Thai Wisdom And Stories

[zzdocxx]

I have this platonic friend who is a Thai Lady, here in California.

Lately she has begun telling me about Thailand, by way of these little stories, I wonder if any of you have heard them. If not, perhaps I can persuade her to try to write them down in her limited but adequate English.

The following are thumbnail sketches of a couple of them:

One has to do with the difference in America and Thailand, and why Americans have too much stress. It seems it has something to do with Thailand having many banana, and, significantly, the Thai word for banana also happens to mean "easy". Americans need to eat more bananas, so that they will take things "easy" and have less stress.

Another one is that Thai people have a little saying, which has to do with the four things that are needed for a happy life. In English, they roughly translate as "Eat, 'poop', sex, travel". In Thai, the words seem to be short, like one syllable, and so the four things can be said very quickly (remember "easy" is important). I don't remember the Thai words for these, how about you?

I don't recall reading about either of these on ThaiVisa before. (Maybe she is just making them up, but I doubt it.)

There is another one, that back in times past, there were beautiful female ghosts who live under one type of tree, can you guess what it was? It was the banana tree, and at night they would lure men to them and then I think they would bite them or something. Nowadays however, there are not so many of them around because of the lighting that is so prevalent. (I interpret this as a symbolic and cautionary tale for men to beware of certain types of women.)

Anybody heard these particular stories before?

In other news: She knows why my house here in California never gets robbed, though I leave the doors unlocked. (I think it is because I don't keep anything particularly valuable here). She had a dream that there is a man who lives under a tree in the front of my house, he is very old, but looks very good, like a prince. He protects my house.

Thanks!

[Mighty Mouse]

Bananas and stress....your Thai friend is correct.

Read the following from this site.

VITAMIN B6: NATURE'S ANTIDOTE TO HIGH STRESS

Vitamin B6 is involved in the transmission of impulses in nerves and muscles and is important in making red blood cells. It is also needed for the conversion of tryptophan to niacin. Tryptophan produces serotonin which has a calming effect on the body (this is why B6 is sometimes referred to as the anti-stress, good mood vitamin).

Serotonin functions as a neuro-transmitter and carries messages to the nerve and brain cells. Some drugs used in treating depression cause serotonin to be released from storage sites at nerve endings.

B6 is sometimes used in hormonal disturbances in women, and is often prescribed for those women experiencing morning sickness, taking oral contraceptives or suffering from PMT.

A lack of B6 leads to many problems. The skin, nerves, muscles and brain are affected. Mental depression, convulsion, skin rashes, irritability, weakness and anaemia occur.

Caffeine and alcohol will deplete the body of Vitamin B6.

Bananas have more Vitamin B6 than any other fresh fruit and are regarded as an excellent source of this vitamin. (Other major food sources include fish, lentils, beans, pork, poultry, meat and nuts.) However, as cooking partially destroys B6, it is best obtained from a fresh food source such as bananas.

1.5 bananas a day will provide the daily allowance of Vitamin B6 for women aged between 19-54.

[zzdocxx]

That is interesting, thanks Mighty Mouse.

It seems that often it is the case that there is some merit to these folk tales.

She reminded me of something she feels is very important, which is that the Thai word for banana is "gluay", or กล้วย.

I don't see that word listed under the translation for "easy" however, she tells me it is like saying "piece of cake" in English, so perhaps it is slang. Aha, I just found that translation on thai-language.com. Anyone out there know this expression? ง่ายเหมือนปอกกล้วยเข้าปาก, or transliterated, "ngaay meuuan bpaawk gluay khao bpaak". It seems like a literal translation of that would be akin to "like peeling a banana and putting it in your mouth".

I think she is trying to teach me Thai language, although I don't see how I will remember anything beyond the basics.

Edited November 26, 2006 by zzdocxx

[chownah]

zzdocxx,

you know exactly what the slang word is and your just trolling

chownah

[zzdocxx]

zzdocxx,

you know exactly what the slang word is and your just trolling

chownah

No idea what you are talking about, to me it looks like it translates just as per above, the translation came straight off thai-language dot com, here is the link:

http://www.thai-language.com/id/132132

Are you suggesting that there is some other off-color or sinister meaning here?

Please reference the above link if you would.

I am rather surprised to be accused in this way, don't you think it would have been an awful lot of trouble to recount the above stories, soley for the purpose of ending up with a "troll" post as an afterthought?

Could someone help me out here?

From Thai-language.com

ง่ายเหมือนปอกกล้วยเข้าปาก ngaayF meuuanR bpaawkL gluayF khaoF bpaakL "A piece of cake."

I don't know what teh F/R/L notations refer to (?), but you can look up the words themselves. I figure if it is off a dictionary website it is likely accurate, and that they would not knowingly be including off color or obscene remarks in their definitions.

You don't make sense to me.

I thought some people here might be interested in these little stories this lady has been telling me, sort of folk culture to my thinking.

[zzdocxx]

The next story has to do with:

What mothers in Thailand will tell their son, when considering marrying a girl.

There are four main things. (Remember, like "eat, 'poop', sex, travel", "everything four in Thailand".) Usually I am required to try to guess three times find out what these are, so I may have them mixed-up just a bit.

First of all, he should meet the girl's mother, to see what she is like. Supposedly, however she is, the daughter is likely to follow in her footsteps. It is emphasized that we are talking about what she is like in her mind here, not her physical appearance. I had to guess at this one also, and my first answer was, "if the mom is fat, the daughter will end up being fat too". But no, that is not it. It has more to do with if the mom is greedy, or argumentative, or loud, etc., then her daughter is likely to be the same way. Another explanation has to do with an analogy with a water-buffalo. "If a water-buffalo has a long tail, then you know it will have lots of babies." In the same way, by looking at signs of a woman's character, you will know she is a "good lady" and presumably she will have lots of children and will help bring prosperity to the family.

Next question, when you go to the girl's house, which room should you look at first? (In order to evaluate her mom's fitness.)

Multiple Choice:

a. living room

b. bathroom

c. kitchen

d. bedroom

Of course the answer is the kitchen ("chicken room" my friend calls it). Everything should be well organized and clean and in order.

What else should you look at? She says that Thai houses are tall, and there are stairs (remember she is from the country). You should look at the stairs, and you should be able to see the reflection of your face in the wood. That is because if the house is well cared for, the wood on the stairs is waxed or oiled using some part of the palm or coconut. Possibly it is the daughter's responsibility to do this job and so therefore you can tell if she is diligent.

Next comes a discussion about cooking. "All Thai ladies can cook." I questioned this, but she qualified it by saying that some of them may not cook very well. But the reason she gave is that the schools are next to the temples, and the girls cook food for the monks there, therefore they all learn how to cook. Sounds rather idyllic, doesn't it? ( I can't personally vouch for whether this is true in either in present-day Thailand or even 35 years ago. )

There are some other things, I will try to remember.

I have to suppose there are things the moms tell the daughters to look for in a husband, however that has not been addressed as yet.

I note that this type of advice is likely universal and as old as human history. I am sure something similar can be found in the Christian "Old Testament" somewhere.

Edited November 27, 2006 by zzdocxx

[ColPyat]

Another one is that Thai people have a little saying, which has to do with the four things that are needed for a happy life. In English, they roughly translate as "Eat, 'poop', sex, travel". In Thai, the words seem to be short, like one syllable, and so the four things can be said very quickly (remember "easy" is important). I don't remember the Thai words for these, how about you?

Given that 'kin-kee-bee-non' is the well known philosophy of only a certain sort of "ladies" here in Thailand, you should be rather careful when and where to apply the language learnt from your platonic friend.

[zzdocxx]

That's really interesting, I think I know what type of ladies to whom you refer.

Is it possible that this is a philosophy from a certain part of the country from where alot of these women come? But you are suggesting it originates from one particular subculture. It would be a shame to tar all Thai from a certain region with the same brush, wouldn't it?

I live in the US and though I have visited Thailand a couple of times, I wouldn't have any knowledge about this. But that is part of the reason I have posted, just curious to see what if any folk stories people have heard.

[ColPyat]

That's really interesting, I think I know what type of ladies to whom you refer.

The wife cracked up laughing when i translated that particular part of your post.

Nops, has nothing to do with region, it's the particular subculture. I have knowledge about this.

It's a widely known proverb here, and not just known by this partcular subculture.

Trust me, if you use this philosophy other than in a joking way outside this subculture, you definately will leave people highly amused.

[zzdocxx]

Glad I gave your wife a laugh, hey I was just trying to be diplomatic.

Thanks for your input Colpyat, (glad you are so knowledgeable on that subject). Interesting that it is so widely known since it is so unique to this subculture.

I can see how they came up with that stuff about the wooden stairs though. Scary that they have probably also taken over a Thai language website and are surreptitiously integrating their ideaology into the definitions (bananas, etc.).

I would be interested in hearing some others' take on any folk stories, etc., they may have heard from Thai people.

[ColPyat]

Glad I gave your wife a laugh, hey I was just trying to be diplomatic.

Thanks for your input Colpyat, (glad you are so knowledgeable on that subject). Interesting that it is so widely known since it is so unique to this subculture.

And i am only trying to be helpful here, so don't get cranky when you get an answer to your question that does not conform to your mistaken ideas.

This proverb is widely known, and exclusively applies to this particular subculture.

You are free not to believe me.

And please, mention this sort of great Thai wisdom ( ) outside this subculture, and you will make not just my wife laugh at your expense.

[bina]

'banana' = penis in slang just in case u really dont know what people are talking about;

yes the ladder to the house etc is the woman's job so a clean house is a good house wheresa if u live with a ghost woman, the house will be full of spider webs and the ladder rungs will break -- watch nang nak to understand this part.

the thai wisdom that is making people laugh is only the eat drink party sentence which u mentioned.

[zzdocxx]

Thanks for your comments bina!

[farangene]

.

Another one is that Thai people have a little saying, which has to do with the four things that are needed for a happy life. In English, they roughly translate as "Eat, 'poop', sex, travel". In Thai, the words seem to be short, like one syllable, and so the four things can be said very quickly (remember "easy" is important). I don't remember the Thai words for these, how about you?

I think a better translation for the saying that you are seeking would be "eating, sh*tting, screwing and sleeping". It is considered a low class saying and would not be used or discussed in proper conversation.

[girlx]

First of all, he should meet the girl's mother, to see what she is like. Supposedly, however she is, the daughter is likely to follow in her footsteps.

bullshit

[kayo]

First of all, he should meet the girl's mother, to see what she is like. Supposedly, however she is, the daughter is likely to follow in her footsteps.

bullshit

Is it?

I found this to be the case in many cultures. Maybe not "footsteps" exactly, but as the daughter ages, she takes on more and more characteristics of her mother.

Mama issues girlx?

[girlx]

yeah i do sort of have mama issues- like that i don't want to be seen as like someone i strove my whole life not to be like. in other words, it could be a generalization but it not the rule.

[MiG16]

some of what the OP's friend has mentioned are things Ive also heard growing up

for instance....in thai we say...

'duu nang hai duu mae' = to look at a girl (as in to know her) watch her mother

and yes...the kitchen is what they claim is the place to check ...how clean..how neat. they say that living room is where people can try to put up appearances...but in the kitchen is where the real thing will be seen

cant remember about all the others.....but Ive not heard the 4 principle...obviously not in my league

cheers.

[Tinkelbell]

That's really interesting, I think I know what type of ladies to whom you refer.

The wife cracked up laughing when i translated that particular part of your post.

Nops, has nothing to do with region, it's the particular subculture. I have knowledge about this.

It's a widely known proverb here, and not just known by this partcular subculture.

Trust me, if you use this philosophy other than in a joking way outside this subculture, you definately will leave people highly amused.

zzdocxx, you should heed to calPyat's advice if your want to better yourself. This is from a Thai myself.

[mogoso]

I have this platonic friend who is a Thai Lady, here in California.

Lately she has begun telling me about Thailand, by way of these little stories, I wonder if any of you have heard them. If not, perhaps I can persuade her to try to write them down in her limited but adequate English.

The following are thumbnail sketches of a couple of them:

One has to do with the difference in America and Thailand, and why Americans have too much stress. It seems it has something to do with Thailand having many banana, and, significantly, the Thai word for banana also happens to mean "easy". Americans need to eat more bananas, so that they will take things "easy" and have less stress.

Another one is that Thai people have a little saying, which has to do with the four things that are needed for a happy life. In English, they roughly translate as "Eat, 'poop', sex, travel". In Thai, the words seem to be short, like one syllable, and so the four things can be said very quickly (remember "easy" is important). I don't remember the Thai words for these, how about you?

I don't recall reading about either of these on ThaiVisa before. (Maybe she is just making them up, but I doubt it.)

There is another one, that back in times past, there were beautiful female ghosts who live under one type of tree, can you guess what it was? It was the banana tree, and at night they would lure men to them and then I think they would bite them or something. Nowadays however, there are not so many of them around because of the lighting that is so prevalent. (I interpret this as a symbolic and cautionary tale for men to beware of certain types of women.)

Anybody heard these particular stories before?

In other news: She knows why my house here in California never gets robbed, though I leave the doors unlocked. (I think it is because I don't keep anything particularly valuable here). She had a dream that there is a man who lives under a tree in the front of my house, he is very old, but looks very good, like a prince. He protects my house.

Thanks!

A story I've heard in Issan concerns miniature elephants that conjugate near pools of water in the forrest. Supposedly they bring good luck if you see them