Ah, the 3 words we all know too well. The snotty, cheaky, in your face Thai mantra. It use to drive me a little batty when I would hear this phrase. Again and again I would hear it. Once in a while, it was in the spirit of kindness and hospitality, but more often than not, it is said with an 'in your face' kind of attitude. Now I find myself using it in response, but with a little added twist; "up to ME" I smile, up to ME".
The idea, I discovered is to just not give a da@#! It is important, and wise, to be responsible and compassionate to those around you, but it is vital not to take anything too seriously, especially here. I often see things, and hear things, that challenge my western Idealistic way of percieving the world. From my perspective, many of the common day to day ways of doing business and interacting with others is downright wrong, unethical, and immoral. What I am learning though, is that I constantly apply my own cultural values to a society that doesn't care. It is not only futile and a waste of time and energy, but it causes conflict and tension where there need not be any. An important part of living or even visiting another culture is learning about and adapting to that culture, not expecting them to adapt to the ideas I hold in my head. Who is right? It doesn't matter. Thats what I said, it doesn't matter. They think they are right, I think I am right. So now, when I see an 'interesting' action or activity by a local, I often shrug my shoulders and quietly think to myself up to him!
I find, that once I start to be a little more open minded, I slowly start to see advantages and good points to the Asian or Thai way doing things. I will never completely agree, but I can see how I have made more problems for myself in the past by wanting to expose something or someone when I would have been better off just letting it go and walking away. For instance, I often worship this concept of "Truth" and seek to uncover it and voice it when sometimes its better left unsaid. There needs to be a balance, both cultures have some advantages and disadvantages. It is only when we cling so tightly to either one, that we find ourselves going astray. So, you can either spend your time wandering around mumbling to yourself how screwed up things are here, or you can spend that same time and energy focusing on good things and enjoy the diversity, the choice my friend, is UP TO YOU!
Untitled Document
Unusual brand of humourIsraeli illustrator David Polonsky speaks about his work, films and politics
Deep within the heavily guarded Israeli Embassy in Bangkok, David Polonsky is taking a sip of his coffee, discussing the role of politics in his work.
"In Israeli art and cinema and literature, you might say that the political situation is too preeminent," Polonsky said. "Real art cannot deal with flat political questions."
Polonsky, an illustrator and an artist who....
Building a modern heritageBangkok's skyscrapers contrast the inclusion of a Western sense of modernity against traditional settings.
Bangkok is a city that takes pride in its centuries-old cultural heritage. Yet since the Fifth reign, it has also welcomed Western modernity for the projection of Thailand's image as a civilised country. In Thailand, where cultural consistency is still strong, modernity has become more than the language of form and function: it is almost synonymous with Thai-Chinese "tycoonism", as a new....
This royal is ready to rockHRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana steps out on her own in the Paris limelight
Going it alone this year, after debuting under Balmain's sponsorship at Paris Fashion Week last September, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana is sure to turn heads in the French capital again in September with her startling new collection.
"Don't be surprised when you see how sexy my new collection is," she says.
The theme is "Ethnic....
Small venues packed with dramaOne reason the Bangkok audience has recently seen a rise in the number of theatre performances are the three new venues - Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre, Makhampom Studio and Crescent Moon Space - which have been operational for a little over a year now.
With the media hype created by an enormous marketing budget, the public knows what has been happening on the Rachadalai stage, and people can easily count off the number of productions.
What many of us may not know, thanks in part to less interest from the media, is that the shophouse right behind the traffic-police booth at Saphan Kwai intersection, otherwise known as Makhampom Studio,....
Silpa's real modelRemembering Malinee Bhirasri who was inspiration for the father of modern arts in Thailand
The foundation for modern Thai art was laid down by Italian sculptor Corrado Feroci, better known as Professor Silpa Bhirasri (1892 to 1962). Ferado was invited by the Royal Siam Government to the country and, later, named the "Father of modern arts in Thailand". He was appointed a sculptor with the Royal Fine Arts Department in 1924.
