Archäologie

Dvaravati was an ethnic Mon kingdom occupying what is now much of central Thailand.

They're Still There

Ever noticed, when going to a museum, how past culture are presented? Usually it's just by the extraordinary physical remains they leave behind. Stuff like pottery, sculpture, and architecture. In older museums, it really brings out the idea the the culture and/or people are gone. Well, it's wrong. They're still here. It's just that culture has changed, just like any culture, but they are still here and they can track back their current culture to the old one.

The Greeks:

When we talk about the Greek, we get ideas of gods and goddesses, fantastic stories, wars, and romance. We're told that it's an ancient time, when culture was at it's zenith. The Greeks however, are not some dead people that only the old story speaks about. Since the time of Antiquity, Greek culture has changed greatly going from Christianizing to domination by the Turks, to modernization. This has resulted in a rich new culture for the modern Greeks.

(Pic: Kostas Martakis is a Greek pop singer and model. Like the rest of Europe, Greece has adapted to pop-culture.)

The Khmers:

Visions of the Khmers either bring out the splendid images of Angkor or the genocide under Pol Pot. For some people, it's hard believe that the current Khmers were then ones who built Angkor. French explorer Henri Mouhot even deny that the agrarian Khmers could do it. But the historical and ethnographic evidence shows that it is the modern Khmers who made Angkor. They're not some lost civilization. They're still there.

(Pic: Pich Sophea is a pop icon in Cambodia. Cambodia has made strong efforts to prove to the international community that it is capable of bringing modernity to it's culture.)

The Thais:

What the Age of Imperialism has brought us is an Image of a rugged and exotic Siam filled with people that were so removed from modernity and western civilization. And with the way Thailand is advertised by travel agencies, it still looks like it's the exotic place. But such images denies the Thais their modernity. Modern Thailand has grown fast economically, resulting in ever increasing technological and global awareness by modern Thai peoples.

(Pic: Top Chaiwat is a Thai actor and model. Here we see a fashion show. Thailand has since become an important place of cultural exchange and development.)

The Mayans:

Old scientists have always wondered about the fate of the Mayans. Their temples were abandon and it seems the civilization has collapse. But the Mayans continue to exist. Their modern civilization is fraught with the effort of their ethnic groups to obtain rights and awareness in the international community.

(Pic: Rigoberta Menchú is a Nobel Peace Prize winner who dedicated here career to advancing rights for the K'iche' Mayans of Guatemala. Mayans suffer from invisibility and harassment, such as the one they faced under the CIA funded Contra.)

Southeast Asian Music pt. 2

Modernization has meant, for some areas of Southeast Asian society, westernization. Many nation have come up with ways of "preserving" or celebrating perceived cultural uniqueness while incorporating modernism. While Western and East Asian style pop music has become popular in Southeast Asia, so too has more localized music traditions.

Morlam is the musical tradition of Lao people in Thailand and Laos. Here is a look at a more traditional morlam performance from Laos:

Like Enka of Japanese tradition, Morlam evolved to become an iconic pop music of Thailand. Traditional instruments are replaced by electronic ones. Dancers are dress eccentrically. It has be come fabulous, much like the Carnival of the west. Bands go from city to city, and perform at various venues.



Another such tradition following this trend is Dangut, a musical tradition from Indonesia with heavy South Asian and Middle Eastern influence.

The Anime Invasion Claims Another City

Bangkok, Thailand is the next victim of the disproportionaly larged eye horde! lol.

Via NHK,

A Japanese anime song karaoke contest was held in Bangkok on Sunday. The event was organized by the Japanese embassy in Thailand.

16 finalists between the ages of 9 and 25 performed songs. They were chosen from more than 100 participants. Most of the finalists are studying Japanese and sang fluently in the language. Some of them danced energetically to the music as they sang.

Many young people wearing anime character costumes visited the venue, and took part in a photo event and an exhibition of anime items

The horde has already taken over Anaheim, and no doubt sent their spys to Comi-con in San Diego.


Naruto Nerds. :P

Archäologie Lagen

El Cerén, El Salavador

Ban Chiang, Thailand

ไทยดำรำผัน - Tai Dam Lum Phan

The song is about the exodus of the Tai Dam people from Sơn La province due to the start of the Vietnam War.

กุหลาบเวียงพิงค์

Parasitic Wasp - Now there's a Farmville idea!

Via the Phnom Penh Post

Khmer farmers are awaiting the import of Apoanagyrus Lopezi, a parasitic wasp that will help farmers alleviate mealybugs infestation, from Thailand.

Thai farmers have already use the wasp as a natural pest control. It's much cheaper and overall healthier than pesticides, but could become an invasive species like the cane toads of Australia.

If you've ever seen parasitic wasp, it's like something from the Alien movies. The will lay their eggs in a host. When the egg hatch it will eat away at the host until it matures.

Scene from Ramakien and random stuff

Okay, I'm not familiar with my Ramayana but I'm fairly sure that this is a Yak in disguised to lure Phra Ram. Okay people always say that Khmer and Thai lakorn are the same. It is true that both theatre are related with the Khmer version being the predecessor. However, there fundamental differences in the music and acting and plot all together.

Oh, I get more death threats from a certian crazy Canadian but he didn't figure I'd put my system on moderation. Which brings me to another note. I welcome most comments on here (even condencending ones) but I don't tolerate this type of insanity.

Austro-Asiatic people

The Austro-Asiatic people is a ethno-linguistic people in Southeast Asia. Linguistically, there are differences on how the language families should be divided. Two recent proposal for the classification of the language families comes from Gérard Diffloth and Ilia Peiros. The majority of Austro-Asiatic speakers are minority hill tribes ranging across east India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, and peninsular Malaysia. Only Mon, Khmer, and Vietnamese has ever had long recorded histories and kingdoms. Only Khmer and Vietnamese today remain an official language. (Picture of Palaung girls in Northern Thailand.)

Culturally, the different linguistic groups are quite diverse. Both Mon and Khmer have heavy Indian influences as shown in the borrowing of Pali words, Theravada Buddhism, Architecture, and Clothing. Vietnamese on the other hand, had heavy Sinicization due to many years of domination by various Chinese Dynasty. As a result, Vietnamese draw from Mahayana Buddhism, have many cognates with Chinese (in particular Cantonese), and other Chinese elements. Despite this, the majority of Austro-Asiatic speakers still retain some indigenous cultural aspects such as different kinship structure and a tendency towards animism. (Pictures of Khmu people in Northern Laos.)

The Khmer people established their fist kingdom as Funan as recorded by Chinese records. This later would be over thrown by Chenla and later Angkor. Angkor would later dominate large portions of modern day Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. The Angkor dynasty would end due to internal changes as well as attacks from the newly formed Tai kingdom of Ayutthaya. This leads to a now Theravada kingdom and into a "dark age." Eventually, the Khmer people would go under French protectorate as a result of colonization. A few decades after independence from the French, they would face a civil war and a genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. In modern times, Khmer people are the majority of the country of Cambodia but also have significant presence in Thailand and Vietnam. Khmers practice Theravada Buddhism, imported from Sri Lanka, with elements of Hinduism and animism. They use the Khmer script, a member of the Bhramic script family. Thai and Lao Scripts are descendants of Khmer script. Khmer legends claims that they are descendants of an Indian prince and a Naga princess. (Picture of a Khmer Royal Ballet dancer as Sovan Macha the mermaid who attempt to seduce Hanuman from the epic Ramayana.)



The Viets are regarded to be one of the Yue peoples found in Chinese historical records. They would first go under domination from the Han dynasty, with subsequent Independence and revolts. They are again dominated by the Sui and Tang receiving independence in the Ngô Dynasty. By then end of the Trần Dynasty and Hồ Dynasty, they are again overtaken by the Ming. Eventually, they received independence again until the collapse of Nguyễn Dynasty under French occupation. Subsequently they go through independence and then the Vietnam War. They unify under the Communist regime but thaw towards free market economic system in the end of the 20th century. Viets are in the southern most part of China, they are the majority of Vietnam and have presence in Cambodia, and Laos. There is also a large number of Vietnamese in the United States due to the Vietnam War. Viets practice Mahayana Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Cao Dao, and Catholicism. Vietnamese employs Quốc Ngữ which comprises of Latin characters to suit their phonology and was developed by missionaries. Historically, Vietnamese used Classical Chinese and Chữ Nôm which is a derivative of Chinese. Vietnamese legends claim that they are children of the Red Dragon. (Picture of a Viet woman in a Modern áo dài. Historically, female dress were similar to male dress. After French influences, female dress became more tight fitting to reveal the body. It is derived from the Manchu Qipao/Cheongsam from the Qing.)

The Mon people had a several kingdoms in what is now modern day Myanmar. Their script would be adapted by the Burmese as their script. After they fall to the Burmese they would be scattered into modern day Thailand and Myanmar. In modern time, they represents on of the ethnic groups in Myanmar seeking independence. Mon are Theravada Buddhist with elements of animism. Mon use the mon script, which is a member of the Bhramic family. Burmese, Shan, Dai, and Lana are derived from Mon script. (Picture of a Mon celebration. Note that the dress worn is similar to dress found throughout Southest Asia (continental and insular) due to Indian influences.)

Other Austro-Asiatic people include the Khmu, the Palaung, Orang Asli in Malaysia, Nicobar natives, Munda hill tribes, and numerous other small ethnic groups. Their cut lure varies greatly depending on environment and location. For the most part most of these groups lack their own writing system. They are also often politically marginalized. Religious affiliations vary from tribe to tribe. (Picture of Munda women.)




(Picture of Orang Asli women. Asli are the indigenous people of peninsular Malaysia. They are often grouped with other indigenous people in Sarawak and Sabah although linguistically those people are not related to the Asli.)

On a side note: Why can't I ever get pictures of men? Whenever you google or yahoo the names of the tribes, you get mostly women. Not that it's a bad thing but men are part of their culture too. XD

Music

You know, nowadays you can find most Thai/Khmer/Lao DVDs on Youtube because the copyright laws in those country suck ass. I often wonder if the posters ever think that by posting these MVs online would be hurting the production companies which explain why some many production companies go under. But then I think, the majority of Thai/Khmer/Lao folks don't access the Internet often so they'd still buy the DVDs anyways.

Prasat Phra Viharn- Thailand's and Cambodia's scapegoat.

I didn't get to see Prasat Phra Viharn when I was in Cambodia. I would like to have seen the temple that has been causing international distress in Southeast Asia for the past few months now.

The ancient Khmer temple has been a popular and effective distraction for more serious issues that faces both countries in the modern times. With nationalist at both sides of the front, the corrupt government of Cambodia and the ineffective government of Thailand can relax with their toes curled as they let their impotence and injustices go unnoticed.

As per the ownership of the temple complex, I say that Thailand should just give it up already for the following reason:

1. To save the face of the already tarnish reputation that Thailand has had since its Coup.

2. To focus on domestic issues such as poverty, crime, and the insurgency in Pattani.

3. Thailand already posses much more beautiful Khmer temples such as Phimai.

4. To acknowledge the integrity of Cambodia regardless of past and out-dated colonial claims that Thailand may have over Cambodia.

5. To make appeasement to the rest of the ASEAN nations.

6. Give both Cambodia and Thailand so integrity in their heritage and acknowledge a common descent. (I would also apply this to nationalist claims of Thailand over Burma, Laos, and their claim of Thailand being Suvanaphum for which there is not evidence.)

As for Cambodia, She should strive to resolve Her issues with Thailand without international intervention so that way She can prove to the world that She is capable of running Herself effectively. But I don't see this happening so as long as the ever-incapable Hun Sen remains as Her prime minister. Rather then feeding the drought torn areas or preventing flood devestation, Hun Sen cronies would rather seen men to face the Thais at the borders.

Now don't get me wrong I love Khmers (I am Khmer) and Thais too! That doesn't mean I should love thier shitty government or their nationalism. All of Southeast Asia is capable of being more developed then they are but they have such stupid government running them. Khmers and Thais are humans with their own unique features but sometimes I just want to smak them all in the heads. What the Thai amounts to these days is what Japanese are trying to do with their text book revisionist and what the Turks have already done.