1947. He studied mass communication at Chukalongkorn University and started writing. In 1981 he was the third Thai writer to win the SEA Write Award with the short story collection 'Khunthong, You will Return at Dawn' from which this story also originates. The story is about a diabolical and universal dilemma: choose the morally right path or give himself and his family a favor?
Discover Thailand (12): Hill Tribes, the hill tribes
The hill tribes of Thailand are ethnic minorities that mainly live in the mountains of the north of the country. These groups have their own unique culture, language and traditions that differ from those of the dominant Thai culture. There are several groups of hill tribes in Thailand, including the Hmong, Karen, Lisu and Lahu.
The Beggars (short story)
Anchan (Anchalee Vivatanachai), the author of the short story The Beggars below, was born in 1952 in Thonburi. She wrote from a young age, especially short stories and poetry. She is especially praised for her special themes and innovative use of words.
Discover Thailand (11): Animism (belief in ghosts)
Animism is an ancient form of religion that sees nature as animate and sentient. It is a belief that every living thing has a soul. This means that even things like trees, rivers and mountains have a soul according to the animist tradition. These souls are seen as guardian spirits who help to make life run in harmony.
Classics in Thailand: “Hotel California” by the Eagles
Thailand has a lot to offer for live music lovers. Wherever you go and even in the corners of the country, you will find Thai or sometimes Filipino bands that play music with conviction. The pronunciation of the English language is sometimes difficult for Thai, but the enthusiasm of the musicians is no less.
Judges and lawyers have to eat too… (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; nr 59 and last)
This story is about cats. Two cats and they were friends. They always looked for food together; actually they did everything together. And one day they came to a house where buffalo meat was hanging to dry in the hallway.
Another story about a monk. And this monk claimed to be able to do magic and asked a novice to come with him. 'Why?' he asked. "I'll show you a magic trick. I make myself invisible! I'm pretty good at that, you know. Look very closely now. If you can't see me anymore, say so.'
See, it's about the intention; that counts… (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; no. 57)
This is a story from the time when Buddha lived. There was a woman then, well, she really liked it. She hung around the outbuildings of the temple all day long. One fine day a monk was sleeping there, and he got an erection.
'On the night beach of Mae Phim'
'At the nocturnal beach of Mae Phim' is a new story by Alphonse Wijnants, in which he heard through the grapevine that Jean, a twink from Genk, would be in Thailand. He and Alphonse were friends from afar. He hadn't seen him in seven years.
The uncertainty of Thai existence…
Just like us, Thais also struggle with life questions and important choices they have to make. In such situations, the white noses usually discuss it with family or a close friend. Thai consult fortune tellers, map readers or an old monk.
Well, it only seemed like… (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; no. 56)
A man had a crush on his mother-in-law, and his wife, who had just had a baby, took notice. Now he slept between his wife and his mother-in-law; he lay in the middle of the mattress.
Look how your father stomps rice… (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; nr 55)
This is about a woman who got her husband to do everything for her. The man was from the village of Phae, and she was lazy. All her time was spent on the baby she always rocked to sleep. Then her husband asked, "You mash the rice, okay?"
The husband with a needle and thread… (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; no. 54)
A man had no urgent work to do so he stayed home. "I'm taking the day off," he said, and grabbed his wife's sarong and went to mend it. He was sewing his wife's sarong, stitching from front to back and back and forth, when his friend came to visit.
My grandfather is bigger and stronger and…! (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; no. 53)
Two old men each had a grandchild and they were two mischievous young lads. This story takes place in winter time and all four were warming themselves around a fire. The children hung around their grandfathers' necks and one of them said 'Who is taller, your grandfather or mine?'
Ploy's tree
Alphonse Wijnants has a beautiful new masterpiece for the readers of Thailandblog. Sit back and enjoy Alphonse's compelling and visual narration about the 'The Tree of Ploy'. An absolute must!
Why the owl always looks so gloomy (From: Stimulating stories from Northern Thailand; nr 52)
This is a story about the 'Flame of the Forest' tree (*). This tree belonged to the ruler and bore many legumes. One day a monkey came and shook the tree. All the pods fell out. Plop!
The Frisian preacher and the Buddha
Just under ninety-five percent of the Thai population is Buddhist to a greater or lesser extent. Buddhism is the religion/philosophy that has been gaining popularity the fastest in the Netherlands in recent years. Two observations that prompt me to take a moment to reflect today on the intriguing figure of the Anabaptist minister Joast Hiddes Halbertsma, who in 1843 published the first Dutch text on Buddhism in more than one respect.