at Tambako

Mark: So John..
John: Yeah.
Mark: You are working on a dissertation for a PhD. That is for an American university?
John: Yeah, that is right. It is a university in San Francisco, California
Mark: And what is the area?
John: I am studying..It is philosophy but with an emphasis on Buddhist studies, you know, and Buddhist philosophy.
Mark: In any particular country?
John: Well, yeah, I am mainly interested in Thailand even though I live in Japan, you know. I like Thailand’s version of Buddhism better.
Mark: Is that theravada?
John: Yeah. That is right.
Mark: Ok. So are you studying any particular temple or any particular aspect of Buddhism?
John: Yeah. I am doing research on a couple of temples there in Thailand. One is called Suen Mok, which is pretty famous. It is got a very good program for ten day meditation retreats and they are geared for teaching foreigners meditation; meditation techniques.
Mark: What is the other temple?
John: The other one is north of Bangkok about three hours bus ride and it is called Tam Krabok.
Mark: Uh-huh.
John: And it is… Well it does different things but one thing it does is it helps addicts recover, you know. It has probably cured about one hundred thousand addicts; mostly heroin or opium addicts, you know, and so I am really interested in how meditation can replace an addiction. You know what I mean?
Mark: Wow! So they are like teaching people to meditate and overcome the problems that caused them to become addicted to drugs?
John: Right. Exactly.
Mark: Wow! Isn’t that a wonderful thing. A hundred thousand.
John: Yeah.
Mark: Wow! That is really amazing. You have been to the temple?
John: Yeah and interviewed several of the head monks and some of the other people there and it is just a really really, to me, an effective way of applying Buddhism, you know?
Mark: Right.
John: To eliminate our addictions and work toward something more significant
Mark: Right excellent. That is really…That is great. Like. To use something like that to…That is really good.
John: A real practical form of Buddhism. As I understand it to try to help people live better lives and things like that and this seems to be a real, you know, obvious way to do it.
Mark: Drug addiction is a big problem in a lot of different countries.
John: Yeah.
Mark: And if they are finding something they can do about, it that is really great.
John: Yeah I agree totally there. And it was a big problem in Thailand. You know until 1959 opium was legal in Thailand.
Mark: Really?
John: And suddenly they made it illegal and all these people who would take it as a normal part of their life suddenly were illegal addicts.
Mark: Wow!
John: And so this place has really done something that I think is really important.
suddenly they made it illegal
Mark: What is the name of the temple again?
John: Tam Krabok. It means cave of the “prabok”.  It is kind of like “telling it like it is” or something like that. Originally it was just a group of monks and they lived in caves
Mark: Wow!
John: And then they started making a big temple out of it.
Mark: The caves of truth.
John: Yeah. That would be a good way to translate it. (laughs)

at Hartfried Schmid

Mark talked to Tim at his office in Bangkok.

Mark : Hello everybody. I am just sitting here in Bangkok at a UNESCO office with Tim Denny. Tim was working in Japan and then Cambodia and he has just moved over to Bangkok. What are you doing in Bangkok now, Tim?
Tim : Mark, nice to meet you today. I am working as a project assistant under a project, which we call ICT and teacher training. ICT is information, communication and technologies and we work with teacher education institutes in eleven specified countries in the Asia Pacific region.
Mark : Which countries do you go to?
Tim : So far we have had workshops in India, China and Malaysia. We are now working on three more countries; Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and then we will select further countries after that..

at *hendrik

Mark asks Tony about his experiences in Bangkok during the Vietnam War.

Tony: I didn’t go to Vietnam. I was in the air force.
Mark: Right.
Tony: They had a few bases in Vietnam but they had like six or seven air bases here. They had a few army bases here too but the majority was air bases here.
Mark: Oh so you were here?
Tony: Yeah, Southeast Asia…yeah…so it was all considered war zone. We got a year here.
Mark: What year was that?
Tony: Sixty-seven. Sixty-eight..That was in the golden years.
Mark: Why why golden?
Tony: Because aah I guess golden because of my youth…and golden because it was just at the beginning of the influx of western culture…
Mark: Ok.
Tony: …heavily…aah..
Mark: So Bangkok was really different?
Tony: It was really different. It was still a pretty big city and they had buildings that were eight nine stories high at least…that accommodated the military for sleeping I mean they had all the adequacies of hot water and shit.

by Richard Stamper at apc33

The following questions and answers were carried out between October and December of 2005. The Japanese students are from Kyoto Sangyo University, while Thai students are in the British and American Studies program at Thammasat University. The Japanese students wrote and sent their questions to the Thai students, who in turn answered them.

Click here to listen to questions and answers separately.

Shunji: Who is the most famous person in Thailand?
Pum: Tata Young, I thought. She’s not only famous in Thailand but Asia too.
Shunji: I heard that Ronald McDonald joins his hands together in Thailand. Is it true?
Nut: Yes, you can see him at Radomen Road and in Central Plaza.
Katsuya: Is Muay Thai really popular or is it a myth?
Wow: Yes, it’s very popular but not in the young people. Sor Ploenchit is the famous one. You can see him fight at Lumpini Stadium.
Katsuya: How many days does it rain in one year in Thailand?
Ploy(2): In Thailand we have three seasons but actually we have just two because in the winter it is not very cold. So in the raining season we have almost one hundred days per year. So when it rains we will get wet and have a lot of traffic jam.
Asako: In terms of fashion, what is the most popular thing right now in Thailand?
Tangmo: It depends on each personality, but mostly we like colourful colour.
Asako: What kind of Japanese food is there in Thailand?
Koy: There are so many kinds of Japanese food in Thailand, such as sushi, takoyaki, green tea.
Chie: Do most Thai people like to eat Japanese food? If so, what do they like? If not, why not?
Nice: Yes, Japanese food very popular in Thailand, like we have sushi and ramen in here.
Chie: What kind of music do most young Thai people listen to?
Job: Well, mostly pop and pop rock because Thai youngster like to listen to love songs.
Katsuya: What kind of sports do most young Thai people play?
Arm: Soccer – you can see a lot of people play soccer during the break in school.
Asako: Do most Thai people like Chinese food?
Ohm: My answer is yes because some of us are inherited from the Chinese. Chinese and Thai have many things in common. For example, we also celebrate the same Chinese New Year.
Takuma: What is the most popular thing recently in Thailand?
Tong: Nowadays in Bangkok people are interesting about new modern technology like we want to have iPod and mobile.
Takuma: What is the population of Thailand?
May: There are about 65 million in Thailand and most people live in Bangkok because it is the capital city of Thailand.
Takuma: How many different types of Thai curry are there?
Ploy(1): We have many kind of curry but the most well-known are green curry – like chicken curry and fish ball curry – and red curry, which we call “Pa Neang.” And main ingredients are coconut milk, chicken, pork and herb.
Takuma: Do young Thai people know any Japanese musicians?
Pang: Yes, we know a lot, like Johnny’s Junior, Arashi, w-inds, and Utada Hikaru.
Takuma: Which do young Thai people eat more of: bread, rice, or noodles?
Blue: Rice is the main food for Thai people. Nowadays we eat more bread and more noodle.
Takashi: What is the most popular sport in Thailand?
Thip: Thai people like to watch soccer – mostly interested in Premier League, Bundesliga and Calcio Serie A and we like to play badminton too.
Chie: What do most Thai people eat when they are cold?
Vim: Thank you for question. In Thailand it’s not too cold in winter but some people love eating Tom Yam Kung on December and January.
Chie: Do most Thai people like to take photos? Why or why not?
Jenny: Most Thai people like to take photos because Thailand have many beautiful places and beautiful people – so that’s why we love to take photos.

Credits: The students of British and American Studies at Thammasat University and the EFL students at Kyoto Sangyo University. Facilitated by teachers Richard Stamper and A.J. Hoge of Thammasat University, and Aaron Campbell of Kyoto Sangyo University.

by apc33

The following questions and answers were carried out between October and December of 2005. The Thai students are in the British and American Studies program at Thammasat University, while the Japanese students are from Kyoto Sangyo University. The Thai students wrote and sent their questions to the Japanese students, who in turn answered them.

Click here to listen to questions and answers separately.

Ohm: What is the most popular comic presently in Japan? Why do you think it’s popular?
Asako: Nana is the most popular comic series because Japanese people can sympathize with this love story. Why Japanese people love comics is probably because they do not show much of what they think or feel. So, they project their thoughts and feelings in comics.
Nice: Where is the most famous part in Japan and why it’s very famous there?
Asako: The most famous part in Japan is Tokyo, the center of modern culture in Japan and all Japanese trends are born there.
Tong: What is the most important festival in Japan and why does it become so significant for the Japanese?
Katsuya: In Japan, the most important festival is the New Years Holidays. Japanese people visit a shrine on New Years day to pray for health and good future. Also, family gets together and many children receive money. Also, people clean the house before the New Year and eat toshikoshi soba for long life. And on New Years day people eat osechi ryori, which is very special and delicious. I like New Years very much.
Wow: If I want to skiing, where should I go?
Takashi: I think Nagano is the best place to ski in Japan. The reason is because the Winter Olympics was held in Nagano in 1998. The snow there is very soft and beautiful.
Tangmo: What kind of food do you like besides Japanese food? Like American food, Chinese food?
Katsuya: Recently, young Japanese people eat with their friends at fast food restaurants like McDonalds or Yoshinoya. There are not many university students eating meals at home. I think that I am the same as those students. Also, Japanese like Italian, Chinese, and Korean food. But I like Japanese food the best because foreign food is too strong for me.
Pum: What do you think about Junichiro Koizumi? Is he handsome or look old?
Asako: I think Prime Minister Koizumi is a progressive person rather than a traditional one. He is active and has made good diplomacy, but his idea of tax increase is not good. I think capitalism is going to do big damage to poor people. Koizumi’s capitalism is just like that of President George Bush. Is Koizumi handsome? Well, I think he looks not all that bad.
Arm: Who is the most famous celebrity right now and what is he or she doing?
Katsuya: I think the most famous celebrity in Japan is Junichi Ishida. He is a 50-year-old TV actor, and he is very fashionable, kind, and handsome. He usually doesn’t wear socks. Almost all Japanese women like him.
Nut: What is ‘geisha’ do and does they popular in nowadays?
Takashi: A geisha entertains a customer. She talks with them, plays the shamisen, and dances. She wears a kimono and paints her face white. Geisha are very famous, but there are very few of them remaining. The Gion and Fushimi areas of Kyoto are the best places to see a geisha.
Ploy(2): In Japan what age is the proper time to get married?
Takuma: I think most Japanese people get married at about 30. But a few Japanese people get married at a younger age, about 20. I would like to get married around 30.
Job: Do you have a lot of activity in the university and what is your favourite one?
Takuma: Yes, I do. I belong to the unplugged music circle. We play musical instruments, like the acoustic guitar – not the electric guitar – the piano, the violin, the sax, and so on, in our circle. At our university, there are many other interesting clubs or circles, like baseball, soccer, boxing, bowling, a capella, and more.
Thip: How do Japanese people travel from place to place and which is the most comfortable transportation?
Chie: Most people who have a family use the highway. Unfortunately, the highway isn’t free; we have to pay for it. By train, it’s also quite expensive. For example, when we go to Tokyo, it takes two hours and costs about 20,000 yen round trip.
Vim: Where is the most popular place for shopping in Kyoto and what can I buy there?
Chie: Young people go to Shijo, which is a shopping area in downtown Kyoto. We can do many things in this area, like bowling, karaoke, eating something, shopping, and so on. Many people shop for clothes, shoes, hats, accessories, and traditional Japanese souvenirs.
Ploy(1): What kind of prints that are popular among teenagers? Which colour do Japanese people usually wear?
Chie: I think the most popular prints are those of Cookie Monster, Hello Kitty, and anime characters. And Japanese don’t wear bright clothes. Usually they wear dark ones, like black or brown.
Pang: Who is the most well-known Thai singer in Japan?
Shunji: Tata Young is the most famous Thai singer in Japan. She held a live tour in Tokyo and it was a big success. Her debut album for Japan recorded great sales all over Asia. Her music is played on the Japanese dance scene. Tata Young is so famous, not only in Japan, but also around the world.
Blue: What is the most tradition still in the nowadays and what is the main reason for the making tea ceremony?
Takuma: In Japan, we send New Years cards to our relatives and friends at the beginning of the year. By making tea ceremony, we regain our composure and we can enjoy drinking tea more.
Jenny: What is “samurai” and why this word mean “to serve”?
Takashi: Samurai were people who had a special position in traditional Japanese society. Their hairstyle was called chonmage. They carried an edged tool, called nihonto. There are not any more samurai in Japan now.
Koy: What do you usually do in nightlife?
Takuma: I usually listen to the radio, play the guitar and the piano at home in the night time. I think many other university students go out to dinner at an Izakaya and drink beer with their friends.
May: How many population in your country and where do the most people live?
Chie: Most people live in Tokyo. The poplulation of Tokyo is 12 million. And the second largest population is that of Osaka, which is 8.8 million. In Kyoto, there are only 1.5 million people.

Credits: The students of British and American Studies at Thammasat University and the EFL students at Kyoto Sangyo University. Facilitated by teachers Richard Stamper and A.J. Hoge of Thammasat University, and Aaron Campbell of Kyoto Sangyo University.

by jetalone

11. In the Back of the Taxi

Hiromi: Do you know any good hotels?
Beth: My guidebook says there are lots. We can walk around and ask.
Hiromi: I hope they are not full.
Beth: Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll find one.

Credits: written by Mark White; voices by Cherie Campbell and Hiromi Campbell; city street ambient sound clipped from street01.mp3 by schluppipuppie at The Freesound Project.

by kitsh

10. Flagging Down a Taxi

Nick: Here comes one!
Driver: Yes?
Nick: We want to go to Khaosan Road.
Driver: Ok. Khaosan. That will cost 500 baht.
Nick: No, that’s too much. We can’t pay that much. We’ll give you 200 baht.
Driver: 200 baht is not enough. Khaosan is very far. How about 300 baht?
Nick: No, we will only pay 200. That’s our top price.
Driver: Ok. Let’s go.

Credits: written by Mark White; voices by Aaron Campbell and Aum; city street ambient sound clipped from street01.mp3 by schluppipuppie at The Freesound Project.

by m-louis

8. Meeting Another Person

Nick: Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I heard your conversation. You’re going to Khaosan Road and you want to save money?
Beth: That’s right.
Nick: There’s a new bus and it goes direct to Khaosan Road. It costs about 200 baht to take a taxi, but it only costs about 70 baht on the bus.
Beth: I see. Thank you for telling us.
Nick: You’re welcome. The bus stop is at the front of the airport. I’ll show you. I’m going to Khaosan Road too.
Beth: Ok. Let’s go.

Credits: written by Mark White; voices by Cherie Campbell and Aaron Campbell; city street ambient sound clipped from street01.mp3 by schluppipuppie at The Freesound Project.

by zitakat

7. A First Time Meeting

Beth: Excuse me, are you going to Khaosan Road?
Hiromi: Yes, I am. How did you know?
Beth: Most travellers stay on Khaosan Road. There are lots of cheap hotels there.
Hiromi: Are you going there too?
Beth: Yes, I am. Do you want to share a taxi?
Hiromi: That’s a good idea. It will be cheaper if we share.
Beth: My guidebook says that if we catch a taxi at the airport, it will be expensive, but if we walk to the road and catch a taxi, it will be cheaper.
Hiromi: I want to save money. Let’s walk to the highway and catch one there.
Beth: Ok. Let’s go.

Credits: written by Mark White; voices by Cherie Campbell and Hiromi Campbell; city street ambient sound clipped from street01.mp3 by schluppipuppie at The Freesound Project.

by ellecer

6. At the Customs Counter

Customs Officer: Which flight were you on?
Hiromi: The one from Osaka. I just arrived from Japan.
Customs Officer: Are these your bags?
Hiromi: Yes, they are. These are mine.
Customs Officer: Did you pack them yourself?
Hiromi: Yes, I did. I packed everything myself.
Customs Officer: Do you have anything to declare?
Hiromi: I’m sorry, I don’t understand. What do you mean?
Customs Officer: Are you carrying any drugs or weapons?
Hiromi: No, definitely not.
Customs Officer: Do you have any gifts for anybody?
Hiromi: No, I don’t know anybody in Thailand.
Customs Officer: What’s in this bag?
Hiromi: Just some clothes and personal effects, toiletries and stuff.
Customs Officer: Could you open this one please?
Hiromi: Sure.

Credits: written by Mark White; voices by Kullapart Ratphibull and Hiromi Campbell; airport ambient sound clipped from ‘newark.mp3′ by D. Jean Hester at Opsound. Visit Hester’s site.