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Keep Moving (เดินต่อไป): The Thai Flood Set to Music

Catherine — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:05:23 +0000

The Thai flood set to music: เดินต่อไป….

For those of you who top up your language studies by listening to music, here’s a sobering Thai flood song, เดินต่อไป /dern dtòr-bpai/ (Keep Moving).

Written by: Mike Agana Sawatsewi, Sutthiphong Sombatjinda and Jaree Thanapura
Produced and arranged by: Jaree Thanapura and Michael Sawatsewi
Mixed by: Jeremiah P. Lipatapanlop

Thai flood photography by: Stephen Thomas, Bree Korkanok, Hedda Joy Tady-Tan, Jeremiah P. Lipatapanlop, Komol Boonpienpol, Leena Chanvirach, Ming Chartmeteekul, Pradon Sirakovit, Saran Singchoovong, Jill Brockelman, Pattricia Lipatapanlop, Mhong Puttharuk Putthiprechapong, Aoffy Vimolkiatkhajorn.

First up is the video with Thai subtitles, followed by an English version. The Thai-English lyrics come at the end.

เดินต่อไป /dern dtòr-bpai/ with Thai subtitles….

เดินต่อไป /dern dtòr-bpai/ with English subtitles….

เดินต่อไป /dern dtòr-bpai/ lyrics…

Audio: เดินต่อไป (“Keep Moving”) (ไมเคิล สวัสดิ์เสวี) (acoustic/ballad version)

เดินต่อไป /dern dtòr-bpai/ (acoustic/ballad version)
KEEP MOVING (acoustic/ballad version)

VERSE 1

เมื่อ วันพรุ่งนี้ เดิน เข้ามา
mêua wan-prûng-née dern kâo-maa
As tomorrow looms closer

มา กับ ปัญหา ที่ ท้าทาย
maa gàp bpan-hăa têe táa-taai
With its hardships and challenges

เส้นทาง ชีวิต ไม่ ง่ายดาย
sên-taang chee-wít mâi ngâai-daai
Navigating life’s road won’t be easy

ไม่เคย มี ใคร อาจ คาดเดา
mâi-koie mee krai àat kâat-dao
With so much that no one could have foreseen

PRE-CHORUS

มัน อาจจะ ล้ม มัน อาจจะ แพ้
man àat-jà lóm man àat-jà páe
Though you might fall and feel defeat

ถ้าหาก ไม่ ท้อ ทุกอย่าง ก็แค่ พิสูจน์ ตัวเรา
tâa-hàak mâi tór túk-yàang gôr-kâe pí-sòot dtua-rao
Don’t lose hope–in strife, we only prove ourselves

จังหวะ ชีวิต ที่ มัน เร่งเร้า
jang-wà chee-wít têe man râyng-ráo
The beat of life, moving us along

บอก ให้ เรา เข้าใจ ตราบใดที่
bòk hâi rao kâo-jai dtràap-dai-têe
Helps us understand and keeps reminding us that

CHORUS

เสียงเพลง ยัง ดัง อยู่
sĭang-playng yang dang yòo
When the music’s playing

จง รู้ว่า เท้า เรา ต้อง เต้น ไป
jong róo wâa táo rao dtông dtên bpai
Remember to keep your feet moving

เมื่อ หัวใจ ยัง เต้น อยู่
mêua hŭa jai yang dtên yòo
As long as your heart’s still beating

จง คิด ชีวิต ต้อง เดิน ต่อไป
jong kít chee-wít dtông dern dtòr-bpai
Know that life needs to keep on moving

VERSE 2

ไม่เคย ไป ไหน ก็ ไม่รู้
mâi-koie bpai năi gôr mâi-róo
Never going anywhere, you never see

ไม่มี ประตู ให้ เข้าไป
mâi-mee bprà-dtoo hâi kâo-bpai
If there lies a door for you to enter

ผิด ถูก อย่างน้อย ได้ จำไว้
pìt tòok yàang-nói dâai jam-wái
Whether wrong or right, at least you learn

ไม่อยู่ ที่ ใคร อยู่ที่ เรา
mâi-yòo têe krai yòo-têe rao
That it isn’t up to anyone else, but you

REPEAT PRE-CHORUS & CHORUS

CODA/BRIDGE

ไป… ไป เถอะ ไป …
bpai… bpai tùh bpai …
Go… go on and keep on moving

มัน จะ เจอ อะไร
man jà jer a-rai
Whatever it is you face

มัน จะ ร้าย จะ ดี แค่ไหน ต้อง ไป
man jà ráai jà dee kâe-năi dtông bpai
Whether good or bad, you need to keep on

เรา จะเป็น
rao jà-bpen
“What will become of us?”

เรา จะ ทำได้ ไหม
rao jà tam-dâai măi
“Will we make it through this?”

คน ที่ รู้ คนหนึ่งเท่านั้น คือ เรา…
kon têe róo kon-nèung-tâo-nán keu rao…
The only one who can answer is you…

REPEAT CHORUS

เดิน ต่อไป…
dern dtòr-bpai…
Keep on moving

เดิน… ต่อ… ไป…
dern… dtòr… bpai…
Keep… on… going…

A special thanks goes to Mike Sawatsewi for sending over the English and Thai lyrics.

WLT’s 2011 Thai Flood posts…

I guess it ain’t over ’till it’s over.

Ayutthaya Underwater: Bangkok Now Bracing for Floods
Bangkok is STILL Bracing for the Thai Floods. Barely.
Thai Language Thai Culture: Primer on Thai Disaster Words
Thai Language Thai Culture: Basic Thai Flood Phrases
Bangkok Flood Info: Preparing for Floods in Bangkok
Thailand’s 50 Million Blue Whales Flood Bangkok
Karn.TV Cartoons: Flooding in Thailand
Thai Floods: FROC’s Highway to…
Thai Floods: 1000 Boats? Nope. Just 6 Boats Pushing Flood Water
Thai Floods: Returning to Flooded Ayutthaya
You are Invited to the Charity Cat Party!
Thai Scam Artists vrs the Heroes of Thailand’s Floodss over.

Thai Scam Artists vrs the Heroes of Thailand’s Floods

Catherine — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:53:21 +0000

Scams of the Thai Floods…

Thailand is infamous for its scams. To warn their countrymen about the ongoing problem, the New Zealand Embassy felt obligated to create a dedicated page to Scams in Thailand. And due to the (repeatedly) ignored scams targeting tourists, the Australian Embassy warned Phuket’s Governor about Jet-Ski and Tuk-Tuk scams. Yeah. As if the governor (or Mayor for that matter) didn’t already know.

On my first visit to Thailand I was introduced to the jewelry scam (the bracelet fits fine thank-you-very-much). And my first introduction to Thai disaster scammers happened after I moved to Thailand, during the aftermath of the Tsunami.

So when the Thai floods hit the country hard, I was prepared for another round of scams. I didn’t have to wait long: Donations siphoned off, MWA warns of water bill scam, Con men target disaster victims, Flood Donation Fraudsters Arrested, and Phuket MP Anchalee accused of using flood relief to ‘buy’ support are just a few.

Like many, I wanted to help victims of the Thai floods but I didn’t want to be scammed. And while the SET Foundation is my Thai charity of choice I also wanted to help actual people in need. So I did. My way. Silly me.

But months into receiving my help, a con was rigged. The result? They received a whopping 1,700 baht (peanuts compared to previous assistance) and lost my trust and my support. Finish.

And before you say it, I totally know that the west is no stranger to scams. Just check out this bit of Christmas cheer: Thieves steal children’s charity donation bucket. Sick, yes? But the thing is, I don’t live in the west. I live here. In Thailand.

Westerners grew up with the saying, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. I did anyway. And when asked a Thai friend, I was told the Thai equivalent is, “Don’t break your own rice pot”.

Don’t break your own rice pot.
อย่า ทุบ หม้อข้าว ตัวเอง
yàa túp môr-kâao dtua-ayng

I prefer the Thai twist. You?

One side of me is pissed off about being scammed. Another side is mystified why someone already getting generous assistance would take a chance at being caught (especially when it was so blatantly obvious). But the practical side of me just shrugs because face it, scams are a regular part of Thailand’s landscape.

Anyway, instead of allowing the frustration to smolder, I decided to share the true heroes of the Thai flood crisis. The ongoing Thai flood crisis. Because it’s not over yet.

Heroes of the Thai floods: Lillian Suwanrumpha…

Like many expats in Thailand, when a crisis hits I stay glued to twitter. Twitter is also where a smattering of heroes like Lillian Suwanrumpha are found.

Lillian, @TheLilyfish on twitter, is an American-Thai journalist and photographer.

For these past months (and remember, it’s not over yet) Lillian has spent countless hours in crisis shelters, wading through rotting water, and boating far into flooded areas. Reading Lilli’s tweets, I’ve been impressed by her energy and stamina. And spunk (I totally like her spunk!)

Daily, I’d read Lillian’s calls for flood volunteers and donations. And when asked, she also gave great advice for rotting feet. And when frustrated, she’d bite the heads off fools.

@TheLilyfish: Looking for committed volunteers, 10 days minimum to help at animal shelter Cha Am. Please email leonard@soidog.org

@TheLilyfish: @WomenLearnThai @elgrodo @vaitor Check out why your feet are peeling first, if it’s fungal, don’t use Betnovate! Only for inflammation.

@TheLilyfish: Dear wannabe #ThaifloodEng donors, if u want to know where money goes, pls follow up group, not nag me about their political “affiliations”

@TheLilyfish: Instead of bitching and moaning about FROC/Puea Thai/ or whatever, go and #### help, you morons.

When I contacted Lillian about my planned post on the heroes of the Thai floods, she replied:

I’d hardly call myself a hero…there are so many others doing what I do, and besides I don’t do a full 9 to 5 job. But thanks!

Taking a different tack, I asked about other Thai flood heroes. Lillian tweeted back:

Red Cyber are the group who manage the donations tent at Victory Monument and do daily missions to Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi. Cyber have been great – they do missions every day, even night shifts. They sleep in their tents at Victory Monument in case there is a call.

@GlobalMouthful has been working with lots of small groups and buying donations daily.

SiamArsa and Thai Flood Eng have been great at coordinating donations, translating relief calls and organising their own.

Due to Lillian’s dedication, she’s been in a prime position to write and photograph what’s going on. Here are four of her Thai flood articles, featured at Asian Correspondent.

Thai flood: Giving and receiving in a time of crisis – A photo essay
A day after Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration implemented the Flood-Relief Operation Command at Don Muang Airport in an effort to alleviate Thailand’s worst natural disaster in 50 years, a call to action was sounded through media outlets for volunteers to help sort and pack supplies on the ground floor below the “war room”.

Since then, thousands of schoolkids, university students, local NGO groups, government underlings, army recruits, families and the occasional celebrity or two have crammed into Terminal 3 on a furious mission to prepare water, food, clothing and basic medical supplies for those in need.

Thai flood relief: Civilians lead the way – A photo essay
Despite rigourous attempts by the Puea Thai government and the Royal Thai Army to alleviate Thailand’s worst flooding in 50 years, most recently with the implementation of the Flood-Relief Operation Command at Don Muang Airport, it is civilian operations that are leading the way with donations distribution in the hardest-hit areas in Thailand during the nation’s worst flooding in 50 years.

Thai Floods: Relief for our furry friends – A photo essay
In the midst of Thailand’s worst flooding in over 50 years, last week the cabinet announced an official holiday from Octobe 27-31 for those in 21 flood-hit provinces.

Many took the opportunity to escape to unscathed areas in the country or abroad to cope with the crisis, leaving the centre of Bangkok a ghost town.

Others, however, opted to stay either to continue working or to use their days off to help others in need – including those of the four-legged kind.

Thai Floods: Life beyond the ‘Big Bag’ barrier – A photo essay
As rumours filter in regarding the possibility of 400 Rangsit locals descending upon the “Big Bag” barrier with destruction in mind, many beyond the great divide attempt to carry on with life as normal – if ‘normal’ could in any way be applied to navigating one’s neighbourhood in up to two metres of water.

You can see more samples of Lillian’s work at: Lillian Suwanrumpha

Heroes of the Thai floods: Ramin Assemi and Pi Wit…

Ramin Assemi is another Thai flood hero. And the same as Lillian, when I approached him about this post, his main focus was on others working to help those in need.

His name is Pi Wit. He is a government official working for the Royal Irrigation Department in Mahasarakham as an electrical engineer. A couple of weeks ago he came to Bangkok with his own pickup and 3 boats to help Thai flood victims.

He repeatedly went out to deliver relief items and help flood victims in other ways with his own boat and car, even though his boats and car had to been fixed 3 times now (and the boats even more often). Gasoline has been paid by donations (there’s a group that’s making small concerts and going around with donation boxes), and part of the costs for fixing has been paid by these donations too, but he paid a lot of the fixing costs out of his own pocket too.

I’ve been on the boat with him a couple of times, and was very impressed for several reasons. He’s taking good care of the volunteers who help on the boats and was always willing to jump in where help is needed, risking both his health and his boats. He went to great lengths to reach people who didn’t receive any other help, sometimes driving around in his small boat at night in a completely darkened area with just a little flashlight to reach one family after a very long day when all of us where tired, hungry, aching, covered from top to toe in mosquito bites – he being the guy on the boat must have been the most tired, especially because most volunteers circulate (going one day on a relief trip, then resting another day), while he went several days in a row.

It’s a guy who helps more than he talks, which is a rare quality.

There are others, but when I asked them they preferred not to be mentioned. I’ve met so many people who do very little but push their smiling faces in front on every pic they can, taking credit for other people’s hard work.

When we went out with the boats, we sometimes encountered people who refused to accept relief packs because they said that there are others further down some soi where no boat has gone for days, and they requested that the boats go there first to help them because they needed it more, even though they themselves actually did need the bags too.

As for me I’m very grateful to my friends who donated so much money. I originally set out to raise 20,000 baht in donations, and now we already have more than 190,000, pretty sure that by next week will be more than 200,000. I think for people who want to help, a very powerful way is to call up and email friends, and tap into their social networks and get busy asking for donations, and telling them that they’ll make sure donations are used the right way and using the Internet to make it all as transparent as possible. When people see how their donations benefit those whom they actually want to help, and there’s a trusted friend, they become a lot more generous and helpful than you’d expect them.

At the same time, when someone does this, they really have to get busy checking what happens with the donations and if possible follow it until it reaches those who need help. There is so much abuse of donations and sometimes very stupid and wasteful inefficiency it can be very disappointing and upsetting, but then you focus on the good peeps and find it’s worth all the trouble.

Right now the group at Wat Duang Khae needs donations of chicken and eggs. And the Camillian Home for the Disabled in Lad Krabang needs donations to take care of the kids – it’s not really flood relief (they did a flood relief in their local community, but the flood has pretty much receeded around there except for some sois where there’s just a bit of standing water) but seems to me very well worth supporting.

Baanarsa Jaidee is also a good place to help from what I can tell.

My impression is that many of the smaller groups don’t really need donations for flood relief packs anymore because relief efforts are by now so well organized and gaps by the army and large relief organizations have mostly been closed, but if you come across a small team you think is worth supporting where small donations can help please let me know about it and I’ll check it out.

Also it makes sense to keep some of the money you want to donate for the time when people still will need help, but the media has already moved on and people focus on other things.

Ramin gave tips on how you can get money or donations to the smaller groups, but, as not everyone has the time, I asked how people could get money to his flood efforts. He came back with several options: Preference 1. Bankwire (BKK Bank), 2. Cash (can pick up in BKK & do life post during transaction to keep accountable) or 3. Paypal.

So if you are strapped for time yet still want to help a grassroots effort, please make contact with Ramin through his Facebook (Ramin Assemi) or twitter (@ramin).

Worthwhile Thai flood charities…

There are many charities set up to help the flood efforts. Some are good. Some are great. Some are iffy. The charities listed below have been vouched for.

Camillian Home for The Disabled

Flood Situation: The medical and social workers at Camillian Home have been involved in supporting disabled people living in the community; providing food, medicine, training, adaptive equipment, and very importantly, establishing a deep personal link so they know and feel that they are not alone. Our teams do this work 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Baanarsa Jaidee

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation, an autonomous government agency, in collaboration with civil society–ArsaDusit Volunteers, Thaiflood, and others–opened Baan Arsa Jaidee on October 14th, 2011. It has quickly proved itself an aggressive and responsive flood relief effort because it helps to coordinate dozens of existing civil society groups.

Baan Arsa Jaidee and its partners: mobilize volunteers; coordinate aid; deliver timely flood information; and deliver survival bags, food, medicine, camp toilets, life jackets and other assistance to the flood-affected communities.

Soi Dog Foundation

Large scale evacuations of people are currently occurring in the worst affected areas of the Bangkok area. People being evacuated are typically not allowed to take their pets and these dogs and cats as well as thousands of strays left behind need your help now.

Soi Dog is working with groups in the Bangkok area to rescue these animals. These groups are working around the clock to save the dogs and cats before it is to late. Time is running out and they need your help.

Thai Red Cross

2500 units of blood required daily: The National Blood Center of the Thai Red Cross requires 2500 units of blood per day as reserve to ensure there is enough blood to meet requirements during the ongoing flooding.

… Since 1 October, with the ongoing flooding affecting thirty provinces and the situation still critical, blood collection has been difficult. The Center’s regional blood centers in Lopburi and Pisanuloke provinces are sent 400 units of blood each daily to supply hospitals in the central and lower central regions.

Volunteering…

Thai Flood Team

There are many ways to help about the Thai flood. You can volunteer (packing flood relief items, filling and carrying sandbags, teach and entertain kids in flood shelters, go out in flooded districts to deliver relief bags and so on) or donate (either money or things like rice, canned fish, instant noodles, baby diapers, and many other things that are urgently needed to help those most heavily affected by the Thai flood).

SiamArsa (Thai)

Coordinates donations and organises volunteers. In Thai.

Thai Flood (Eng)

Coordinates donations and organises volunteers. In English.

Wipe the Tide

Wipe the Tide is a fundraising campaign whereby a massive “flashmob” invades Bangkok’s major traffic intersections to clean the windshields of cars in order to raise funds for flood victims and to help rebuilding devastated areas, when ever severe floods in Thailand occur.

We are NOT going to donate cash to a random organization and say: “do what you want with it!” but rather invest in things that are needed.

Other heroes of the Thai floods…

As I mentioned, the Thai flood crisis is not over yet. To keep this fact in the public eye I’d like to continue to share the real heroes of the Thai flood. If you know of any, please give me a holler via my contact form.

In the meantime, here are a few handy flood crisis articles from Matt Crook (Lost Boy).

How to help those affected by the Thailand floods and So where is your money going? and To Ayutthaya and Back…

Thai Floods: 2011…

Thai Floods: Returning to Flooded Ayutthaya

Catherine — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 06:23:02 +0000

Returning to Flooded Ayutthaya…

On October 6 I visited Ayutthaya to see the extent of the flood. If you haven’t read the post, go to Ayutthaya Underwater. Areas located by waterways were difficult to get to by car but with perseverance we finally made it to our planned destination, Wat Chiawatthanaram.

Photos of four separate areas were taken that day: A small (still unnamed) community alongside the highway, Klong Sabua floating market, Wat Mahathat (famous for the Buddha head wrapped in the tree), and Wat Chiawatthanaram (which also had a floating market community).

After I left Ayutthaya, the floods increased. Newspapers reported transportation going from wheels to waves. For weeks after, the only Ayutthaya updates were made by rescue crews or a few hardy photographers and news teams. With boats needed to get supplies into the region, unnecessary visits were ill-advised.

Over a month later, on November 17th, I returned to Ayutthaya to see what progress, if any, had been made. Below are photos comparing both visits.

A small community in Ayutthaya…

Bridges especially were difficult to access so it took many stabs before we finally made it to Wat Chiawatthanaram. This was the first community we stopped at. It was impossible to go on so we turned around, to try again from a different angle.

OCT 6: This video shows how far down the highway the flooding went.

OCT 6: Compare this before photo with the following after photo.

NOV 17: During 40+ days the water rose to further swamp the area, and then subsided, allowing the community to clear mud, muck, and garbage from the intersection.

OCT 6: This before photo shows the right of the intersection.

NOV 17: Fairly dry, check out the watermarks on the Family Mart. And unless the mud wall was raised, I doubt the community outside these walls stayed dry.

OCT 6: On my various trips I came across flooded sois similar to this one. Many residents chose to stay in their homes, guarding against robbery. To access their homes, a few built walkways, others waded in or went via some sort of floating contraption. Due to a shortage + crazy prices, boats became optional methods of transportation.

NOV 17: As you can see, the road isn’t totally dry but it’s only been a few weeks since the water started subsiding.

NOV 17: This sign was posted across from the Family Mart. During the floods many people lost their livelihoods. No work = no pay. After no income for weeks (months?) those with cleaning skills have it made. For now.

รับจ้าง ล้างบ้าน /ráp jâang láang bâan/
โทร 08-025619940 /toh/

NOV 17: In front of shops and houses are piles of refuse waiting to be taken away. The piles, some quite high, consist of ruined clothes, furniture, floors and interior walls. Similar sights are found on the edges of Bangkok.

NOV 17: When you compare the flooded photos to this one, you can see just how hard the communities in Ayutthaya are working to clean up their city.

But Ayutthayians are not alone in this mess. November 10 was the first official cleanup day for the ancient monuments. December 5 is the next. For more about the clean up days, read We Care Ayutthaya Project to Clean the City.

Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya…

By my visit on October 6 the flood still hadn’t arrived at Wat Mahathat. There was a bit of standing water but that’s it.

OCT 6: The before and after photos from this angle are almost identical…

NOV 17: …That is, until you notice the bleached out bricks and the vegetation now missing from the lower walls and fences.

NOV 17: Due to the flood damage you can barely read the sign for Wat Mahathat. What’s apparent is that the entire sign was under water for awhile.

Now, check out the house across the street. From this photo the house looks to be lower than the Wat but when wandering through the grounds at Wat Mahathat I came across watermarks many feet higher than my head. And I stand around 5′ 3″.

A closeup of the watermark on the house can be seen below.

NOV 17: Hindsight – There’s nothing in this photo to show scale. Pity. But you can better bet that everything on the ground floor of that huge house was ruined.

NOV 17: A ticket seller at Wat Mahathat points out how high the flood got. Twenty feet to the left of this photo, where the ground dips into a small lake, it was higher still.

Note: During my trip there was no entrance fee’s at the Wats. So no 10 baht for Thais and 50 baht farang fees to get into the monuments.

I’m not sure how I feel about the decision to forgo entrance fees. The Wat’s gardeners mentioned that they’d been off work for weeks without pay. And while I didn’t see many tourists, the monies collected do add up. And well… you know.

NOV 17: Only last weekend Richard Barrow had to wade to get to the famous Buddha head. By the time I got there, it was standing water only. Did you notice the watermark?

To get an idea of the height of the head, scroll down on this page to the last photo: Buddha Head in Tree Roots, Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya.

NOV 17: Note the watermarks on the bricks at Wat Mahathat.

NOV 17: All three Wats I visited had watermarks. This photo shows watermarks at Wat Phra Si Sanphet (ancient royal palace).

Klong Sabua floating market…

This floating market was discovered during yet another abortive attempt to locate Wat Chiawatthanaram. The Wat was close, merely further up the road and across the river to the right. But without a boat, we had to backtrack. Again.

OCT 6: The flooding in this area was recent – take note of the pristine white sandbags.

Market Water Ayutthaya Klong Sabua
ดลาด น้ำ อยธยา คลอง สระบัว
dà-lâat nám a-yà-tá-yaa klong sà-bua

NOV 17: Between the two visits the sandbags either slid down the mud banks or were carted away. A bit of both? Note the different water levels under the bridge.

OCT 6: I took two different angles of this house but you can easily see the contrasts in the water levels.

NOV 17: If I were to build a house in Thailand, it’d be on stilts!

OCT 6: This and the following photo was taken with different camera settings, skewing the perspectives. Here I’m standing on dry ground but in the below photo I’m well into the previously inundated road.

NOV 17: This community lives close to the river so the floods will be around for awhile.

Wat Chiawatthanaram, Ayutthaya…

And we finally make it to Wat Chiawatthanaram! A mere two days before my first trip the Wat flooded.

OCT 6: Tough going, it took us a half hour to wade from just within the entrance of the soi to this point.

NOV 17: Note the lower water level and the now dead shrubs. In Aytthaya’s cleaned up areas the dead hedges and brown shrubbery are a dead giveaway that they were once under water.

OCT 6: This isn’t exactly a great video but you can see the water level, the mud dykes, and the still green trees. Also shown in the video is a sight I saw often – a dog rescue in progress.

NOV 17: In a bid to limit the damage, the pumps are slowly draining the Wat. Because if the Wat dries out too fast, the ancient bricks and mortar could crumble. A real fear.

OCT 6: The comparison photos were taken at different times of the day, with this one being around 3pm and the following trip around noon.

NOV 17: The biggest difference (that I can see) between the two photos is the appearance of the shrubbery in the foreground and the sign partially submerged. If you look carefully, you can barely see the change in water level on the door.

OCT 6: These girls were having fun goofing off.

NOV 17: And here’s the same spot, only further away. The motorcycles mark the spot where the gals played.

OCT 6: A practical Thai house on stilts.

NOV 17: Same house but it’s now weeks later and not much damage, if any, is visible.

On the way back from Bangkok…

The way back to Bangkok on the second Ayutthaya trip got really hairy. Khun Pissout often asks locals about flooding conditions and this time he was given incorrect advice. Someone mentioned that the way we’d come in the morning was no longer an easy return so we went a different way. Smack into the heavily flooded Wang Noi.

At several points the water was too high so we were forced to backtrack along major highways into oncoming traffic. Scary. There were trucks, vans, and tractors. We were the only taxi.

More than once the car sputtered in the deep water, coming close to a complete stall.

Even with the mostly cleared off Don Muang Tollway, it took us more than three hours to get to Aytthaya. The way back? Almost five.

Thai Floods: 2011…

The Thai flood posts keep marching on:

What’s next? Well, as I mentioned in a previous post, there’s still the Big Bag Barrier… we’ll see.

Ayutthaya Underwater: Bangkok Now Bracing for Floods

Catherine — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:43:44 +0000

Ayutthaya underwater…

Late last week I drove to Ayutthaya to see how the area was bearing up under the onslaught of flooding. I especially wanted to visit Wat Kasattrathiraj, the Wat reported as being underwater.

I went on Thursday, when the roads were still passable but waterways were starting to encroach onto highways, closing down bridges. By Friday, people were finding it impossible to get into the area. Today is Monday: Ayutthaya left in chaos.

It took us several tries to get across the river to the old city of Ayutthaya. We drove over many roads that were clear but the closer to the river we got, the wetter it became.

Warning signs were everywhere. In some officially closed off areas you could still get in by telling the police that you only wanted to see what was happening.

After what seemed like hours of driving, we finally come across flooding at a small community alongside the highway (I didn’t catch the name). They’d created a dirt embankment around the lowest areas, leaving houses and shops inside and out.

I read that the Thai government was handing out sandbags but there were none in evidence here.

A steady stream of locals were getting on with their lives, coming and going across the makeshift walkway.

Typical of practical Thailand, anything that would float was put to good use.

This little guy was having a great time on his Styrofoam island (but he didn’t appreciate my camera butting in).

Many brand spanking new boats were around. All blue. The trade in small boats must have been brisk.

Some bypassed available transportation, preferring to take their chances with snakes and… other critters lurking under the water. When this photo was taken the 25 crocodiles hadn’t escaped yet. Good thing.

Finally, the old city of Ayutthaya! The first ancient monument we drove by (after the elephant rides) was only partially flooded (and I’m not 100% sure if the standing water is normal in regular times too). You can just make out the tourists in that photo.

Continuing on, we came across a second flooded community.

The areas close to the encroaching water were dirtbagged (not sandbagged). Again, with houses and shops on both sides.

This is indeed an aptly named community.

While there I watched locals carrying out fans, dogs, anything of value. I asked Khun Pissout why, when a storm was announced the night before, they didn’t move their belongings when they had the chance? When the area was dryer? He explained that it’s not the Thai way. That Thais will wait until something happens and only then yell, “HELP! HELP!”

Almost ready to give up, we finally made it to a Wat underwater. Along the road to the Wat was a clay bank holding some of the flooding back. But, as most everyone was either boating or wading through the water covered road, into the wet we went.

I was sporting jeans and sandals and Khun Pissout was nicely kitted out in dress pants and black dress shoes. The closer to the Wat we got, the deeper it became. And before our adventure was over we were both drenched to our butts and beyond.

Many things I saw surprised me that day. For instance, dogs were being carried or ferried around by their owners. The Thais were soaking wet, but their pets were dry!

What didn’t surprise me were the many instances of Thais helping Thais.

Wading towards the Wat we passed boatload after boatload of families with their possessions.

Ok, this is clearly not a boat but it worked for him.

And again, Styrofoam to the rescue!

Some of the boats just had people. No stuff. But loads of smiles.

After 20 minutes of wading sloooooooooowly through the water, we made it.

And here you have it. The Wat under water. I tried to convince Khun Pissout to hire a boat to tour the grounds but he resisted. First he said that it was dangerous. And that we weren’t allowed to go in. That farangs could go in, but not Thais.

Then, when one boatload of Thai people paddled by, followed by more, I asked again. No reply. Ten minutes later, after I agreed that only I would be in the boat, not him, we looked for one to hire but they were all the flimsy kind. No thanks. While I am a proficient swimmer, if the boat went over I’d be fine but my 7D would drown.

Here’s yet another curiosity. They are removing the clay from the wall holding the majority of the river back. After they filled containers with the clay they took it across the street to shore up the walls around their home.

In parts it was deep, others not so much.

This traditional Thai house on stilts is high and dry, just as it should be!

Yet another dry dog, only this one is being taken for a walk around the wet Wat. When asked why he didn’t leave his dog at home, he replied that the dog wouldn’t be happy there on its own.

Ah. It’s Wat Chiawatthanaram (วัดไชยว้ฒนาราม)… no matter.

There were loads of smiles in my direction. I only found out later that Khun Pissout, often in front of me, was announcing to one and all that I was with the press. Gotta love him. And what an opportunist!

An official team of photographers were seen in the area (they had a proper boat), scouting around. I know because I briefly talked to the western photographer. He was staying dry by walking on the clay wall, while I was in the water, wet wet wet. Trying to convince him to have a real experience, I teased him. Just a little. And I’m still wondering if he did…

In the early afternoon the headman of the village brought in food for those sticking around.

I was hungry too, so it was time to go!

Again on dry land, I was faced with the final curiosity. The electric company arrived in the late afternoon to cut the power. As I mentioned, the storm was predicted for the night before. Plus, the community was under water for more than half a day by the time the electric company showed up. People going in and out getting their belongings all day? And for several weeks the newspapers had been reporting deaths from electrocution due to the flooding? Anyway…

Bangkok now bracing for floods…

So, what happens now? Well, the powers that be are predicting that Bangkok will flood (more) when the newly released flood waters from the north reach the city. So if you want to keep up with what’s happening, here’s a site that’s Mapping the Thailand Flood Disaster.

To prepare, the Thai government has already been mighty busy protecting Bangkok.

First, there was City Hall asking the Water Goddess for mercy.

And in case the Water Goddess doesn’t help, the government decided on a Chao Phraya armada to rush river water out to sea.

On twitter I found photos of Bangkokians raiding grocery stores for supplies, leaving many empty shelves. Not wanting to starve I took off for Villa Market but found business as usual. No lines, full shelves, no problem. But apparently scared city folk are preparing for the worst.

Come hell or high water, after overstocking at Villa I’m ready for whatever comes. I now have plenty of Whiskey, water, and wine. Also, in case of a power outage I have candles. And in case of another flood photo opportunity, Khun Pissout is standing by.

Slaves and Unpaid Servants in Thailand: Kaa-gao Dtao Liang

Catherine — Thu, 05 May 2011 09:06:49 +0000

Slavery and Thailand…

Once again, slavery and Thailand are linked in the news. Shocking (to me) US companies have been enslaving Thai workers for years (see Combatting Modern Day Slavery in Hawaii and Mainland U.S.)

Thailand in turn has been accused of similar crimes against non Thais (see Burmese Fishermen Are Trafficked and Abused On Thai Fishing Boats).

But my post deals with a different kind of slavery: ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง /kâa-gào dtào líang/

longdo.com
ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง
[N] old servant
See also: slave since childhood, one born in slavery

The breakdown of ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง is:

ข้าเก่า /kâa-gào/ born into slavery
เต่า /dtào/ turtle
เลี้ยง /líang/ to feed, nourish, nurture, raise a child or animal, provide for…

I asked Rikker (because he always knows) and apparently the actual word is ข้าเก่า /kâa-gào/, with ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง /kâa-gào dtào líang/ being your typical Thai rhyming tweak, making it sound sweeter to the ears.

I’m not sure about you, but eye-raising statements such as ‘slave since childhood’ and ‘one born in slavery’ titillate me to learn more.

When I looked up ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง I assumed that since it stated slavery, it was. But the truth is, legal slavery was abolished in Thailand before I was born.

wikipedia.org: 1912 Siam (Thailand), formally abolishes all slavery. The act of selling a person into slavery was abolished in 1897 but slavery itself was not outlawed at that time.

I asked my good friend Khun Pha about kâa-gào dtào-líang and it just so happens that she has such a person working for her. And not only that, she would love to tell the story. What a great opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of Thai culture! So yeah, I grabbed at it.

I can’t type that fast so Khun Pha said ok to a recording. Wanting to spice it up, we roped in Khun Pi for a session. And that’s what you’ll find below: Khun Pha talking about her experiences with kâa-gào dtào-líang, and Khun Pi playing devils advocate and sometimes winding Khun Pha up (he’s good like that).

Ah. And because it’s important in Thailand… Khun Pha is middle class, college educated in both Thailand and the west, and is coming up to 60 years old. Khun Pi is educated in Thailand, quite savvy (never stops learning), and is a few years behind Khun Pha. My age is… never mind.

The Two K’s on ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง /kâa-gào dtào-líang/…

Khun Pha:

วันนั้น พี่ อธิบาย ให้ เขา ฟัง
One day I explained to her [Catherine].

พี่ พูดถึง เรื่อง ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง
I talked about kâa-gào dtào-líang.

คุณ พิ เข้าใจ ใช่มั้ย
Khun Pi, do you understand that?

Khun Pi:

อือ ฮึ
I know.

Khun Pha:

อื้อ หมายความ ว่า เมื่อก่อน เนี้ย คนไทย เรา เนี่ย นิยม มี คนใช้ อยู่ ที่ บ้าน
Right. It means that previously it was common for Thai people to have servants live in our homes.

บางที เนี่ย คนใช้ เนี่ยะ ไม่ใช่ แค่ คนเดียว อะ แต่ แบบ มี ทั้ง ครอบครัว
Sometimes not only one servant but a whole family.

คือ พ่อแม่ อยู่ กับ เรา ก่อน แล้วพอ มีลูก
It means the parents live with us and then have children.

พอ มีลูก มีหลาน อะไร ขึ้นมา
When they have children or grandchildren…

เรา ก็ ยังคง ให้ เขา อยู่ ต่อ ใน บ้าน ของ เรา
… we still have them live in our homes.

เขา ก็ ยัง ทำงาน ให้ เรา และ เขา ก็ คิด เป็น ครอบครัว เดียวกัน น่ะ
They still work for us and they feel that we are the same family.

เอ่อพี่ ก็ อธิบาย ให้ คุณ แคท ฟัง อ่ะว่า ที่ บ้าน พี่ อะ มี ไอ้ เด็ก อยู่ คน หนึ่ง แม่เขาอ่ะเคยทำงาน กับ แม่ พี่ และ พ่อแม่ เขา เนี่ย ตาย ไป แล้ว
I explained to Khun Cat that at my house I have one child live with me and her mother used to work for my mother and after that her parents died.

และ ไอ้ นี่ มัน ก็ ไม่ มี ญาติ ที่ไหน มัน ก็ เป็น หน้าที่ ของ พี่ ที่ ต้อง อยู่ กับ พี่ ต่อไป
And this person had no relatives anywhere so it was my duty to have her stay with me.

Khun Pi:

ใช่
Yes

Khun Pha:

ตอนแรก เขา อยู่ กับ น้อง พี่
At first she stayed with my younger sibling.

ที นี้ น้อง พี่ เนี่ย เขาแยก แยกบ้าน แยก เรือน ออกไป มีครอบครัว ของ เขา เอง
Then my younger sister moved out to have her own house and family.

แล้ว แม่ พี่ เนี่ยะ เห็นว่า พี่ เนี่ยะ ไม่ มี ใคร อยู่ ด้วย
Then my mother saw that I didn’t have anyone to live with.

แม่ ก็ เลย ให้ เรา เนี่ยดูแล ไอ้ นี่ และ ไอ้ นี่ มันก็ เต็มใจ ที่ จะ อยู่ กับ เรา
My mother then got me to take care of this child and the child was willing to live with me.

บางที เนี่ย เรา ไม่ได้ จ้าง เขา เป็น เดือน หรอก อยู่ ด้วยกัน เหมือน เป็น ครอบครัว
Sometimes we don’t pay this kind of servant a monthly salary. We live as family.

Khun Pi:

มี สมบัติ ต้อง ทำ พินัยกรรม ให้ เขา ด้วย, ต้อง ให้ เขา นะ เพราะ ว่า อะไร รู้ มั้ย ! เพราะว่า
If you have assets you have to make a will to give to her as well. You must give it to her! Do you know why? Because…

Khun Pha:

เขา ดูแล เรา
… she takes care of me.

Khun Pi:

เขา ดูแล เขา ดูแล แน่ๆ หละ ไม่ ต้อง กลัว หรอก
She takes care. She certainly takes care of you, sure. Don’t need to be scared.

Explanation: There is not a need be scared because she will always take care, even when one becomes old (some neglect old people).

Khun Pha:

เออ
Ok

Khun Pi:

เอา เหอะ
Do it!

Khun Pha:

ก็ พี่ ก็ ให้ อย่างเช่น
And I give her, for example…

Khun Pissout (interrupting):

เงินสด สิบ ล้าน
Cash, ten million baht.

Khun Pha:

โอ้โฮ ไม่ ถึง หงะ
Well, not that much!

เมื่อ ปี ที่แล้ว เรา ก็ ให้ แหวน มัน วง หนึ่ง
Last year I did give her one ring.

แหวน ก็ แหวน เล็กๆ มีเป็น แหวน ที่ แม่ เพิ่ง ให้ เรา
The ring is a small one. The ring my mother just gave to me.

อันนี้ คนไทย เขา เรียกว่า ข้าเก่าเต่าเลี้ยง
This is what we Thai [Thai society] call kâa-gào dtào-líang.

หมายถึง ว่า ข้า เนี่ย ก็ คือ พวก คนใช้ คือ เรา เลี้ยง เขา แล้ว เนี่ย เรา จะ ต้อง เลี้ยงดู ต่อไป อะ
Kâa means servants. It means when we take care and pay for everything for them… we would… continue to take care of them. I think.

เอ่อ คุณ พิ มี ความคิด อย่างไร คุณ Catherine (แค ท เธอ รีน) เขา อยากจะ ฟัง ความคิด ของ คุณ พิ ว่า the Thai ways น่ะ วิถีชีวิต ไทย อะ
Well, Khun Pi, what is your idea? Khun Catherine would like to hear your opinion about the Thai way of living.

Khun Pi:

อืม … ก็ แบบ ที่ พี่ พูด น่ะ แหละ มัน ก็ ต้อง เป็น แบบนี้ ทั้งนั้นแหละ same, same same.
Well, it is exactly what you said. It must be like this. All of it. Same. Same, same.

Khun Pha:

เพราะว่า ใน ความเป็นคนไทย เนี่ย คือ ชีวิต ดั้งเดิม เนี่ย มัน ก็ เป็น ระบบ ครอบครัว อยู่ แล้ว
Because… in being Thai, it means our traditional life… it has been the family system for ages.

เรา เรียกว่า ครอบครัว อุปถัมภ์ ครอบครัว ก็ หมายถึง เป็น อะไร Family ใช่มั้ย !
We call the ‘patronage family’ krôp-krua. The word krôp-krua means family, yes?

Khun Pi:

อือ ฮึ
I’m listening (agree).

Khun Pha:

อุปถัมภ์ ก็ คือ to look after to take care หรือว่า to support อ่ะ นะ เพราะฉะนั้น
The ù-bpà-tăm means to take care, to look after, or to support, like this, therefore…

Khun Pi:

Donation!
It is donation

Khun Pha:

ไม่ ไม่ donation.
No, not donation.

Khun Pi:

ไม่ได้ เหรอ ?
Can’t it be?

Khun Pha:

คนละแบบ คนละแบบ ไม่ใช่ ไม่ใช่
Different type, different type, no, no!

We have to look after them เพราะว่า we use them. เรา ใช้ แม่ เขา ใช้ พ่อ เขา ใช่มั้ย
We have to look after them, because we use them. We use the services of their mother, their father. Right?

NOTE: ‘use’ in Thai is similar to “I use Mike’s car cleaning service” in English.

Khun Pha:

แต่ พอ พ่อแม่ เขา ตาย เนี่ย แล้ว เขา มีลูก ต่อ แล้ว ลูก เขา ไม่ ไป เนี่ย เขา ต้อง อยู่กับ เรา – เรา ก็ ต้อง take care เรา ต้อง รับผิดชอบ
And when the parents die and the child doesn’t want to go the child has to stay with us – we have to take responsibility.

Khun Pi:

วงเล็บ เขา เป็น คนดี ด้วย
And also, she must be a good person.

Khun Pha:

อ๋อ ใช่ ก็ คือ ส่วนมาก ก็ ต้อง
Yes, that’s right. Mostly must be.

Khun Pi:

ต้อง เป็น คนดี ด้วย
Must be a good person.

Khun Pha:

ก็ ต้อง ซื่อสัตย์ กัน น่ะ ใช่ มั้ย !
Must be honest to each other right?

Khun Pi:

ใช่
Right!

Khun Pha:

เป็น คนดี ซื่อสัตย์ คือ honest และก็ ไว้ใจ ได้ trustful.
She has to be honest, honest, and be good person who is honest and trustworthy.

Khun Pha:

บางที นะ บาง บ้าน น่ะ we give, เรา ให้ เงินเขา น่ะ เขา but not for hiring
Sometimes, in some houses, we give, we give them money but not for hiring.

Khun Pi:

อือ … ฮึ
Yep, I am listening.

Khun Pha:

แต่ หมายถึง ว่า ให้ เป็น ค่า ขนม
But it means we give them to buy dessert [pocket money].

Khun Pi:

อืม … ไม่ ให้ เป็น Salary ล่ะ
Understand. Why don’t you give her a salary?

Khun Pha:

ไม่ใช่ ๆ we don’t consider that the salary we… เอ่อ คือ เรา ไม่ได้ ให้ เป็น แบบ เงินเดือน แต่ เรา ให้ เขา เป็น แบบ ค่า ขนม
No, we don’t consider the salary, we… we don’t give her a salary we give pocket money.

เพราะว่า ไอ้ ค่า ใช้จ่าย ภายใน บ้าน พวก ค่า ข้าว ค่า อาหาร อะไร พวกนี้ เรา เรา รับผิดชอบ อยู่แล้ว
Because all the expenses in the house for food, for household things, we already take the responsibility for those things.

แต่ ที่ เรา ให้ เนี่ย เรา เรียกว่า สินน้ำใจ คือ ให้ เป็น ค่าขนม ค่าใช้จ่าย เผื่อ เค้า อยากจะ ซื้อ อะไร เล็กๆน้อยๆ ของ เขา
But the money we give we call it a tip for snacks or expenses. In case she wants to buy inexpensive or miscellaneous things.

Khun Pi:

แล้ว ถ้าเกิด เขา จะ ซื้อ ใหญ่ๆ เขา จะ อยู่ ได้ ยังไง เขาจะ เอา ที่ไหน ซื้อ !
What If she wants to buy something big or expensive, how can she live with it, where will she will find money?

Khun Pha:

เขา ก็ ต้อง เก็บ ตังค์ ของ เขา สิ
She must save her own money!

Khun Pi:

เอา ที่ไหน เก็บ ล่ะ !!
From where can she save?

Khun Pha:

อ๊าว ก็ ที่ เรา ให้ เขา นี่ไง
Well, from what we give her!

Khun Pi:

และ เกิด เรา เรา ให้ เขา น้อย ล่ะ
What if you give her only a little?

Khun Pha:

โอ๊ย เรา ก็ ให้ ตาม ความเหมาะสม แล้ว เขา ก็ ต้อง ยอมรับ ด้วย ว่า สถานะ เรา เป็น ยังไง เรา จน หรือ เรา รวย
Well, I have to give her what fits my income and she has to accept my status as well. If I am rich or poor.

Khun Pi:

ฝรั่ง เขา บอก ว่า ไม่ แฟร์
Westerners say that it is not fair.

Khun Pha:

อื๊ม ไอ้ นั่นฝรั่ง
Those are westerners!

Khun Pi:

เอ่อ ถ้า เป็น ชาวยุโรป ชาวตะวันตก เค้า จะ บอก ว่า ไม่ you ทำงาน ให้ ชั้น เท่านี้ ชั้น ให้ เงิน you เท่านี้ เป็น ค่าแรง
If Europeans or westerners, they will say, “No. You work for me this amount, I give you money for this amount, for labour”.

เป็น คล้ายๆ กับ แบบ Labor เป็นค่าแรง ไป ใช่มั้ยฮะ
It is almost the same as Labour. It is a wage, correct?

Khun Pha:

แต่ คุณ พิ
But Khun Pi…

Khun Pi:

อาจจะ เป็น สำหรับ ฝรั่ง อาจจะ เป็น สำหรับ job job ไป
Maybe for westerners… Perhaps pay per work.

Ok. วันนี้ คุณ ทำงาน สี่ ชั่วโมง 4 hours ok I tell you 500 baht.
Ok today you worked 4 hr, 4 hours ok I tell you 500 baht.

Wow ok I tell you 500 baht ห้าร้อย บาท หรือ อะไร อย่างนี้
Wow ok I tell you 500 baht I give you 500 baht something like this.

เขา ไม่ เหมือน คนไทย เรา
They are not like us Thai people.

คนไทย เรา อาจจะ … คุณ มา ทำงาน ให้ ฉัน ทั้งวัน เลย
For Thai people maybe…, “you came to work for me the whole day…

อ้ะ ฉัน ให้ เธอ สามร้อย ฉัน ให้ เธอ ร้อยนึง ฉัน ให้ เธอ พันนึง
…Ok I give you 300 baht. I give you 100 baht. I give you 1000 baht”.

แล้วแต่ ฐานะ ใช่มั้ย !
It depends on status, right?

แต่ ฝรั่ง เขา จะ แฟร์
But westerners, they will be fair.

Khun Pha:

ไม่ ๆ
No, no!

Khun Pi:

เขา จะ ให้ เป็น แบบ ตาม แรงงาน ที่ เรา ทำ
They will give like… according to the labour we do.

Khun Pha:

คุณ พิ คิดว่า
Khun Pi, you think that…

เรา ไป เอา คน ข้างนอก แต่ นี่ ถ้า คน อยู่ ด้วยกัน มัน เป็น ครอบครัว ใช่ไหม ฮะ
We employ outsiders but this, for people who live together, it is family isn’t it?

และ เรา ไม่ได้ มา บังคับ ให้ เขา มา อยู่กับ เรา
And we don’t force them to stay with us.

เขา อยู่กับ เรา เพราะ เขา เต็มใจ ที่ จะ มา อยู่กับ เรา
They stay with us because they are willing to stay with us.

เขา ไม่ อยากจะ ไป ไหน เพราะ เขา ถือว่า เรา น่ะ เป็น ครอบครัว แล้ว
They don’t want to go to stay anywhere else because they already consider us as family.

Khun Pi:

ถ้า วันใด เรา ไม่ ให้ ตังค์ เขา เขา ไม่ มี รายได้ มาก พอที่ เขา จะ ซื้อ ไอ้นู่น ได้ ไอ้นั่นไอ้นี่ ได้
If one day you don’t give her money and she has no enough income to buy the things that she wants…

เขา ก็ จะ ไม่ เป็น ข้าเก่าเต่าเลี้ยง กับ เรา เพราะว่า เขา ก็ จะ ต้อง ไป อ่ะ คือ อาจจะ แต่งงาน ไป… อะไร ไป อย่างงี้
She would not be your unpaid servant, because she needs to leave, may be leaving for marriage… something like this.

Khun Pha:

อ่า โอเค คือ หมายถึง ว่า ถ้า สมมติ เขา อยากจะ มีครอบครัว เขา แยก ครอบครัว ออกไป และ เขาเห็นว่า แล้ว เรา ก็ ต้อง เต็มใจ นะ เรา ต้อง ยินดี กับ เขา
Oh yes, if she wants to have her own family, if she has a new family and lives away from us and she sees that… then we have to agree and be glad for her.

Khun Pi:

ใช่ ต้อง ยินดี
Yes, be glad.

Khun Pha:

เรา ยินดี กับ เขา ว่า โอเค เขา จะ ไป มี อนาคต ของ เขา เอง ไป สร้าง อนาคต ของ เขา เอง
We are happy for her that… right, she is going to have her own future, to create her own future.

Khun Pi:

ใช่
Yes.

Khun Pha:

แต่ ถ้า ตราบใด ที่ เขา เนี่ย ยัง เห็นว่า อยู่กับ เราแล้ว เขา สบาย
But as long as she still sees that she is fine to stay with us…

และ ก็ เขา 0ก็ ไม่ ต้องการ ที่จะ แยก ครอบครัว ออกไป
…and she doesn’t want to separate to make her own family.

Khun Pi:

ใช่
Yes.

Khun Pha:

เขา ก็ อยู่กับ เรา อยู่ กัน เหมือน พี่ เหมือน น้อง เหมือน ลูก เหมือน หลาน
Then she would stay with us. Stay together like older or younger siblings, like children or grandchildren.

และ เขา ก็ ต้อง รู้ ด้วย ว่า เรา เนี่ยะ ฐานะ เรา เป็น ยังไง
And she has to understand my economic status.

เรา รวย หรือ ไม่ รวย แล้ว ก็ อยู่กัน อย่าง มี ความสุข
We are rich or not rich then we stay together happily.

เหมือน ไอ้ เด็ก ที่อ ยู่กับ พี่
Same as the child who stays with me.

Khun Pi:

อัน นั้น คือ เป็น คน ยุคเก่า เป็น คน เก่า เป็น คนยุคก่อน
That is the people of the older generation. She is a person of the older generation. She is a person from the former generation.

แต่ ถ้า เป็น เด็ก สมัยนี้ เป็น คนรุ่นใหม่ new generation นะ ไม่มีทาง เลย
But if she is a young person from this generation, of the new generation, new generation, then no way.

Khun Pha:

อืม ! ก็ เนี่ย ไง
Yep, like this (as I said).

Khun Pi:

แต่ หาก เขา ไม่มี สตางค์ เนี่ย นะ เขา ไม่ พอ จะ ใช้จ่าย เนี่ย
But if she doesn’t have money. She doesn’t have enough to spend.

เขา ไม่ สา มารถ จะ ซื้อ ไอ้ G-Net ได้ อะไร ได้ iPhone ได้
She cannot buy the G-net or iPhone.

มัน มี ความรู้สึก ว่า เขา ควรจะ หา เส้นทาง ใหม่ ที่ เขา จะ เดิน
She will have the feeling that she should find a new route to walk.

Khun Pha:

คุณ พิ พูด เหมือนว่า
K.Pi said as if….

Khun Pi:

เขา อาจ จะเป็น แบบ ข้า เก่า เต่า เลี้ยง ก็ จริง อะ แต่ ยุคใหม่ เนี่ย เขา จะ ไป และ= แล้ว
She might be like the unpaid servant, it’s true, but the new generation servants, they will leave…

Khun Pha:

ก็ นี่ไง ที่ คุณ พิ พูด น่ะ พูดถึง คนสมัยใหม่ ไอ้ คน รุ่น ใหม่
Just right like this, what you said, you meant new generation, those new generation people.

แต่ ที่ พี่ พูดถึง เนี่ย
But what I said….I meant…

Khun Pi:

คน รุ่นเก่า
Older generation.

Khun Pha:

คน รุ่นเก่า ยัง มี
People of the older generation still exist.

Khun Pi:

คน รุ่นเก่า เพราะ คน พูด เป็น คนแก่ ฮะ ฮ่า ฮ่า
Older generation. Because the speaker is a person from the older generation.

(sound of laughter)

Khun Pha:

มัน ยัง มีอยู่
It still exists.

Khun Pi:

ยัง มีอยู่ ยัง มีอยู่
Still exists. Still exists.

Khun Pha:

อย่างเช่น พี่ น่ะ โชคดี แล้วก็ … เพราะ เขา มองเห็น แล้ว ว่า เขา ไป อยู่ ข้างนอก เนี่ย ถึงแม้ เขา จะ ไป ทำงาน ที่ โรงงาน ได้ เงินเดือน
Like me, I’m lucky and… because she already realised that, for example, if she lives out even though she would go to work at a factory, get a salary.

แต่ มัน ไม่ใช่ ความสุข ของ เขา ความสุข ของ เขา ก็ อยู่กับ เรา เนี่ย
But it is not her happiness. Her happiness is to stay with me like this.

Khun Pi:

ได้ ดูแล เรา
Have chance to take care of you.

Khun Pha:

เรา ดูแล เขา ด้วย
She takes care of me too.

Khun Pi:

ครับ
Yep.

Khun Pha:

เรา เหมือน ครอบครัว น่ะ แต่ เด็ก สมัยนี้ น่ะ ยอมรับ ล่ะ ว่า โอเค เงิน … สำคัญ ที่สุด
We are like family… but this generation of young people, I accept that… Ok… money is the most important thing.

Khun Pi:

ใช่
Right.

Khun Pha:

พวกนี้ เนี่ย เรา ก็ ไม่ สนใจ ก็ ไป
This kind of people, we don’t need to pay attention to. They leave.

แต่ ที่ พี่ พูดถึง ว่า ยัง มี อ้าย ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง
But what I said that there are still some kâa-gào dtào-líang.

แต่ แน่นอน ว่า มัน จะ ต้อง หมดไป … หมดไป มัน จะ ต้อง หมดไป
But certainly they will disappear, disappear, they will disappear.

Khun Pi:

แน่นอน
Certainly.

The rest of the kâa-gào dtào-líang story…

If you’ve ever recorded a themed conversation then you’ll know that it’s easy to forget needed details. I was already up on basics of the story so when I listened to the recordings I noted what was missing.

At my request Khun Pha stopped by for a second session and after compiling the facts I checked with her to make sure I had them correct. And that’s what you have below… the missing pieces.

All through the audio you’ll hear ‘the girl’ but her nickname (ชื่อเล่น /chêu lên/) is น้อย /nói/ meaning ‘little’.

Before Noi came to live with Khun Pha she’d spent almost her entire life in the home of her parents’ employers. Noi’s parents were the ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง /kâa-gào dtào-líang/ (unpaid servants) of a neighbour of Khun Pha‘s mother.

In the employer’s house there was an old lady, her five young sons (all in school at that time), and a daughter with a husband and their three children. Then of course, the two servants and their young daughter, Noi.

Several years passed and the breadwinner of the house died. His wife and children moved away to the countryside, with everyone else staying behind. Then Noi’s parents died, leaving her alone with the old women of the house and the remaining siblings, the five sons. None of the sons were interested in working so eventually the family became poor.

Khun Pha’s mother (let’s call her แม่ /mâe/ mother from now on) lived in the house next door. And to help out financially, Mae often sent Noi to the store, paying her small tips in exchange. And when Mae needed help around the house, she’d hire Noi for short jobs. But Mae couldn’t do more than that because she already had live in help of her own. She only needed extra help when they were not available.

When the situation started getting worse for Noi, Mae felt obligated to ask the neighbour’s permission to find the young girl a better place. The old women agreed so Mae explained to Noi that she didn’t have room in her own house, but her children did, and would she like to go live with them instead?

And that’s how ten year old Noi came to live with Khun Pha nicknamed Eet (อี๊ด /éet/), her older brother Aet (พี่แอ๊ด /pêe-áet/), and her younger sister Oi (อ้อย /ôi/).

A note on Thai names: Some Thai families give singsong nicknames to their children. In Khun Pha’s family (starting with the older brother and working down) there is Aet, Eet, and Oi. And when Oi gave birth to a daughter, Mae combined Oi with Ing to get Oi-ing (อ้อยอิ่ง /ôi-ìng/) which means ‘slow motion’ in Thai. And what baby doesn’t move slow?

Anyway… after the young girl’s arrival, Khun Pha renamed Noi with a more positive nickname, Porn (พร), which means ‘blessing’ in Thai.

As Khun Pha and her brother worked long hours it was younger sister Oi’s responsibility to keep the house running. So basically, Porn was Oi’s personal (unpaid) servant. In the early years, being out all the time, Khun Pha rarely saw Porn. Then when Oi moved away with her growing family, and after, older brother Aet died, Khun Pha and Porn were alone in the house. But it was only when Khun Pha was housebound for months with an illness that Porn told her life story. By then Porn was around 20 years old.

For whatever reason, Porn’s parents did not get her birth registered in Thailand. And without a birth certificate she could not go to school. We’ll never know for sure, but it could be that Porn’s parents were from a neighbouring country and never became citizens of Thailand (it’s only possible if you have a legal work permit).

Being born under the radar Porn was not eligible for opportunities available to some (not all) Thais: Thai ID card, basic education, public healthcare, passport, the possibility of a higher paying job, ability to buy property, open a bank account, start a legal business, etc.

Porn did not go to school but on her own initiative she studied English. Before she moved in with Khun Pha’s family at ten, Porn was tutored in English by a kind neighbour. This neighbour worked nights and just like Mae, she took pity on Porn, tipping her for doing odd jobs. And when she had the time, this neighbour taught Porn English learned from western clients. I guess in some circles you would call the neighbour a ‘lady of the night’.

Khun Pha’s ability to communicate in English had impressed Porn from the very first. And these days, when Khun Pha is working at home in the evenings, Porn sits along side of her studying English and history (the history was added by Khun Pha). And when Khun Pha helps locate books I need for my Thai studies she often picks up books for Porn too.

I asked Khun Phai why Porn didn’t make the effort to get a paying job but apparently there are several hurdles. One, paperwork. And two, being born into kâa-gào dtào líang, Porn doesn’t want to leave a situation she’s known all her life. And three, she doesn’t enjoy being outside on her own.

Porn knows how to take busses but she doesn’t like to or need to. Khun Pha doesn’t mind so drives her to the grocery store and then picks her up after. Always one to find fun in a situation, Khun Pha calls Porn ‘my lady’ because Porn sits in the backseat of the car while Khun Pha chauffeurs her around town. Sweet!

Ok, so the next question is: what happens to Porn when Khun Pha gets too old to work, or dies? And this is where the Thai tradition of kâa-gào dtào líang continues on. When Oi was having her babies Porn was there to help. Oi’s daughter, Oi-ing, now grown, might be from the modern generation but she feels a family obligation to Porn and will step in when the time comes.

To finish…. Thailand has no social security in place for its citizens. Can you imagine it? To makeup for this lack, in Thailand family unit serves as security blankets. Porn’s parents did not have family in the area so became the (unpaid) servants of a Thai family. With not many other options, I’m guessing that it was in the hope of being taken care of for life. As they were.

When Porn’s parents died she was left an orphan without a secure safety net. A possible tragedy, but instead of landing on the streets a caring family took responsibility for her welfare.

She’s now in charge of the household and I’m told gets quite bossy! If Khun Pha doesn’t take her medicine, Porn reminds her. And if Khun Pha eats too much meat, there’s Porn again, nagging at her.

Kâa-gào dtào-líang is not the way of the west and like both Khun Pi and Khun Pha noted it’s fading in Thailand. But kâa-gào dtào-líang certainly exists today.

And to end: I believe that a better definition of ข้าเก่า เต่าเลี้ยง /kâa-gào dtào-líang/ would be unpaid, loyal servant. What say you?

Jumbo Banquet & Jumbo Queen Contest

Catherine — Tue, 03 May 2011 07:54:17 +0000

Thailand’s Jumbo Banquet and Jumbo Queen contest…

I received a Dumbo sized disappointment this weekend. All over the Internet there were announcements of Samphran Elephant Ground’s Jumbo Banquet and Jumbo Queen Contest. I’ve been dying to take photos of a Jumbo Queen contest so was thrilled at the thought of a new adventure.

jumboqueen.com: On the 1st of May in 1996, Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting the first Jumbo Banquet. Now an annual event, the banquet features elephants feasting on tons of their favorite vegetables and fruit – in a show of thanks to the elephants for all their hard work and the happiness they bring to the public. Organizers were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown for the event by the public and the media alike.

The following year, to add to the entertainment, the Jumbo Queen contest was incorporated into the festivities. The aim of the contest is to select the contestant who best exhibits the characteristics of an elephant, by virtue of her grace, elegance and size, to help promote elephant conservation causes in Thailand.

In preparation, I contacted long-time friends to see if they wanted to ride along with me. They weren’t totally convinced so I raved hugely about the Jumbo Queen contest as well as the Jumbo Banquet. They finally agreed to come along so I then double-checked the information from the source:

jumboqueen.com: The event start from 08.30 – 17.30 with regular price.

Next up, I called my regular taxi driver to discuss price and times. And on Sunday morning early, excited to see the Jumbo Queen contest and Jumbo Banquet, off we all went.

The entrance fee at the Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo for foreigners is 500 baht for adults and 300 baht for kids. For Thais it’s 100 baht but for Thai drivers it’s free.

I don’t fuss at the price differences but I know some of you do so there you go. Note: I haven’t found it mentioned anywhere else and didn’t find the Thai price at the ticket counter. The lass selling the tickets was not comfortable with me pressing for the answer (twice) but hey I needed to know.

Once in the park we looked around for the Jumbo Queen contest. There was a big sign mentioning a crocodile (alligator?) show, a magic show, and an elephant show. And in the late afternoon, the Jumbo Banquet but no Jumbo Queen contest.

A bystander mentioned that the contest had been canceled several years ago. He also shared titillating gossip about the reasons. I won’t share them here because while I found the telling quite hilarious, it might contain shred of truth so I’d rather be safe (yup, I’ve been warned – TiT).

The official statement is that the Samphran Elephant Grounds and Zoo ran into problems with the contest and the problems need to be sorted first. But they are not sure when the next Jumbo Queen contest will be.

What did we end up doing? Well, my son was raised in SE Asia, meaning that I’ve seen a gazillion crocodile farms, elephant shows, and monkeys in cages scratching their butts. So after attending five minutes of the alligator show and a part of the elephant show, and being unwilling to stay the full 8 hours in the hopes of seeing elephants being fed (again), we took off.

Cost for the excursion: 1,500 baht for the nonexistent Jumbo Queen contest + 2000 baht for transportation = 3,500 baht.

But here’s the thing. I knew better. Thais are not known for keeping their websites updated so really, even with all of the information out there saying that there was a Jumbo Queen contest on 1 May 2011, to avoid this snafu all I had to do was call. My bad.

Jumbo Queen contests can be found from Chiang mai to Pattaya and elsewhere. And no surprise, you can even find a Thai Lady Boy Jumbo Queen contest!

Pssst…Talen… wanna go?