Home > Column

Column no. 10 - 1

You will see columns in the past; what I noticed about/in Thailand, about differences between Thailand and Japan and so on.
I'm wondering how long I can continue writing a column... :D

190-181

10-1

no.10 - Thai Massage

15/Aug/2004

Thai massage is very popular in Thailand.
In Japan, there are Thai massage shops but it's very expensive; around 5,000 yen (about 40 US dollars) per 30 minutes .. ?

The price depends on the shop but shops along the street in Thailand, Thai massage costs 160 Baht (about 500 yen or 4 US dollars) per one hour and 320 Baht (around 1,000 yen or 8 US dollars) per two hours. This makes me feel like going to a Thai massage shop everyday.

By the way, when you feel hurt by massage, say " Jeb, Jeb " instead of " Ouch " or " Itai (in Japanese)". I guess both of " Ouch " and " Itai " can be understood. :)

no.9 - Quality of the heat ?

8/Aug/2004

You will see monks in a yellow robe in Thailand. As you might know women can not touch them even their clothes and monks can not touch women either. It is believed that if monks touch women, their religious training that they did until then will be lost at all.

I heard that when a monk is in a crowded place such as in a bus and if a woman is near him, men who know about this try to get between them, protecting the monk.
Ladies, when you go to Thailand, pay attention to monks. :).

no.8 - The Thai Movie: Mach (Ong-Bak)

1/Aug/2004

Thai movie " Mach " (Tony Jaa) (original title " Ong-Bak") has come to Japan and I went to see the movie.

The story is very simple; getting back what was stolen (a head of Buddha statue).
Personally, I felt hmmmmm about the storyline and performances of another actors or actresses but the Muay Thai (Thai martial art) action of the main actor (Tony Jaa) was stunning. (The unexpected motions really moved me.)

If you have time, how about watching this movie ? :)

Related Links:
- マッハ!!!!! (in Japanese)
- Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (Rotten Tomatoes)

no.7 - Dad and Mom

25/Jul/2004

" Dad " is " Khun Phor " in Thailand and " Otohsan or Tohsan " in Japan, and " Mom " is " Khun Mae " in Thailand and " Kaasan or Okaasan " in Japan.

By the way, I'm often called " Kaa-san " (stress on "san"). This means " Kaa " is legs and " san " is short, that is, " short legs ". (Too sad ! :D )

By the way again, not " Tohsan " but " Tua-san " is, " Tua " means " upper body " and " san " is " short ", that is, " short upper body ".

This is funny. :D (Hope you understand this episode.)

no.6 - Phone

18/Jul/2004

When people call someone on the phone, they will say " Hello " while in Japan, " Moshi moshi " are used.

Come to think of it, you might get a wrong number call in Thailand. Usually, the calling person would say " sorry " and hang up, but it's different in Thailand.
The wrong number calling person will ask you " Where is it ? " (A little strange. Why ??? :D )
If my memory is correct, some guide books of Thailand recommended to ask where it is when you make a phone call....

no.5 - Bicycle

11/Jul/2004

In Thailand, people don't ride on a bicycle so often. (This might be only in Bangkok, though.) I guess this is because it's very warm outside and a lot of automobile emissions.
In Japan, a lot of bicycles are parked in lines, say, in front of railway stations, and it looks like this makes Thai people in Japan (such as my wife :D) feel very unusual.

And also, when you go to a big park in Japan, not bicycles but they have baby car parking lots and baby cars fills the parking lots. This is also very unusual to them. (To me also. :D )

no.4 - Thai Greeting: " Wai "

4/Jul/2004

People do " wai " when they greet or express gratitude to someone else.
The " Wai" is a gesture of greeting and parting with your hands close together (like holding an egg with both hands in), putting them in front of your chest or neck.
(While doing this, your elbows are also put on your body.)
You should do this when you see older people. (If they do Wai to you, do Wai back to them.)

This " older people " is difficult to distinguish if he /she is older , and until I got used to "Wai" (even now), I sometimes made my wife's family laugh when I tried to do " Wai " to my younger brother in law or his wife. :D

no.3 - Japanese Dramas or anime T.V. series

13/Jun/2004

People in Thailand (unexpectedly?) know Japanese dramas or anime TV series well. That's because old dramas and anime series were televised such as " Ore wa Otoko da " (I'm a man), " Sain wa V " (V sign) , " Oshin", old animes " Tiger Mask" and " Mitsubachi Hacchi" (Honey bee Hacchi), including " Kamen Rider " and " Ultraman ".
When I went to Thailand, I watched the anime " Ikkyu-san" on TV. (I was very surprised.)

When you talk to people from Thailand, it must be fun to talk about Japanese TV dramas or cartoons. :D

no.2 - Portrait Icon	20/Jun/2004
Do you know the website "ABI-STATION"? (http://abi-station.com/) They have a portrait icon maker on the net. This has been very popular on a Thai BBS since a few months ago and people have talked with their own portrait icons like the picture left. If you are interested, give it a try. :)

no.1 - Automatic Doors