Walking Street
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Sunday, 26 January 2014
Then there is all of this!!
To say Thailand is an enigma is, actually, to say very little. There are many countries that are enigmas fragmented by history, colonialism and the wealth of their natural resources. Myanmar, a country invented by the British in SE Asia, is possibly the worst case scenario where we seem to have arrived, now, at a point where Western intervention has greatly undermined the local and ethnic subversions which have existed since independence from Britain and before.
Thailand is not much better. The great scholar William Gadney reckoned there were 80 or so living languages in what is called Thailand. Regionalism, provincialism and ethnicity determines many aspects of life. I, rather mournfully, encourage anyone interested in the country to read Siam Mapped by Thonhchai Winichakul. 1994 University of Hawaii Press. Thailand is an uneasy construct created, in the main, by force of arms in the first place and subsequently by Chinese immigration and the normal outposts of suppression.
The regions of Thailand, Lanna, based on Chiang Mai, Issan.. predominantly Lao but with multiple sub groups, Khmer leaning populations to the South East, Karen and Mon populations in the NW let alone the so called hill tribes of the Lisu, Akha, Hmong and the 'Malay' provinces which, again until the intervention of Britain were never part of the Thai Geobody, and there are 'Sea Gypsies' etc.
The prevailing ideology of the Thai monarchy and their supporters has been to create a notion of 'Thainess' which requires total devotion to the constructs of 'the monarchy', to the indivisibilty of 'Thai'territory, to some vague notion of 'being Thai'.
It has been a propaganda campaign of great success
Language, as everywhere, is crucial to this, though Gadney reckons Thai is a minority language after Lao and Teochew in the home. In Phuket and the South there are large communities speaking Passa Pak Thai, Hakka. About 5 million people speak Ligor dialect, spoken in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun provinces and Mueang Pattani, Mae Lan, Khok Pho and Nong Chik Districts of Pattani Province.
Chaiya dialect, is spoken in Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani and Chumphon Provinces.
Singora dialect, is spoken in Songkhla, Yala and mostly part of Pattani Provinces.
When I lived in Chiang Mai everyone spoke Passa Neua. In SanKhampaeng in Chiang Mai the road signs are bilingual Passa Neua and Thai.
Now where I live everyone speaks, Passa Yor, Passa Lao and Vietnamese!!
Thaksin's initial genius was to try and appeal to the N and NE people by throwing subsidies and money around. I think it is generally agreed that had he moderated his ambitions, not made enemies of the royalty, he might well have succeeded in buying Thailand. There is an interesting article here:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-130114.html
which basically argues that Thaksin ran into trouble by not going along with 'buggins turn'
There are I suspect 2 possible peaceful solutions
1. Devolution and Federalism..not popular
and
2.Accession to the throne by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn rather than Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn...also not popular because of sexism, mainly
Thailand is not much better. The great scholar William Gadney reckoned there were 80 or so living languages in what is called Thailand. Regionalism, provincialism and ethnicity determines many aspects of life. I, rather mournfully, encourage anyone interested in the country to read Siam Mapped by Thonhchai Winichakul. 1994 University of Hawaii Press. Thailand is an uneasy construct created, in the main, by force of arms in the first place and subsequently by Chinese immigration and the normal outposts of suppression.
The regions of Thailand, Lanna, based on Chiang Mai, Issan.. predominantly Lao but with multiple sub groups, Khmer leaning populations to the South East, Karen and Mon populations in the NW let alone the so called hill tribes of the Lisu, Akha, Hmong and the 'Malay' provinces which, again until the intervention of Britain were never part of the Thai Geobody, and there are 'Sea Gypsies' etc.
The prevailing ideology of the Thai monarchy and their supporters has been to create a notion of 'Thainess' which requires total devotion to the constructs of 'the monarchy', to the indivisibilty of 'Thai'territory, to some vague notion of 'being Thai'.
It has been a propaganda campaign of great success
Language, as everywhere, is crucial to this, though Gadney reckons Thai is a minority language after Lao and Teochew in the home. In Phuket and the South there are large communities speaking Passa Pak Thai, Hakka. About 5 million people speak Ligor dialect, spoken in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun provinces and Mueang Pattani, Mae Lan, Khok Pho and Nong Chik Districts of Pattani Province.
Chaiya dialect, is spoken in Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket, Ranong, Surat Thani and Chumphon Provinces.
Singora dialect, is spoken in Songkhla, Yala and mostly part of Pattani Provinces.
When I lived in Chiang Mai everyone spoke Passa Neua. In SanKhampaeng in Chiang Mai the road signs are bilingual Passa Neua and Thai.
Now where I live everyone speaks, Passa Yor, Passa Lao and Vietnamese!!
Thaksin's initial genius was to try and appeal to the N and NE people by throwing subsidies and money around. I think it is generally agreed that had he moderated his ambitions, not made enemies of the royalty, he might well have succeeded in buying Thailand. There is an interesting article here:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-130114.html
which basically argues that Thaksin ran into trouble by not going along with 'buggins turn'
There are I suspect 2 possible peaceful solutions
1. Devolution and Federalism..not popular
and
2.Accession to the throne by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn rather than Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn...also not popular because of sexism, mainly
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Semaine Janvier 20-26
Monday
Roti de Canard , Les Crêpes, Sauce Chinoise
aux Cinq Epices, Sauce aux Prunes et les Oignons de Printemps
Le Riz
Salade Verte
Poires au Vin Rouge, The Vert et Creme
Fraiche
Tuesday
Potage de Canard aux Courgettes et Gingembre
Darne De Saumon
Asperges Blanches, Huile d’Olive,
Poivre Vert
Les Frites et La Mayonnaise
Ananas et Raisins Noirs
Wednesday
Soupe Chinoise
Cotes de Porc Marines au Barbeque
Le Riz Gluant
Salade de Concombres
Thursday
Sukiyaki de Porc, Boeuf, Foie de Porc,
Calmars, Legumes, Caillee de Soja, Nouilles
Salade de Roquette et de Chicorée
Sorbet de Betteraves au Poivrons Noirs
et Verts, Creme Fraiche
Friday
Pois Cassés, Curry des Lentilles
Vertes des Oeufs, des Yaourts et du Chutney de Mangue Maison
Poulet Rôti aux Epices Indiennes
Salade des Oranges et de Fruit du Dragon
Saturday
Burns’ Night
Bouillon Ecossais
Haggis Maison
Puree de Pommes de Terre, Carottes et de
Potiron
Pouding au Chocolat; Cuit à la Vapeur avec une Crème Anglaise
Sunday
Pâtes aux Palourdes et Buccins Doux
Daube de Gigot d'Agneau
Les Asperges Verts
Pommes de Terre Frites avec Aïoli
Mangues Fraîches, Pastèque et Ananas
Friday, 24 January 2014
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Fantastic Interactive Map of the French Expeditions to the Mekhong
You might have to reload the URL
Best Mekhong Cookbooks:
2.Davidson, Alan, Fish and Fish Dishes of Laos,
Rutland 1975http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QY7AM5QCL._AA160_.jpg
Alan Davidson was !! The British Ambassador to Laos
Best book I know about the MekhongThe Mekong Currency: Lives and Times of a River
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Monday, 20 January 2014
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