MangoZeen

May 10 is Ploughing Day.

This venerated Brahmin ritual has links with Buddhist tradition and requires a royal minister to feed two Sacred Cows in Sanam Luang. The future is predicted according to whether Prakho Therd and Phrakho Thoon (Name of the cows) eat rice paddy, maize, green bean, sesame, hard liquor, water or grass. A repast of paddy or […]

Thailand is the most holiday happy nation in the world. Last week feted May 1 and this week celebrated Coronation Day with banks and government offices closing on Monday.
This public holiday marks the King’s 1950 ascendancy to the throne. In the past the court held a simple ceremony for the king. King Mongkut (Rama IV) […]

EMAIL from my Palm Beach friend, Lisa.
~ Tough Love vs. Spanking ~ 
(a psychological conundrum)
Most of America’s populace think it improper to spank children,
so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of ‘those moments.’
One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride […]

Thailand has a vast number of national holidays, mostly dedicated to religious or royal events and figures. Chakri Memorial Day commemorates Chakri the 18th Century military leader ascending the throne on April 6, 1782 after the death of King Taksin.

Chakri assumed the title Rama I and established Krung-Thep or Bangkok as the new capitol in order to prevent future attacks by […]

The bars of Pattaya are shut tonight and tomorrow and the next day. Normally you can buy a beer from your local store. Not today.

Thais are going cold-turkey for Macha Bucha Day, which celebrates the day 1250 Arhantas’ or Enlightened One came to hear Tujah or Buddha preach the principles of the Buddhism, called “The Ovadhapatimokha.
In […]

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL 1-2-3.
I loved that song by Ian Dury.

Sadly Thailand most recent ‘Gross Domestic Happiness Index’ (GDHI) revealed a decrease in smilability for both Thais and farangs. New Year’s bombs, southern unrest, dark forces undercurrents, the sinking airport, and rising prices are attributed for the GDHI’s drop of six points.
Bhutan’s King Jigme Singye […]

Strange to think that Thailand has a winter.
Usually coldest spot in thailand is a movie theater. A  Chilly 21C. Brrrr.
Last night riding home on my motorcycle, I suppressed a shiver. Fah nao or the cold season had arrived like clockwork.
Not that we should expect snow.
The mountains in the North drop to 3C above Zero at worst […]

The Thai calendar has a plenthora of non-western holidays.
Most foreigners have no idea that a day is a holiday until they gather in  stupified huddles before bank, utility office, or post office. None can read the Sanskrit sign. Asking a pThai about the date offers little help, since most farangs are clueless about their own heritages, let alone Thai […]

A friend recently drove me to view some luxury houses south of Pattaya in his Benz. The four bedroom houses were set on their own beaches with an estate of smaller houses scaling the sloping hillside to Sukhumvit. The sound of the waves on the sand was soothing and the architect had spent time getting the dimensions of […]

This year Webster Dictionary has allowed a new series of modern slang to be entered into the lexicon of the English language. Most poeple I know ie english speakers are light years ahead of the educational tome in their venacular depravity, but here are some words which might make it into the revision for 2007.
1. […]