Bunker descendants celebrate birthday of ‘Siamese twins’ at Samut Songkhram festival

By Phatarawadee Phataranawik 
The Nation 
Samut Songkhram

 

Photo/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

Dozens third-generation to fifth-generation descendents of the famous “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng Bunker on Friday celebrated the twins’ 207th birthday in their birthplace – Samut Songkhram’s Muang district.

 

With tears in their eyes, their descendants joined in Buddhist rites, placing a Inchan plant, or Gold Apple, in front of a statue of the twins.

 

The descendants also opened anew street named Chang and Eng near the statue. They visited the cultural tourist attractions in the city, too.

 

This was the first official visit of the fourth and fifth-generation descendants, and was co-hosted by the Foreign Ministry of Thailand as part of the 185th anniversary of Thai-American relations.

 

Co-hosts by the province, the event kicks off the “Return of Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Festival” aimed at promoting tourism in the city and an exchange between Samut Songkhram and Mount Airy in North Corolina where the twins lived for over 30 years.

 

The festival runs through Sunday.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30345154

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-5-11

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17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Co-hosts by the province, the event kicks off the “Return of Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Festival” aimed at promoting tourism in the city

This is sick! But obviously not in a country where they worship logs and two headed snakes.

Sweet Jesus. Can't people simply let others enjoy an emotional ceremony, for chrissake! It may not be important to you, but it is important to THEM!

 How will Mount Airey promote this. Use of term "Siamese twins" is on the PC blacklist as insensitive to Thai people. Conjoined twins is the sanctioned term now.