If humans hadn't pushed ahead with the advice on procreation, would we now have far too many people on earth?
'Asni and Kokila' from Folktales of Thailand
Love, sacrifice, giving something, good for animals, all virtues that point the way to heaven. And it all starts with pineapple…..
It is not always peace and quiet between sun, moon and planets. Hate and envy, also there!
'Two Chinese Friends' from Folktales of Thailand
Putting the consumption to the trade is a virtue. You don't buy a duck if it's over budget. Then a cup of rice with some vegetables…
The lazy life ends when the money runs out. But a clay pot does not bring happiness to the man either. Or should he dream a little less and work a little harder?
'The Revenge of Xieng Mieng'; a folk tale from Lao Folktales
You expect a chicken leg in the curry but get meat from a vulture. That calls for revenge!
'What's in the bamboo tube?'; a folk tale from Lao Folktales
What you can do with a fart? Great writers knew it, from Carmiggelt to Wolkers. But also someone in Laos…
"Nice and dangerous trees!" from Folktales of Thailand
You can't just put a tree in your garden! There are those who want to harm you, drink your blood or bully your neighbors. Why not put cement in the garden?
Short stories from southern Thailand (5): Phikul Thong
The poor girl and foster mother's fury; an old story in a new guise. And 'Alles sal reg kom', right?
'The Rose' from Folktales of Thailand
This is a story with the main character being the rose. An adventurous rose in the midst of jealous family, gods and armies. Thailand is a land of flowers. Giving flowers is a gesture of love, a greeting or a token of respect. Among the flowers, the rose is the most beautiful. The origin of the rose is due to a woman and the following folktale is well known.
Short stories from southern Thailand (4): The miser!
"Frugality with diligence builds houses like castles." Then you have a floor that stays dry…. But now he has nothing…
Speaking ill is good for nothing, but if even the bones of your gossipy daughter still cause mischief then something is very wrong….
The novice Kham was bathing in the river just as a group of merchants were resting on the bank. They carried large baskets of mieng. Mieng is the leaf of a type of tea used to wrap a snack, which is very popular in Laos. Kham liked a snack mieng.
'The seven-colored emerald' from Folktales of Thailand
A very old wisdom: when two princes fight over a piece of stone, a brutal thief will run with it ...
'Mekhala and Ramasoon' from Folktales of Thailand
Ramasoon is in love with Mekhala but she doesn't want him. He attacks her with his ax but Mekhala defends herself with a crystal ball.
Lao Folktales is an English-language edition with about twenty folktales from Laos recorded by a student of Laotian. Their origins lie in the stories from India: the Pañchatantra (also called Pañcatantra) stories around the era, and the Jataka stories about the past lives of Buddha when he was still a bodhisattva.
'The Trial of Strength' a folktale by Lao Folktales
There is a rabbit hopping through the jungle. He feels like messing around and invents a test of strength. First candidate to fool: an elephant chewing sugar cane. "Uncle Elephant." "Who's calling?" asks the elephant. 'I. Down here, uncle elephant!'