Vegetarian Festival

At this time whatever we go, we will see yellow flag: the symbolic of Kin-J or Vegetarian Festival. The festival originates in the 19th century; this annual event is conducted by the locals of Chinese descent who engage in a ten-day vegetarian diet. As I told you form previous blog, in Thailand there are many Chinese live here and they also influence on Thai culture. Thus, many Thai people also believe that eat vegetable do not eat meet or pork, it is goodness. For Chinese community not only eat vegetable but also there are merit-making ceremonies at local Chinese temples as well as processions of ascetics performing extraordinary feats. During the 9-days period, the devout Chinese Buddhists dress in white attire, convert to vegetarians and observe the ten rules in order to purify their minds and bodies. In my opinion, this culture quite similar to Thai people’s nature who love to go to temple and make merit. Thus, it’s not surprise!! There are many of Thai people also engage in a ten-day vegetarian diet as same as Chinese.

Personal Space and Culture

We define personal space as the area surrounding a person that he or she considers his territory or domain. Crossing or entering someone else’s personal space creates discomfort because people feel the physical intimacy exceeds the relational intimacy. Keep in mind though, too much space can cause discomfort and indicate rudeness as well. The size of the personal space bubble varies by culture and situation.

Americans usually have larger personal space boundaries than people from other cultures. If you notice someone backing up a little while talking to you, don’t step toward them as they most likely feel uncomfortable with the lack of distance between you.

Under certain circumstances people can accept having their personal space entered without experiencing discomfort. Examples might include romantic encounters and crowded subways or events. In business environments people typically maintain more personal space between them than in social situations. Also, personal space boundaries between a man and a woman usually remain larger than those between two women. Especially in Thai culture, if a man and a woman are not a couple, they will aware for personal space. Actually, I don’t know why? May be it’s like our traditional that Thai people to do this pattern.

However, people who live in highly populated areas often have a smaller personal space bubble than those who live in less populated areas. People of higher status or wealth usually have larger personal space bubbles as well.
Finally, how about you…Do you think space is important when you communicate with people?

Some confuse about body language!!

Lastest class as I remember, we learned about non verbal communication. Many people ask me that what is the most important between verbal communication and non verbal communication, for me I think it's equally and not only Thai people who usually use both of these communication types but also use in worldwide. First of all we should that non verbal communication (body language) is gesticulation, postures, facial gestures and next expression we sense and do mostly unintentionally.

Few people concentrate to non verbal communication and expression. Non verbal expression can say about us much than we wish. From this reason is necessary to concentrate on control of non verbal communication. It is importing to we think about gestures, which gestures are suitable and unsuitable. We can practise some suitable gestures.

However, different country also different meaning about non verbal communication as well. If you loo at above picture, this is a man who show his forefinger up and cycle it around. In Thai if you do this action in resturant many people know that mean "Check bill" in contrast if you do this action in Chiness culture people will know it mean that "One more" so you will get same your order again.

Thus, befor you use body language in different culture...should be careful becouse it also different meaning as well.

Chiness community

Nowadays, Chaina influence in many area. If you go aboard you will notice that there are some ares of Chiness people or Chiness community. We called "Chaina Town". In Thailand we know as "Yaowarat". Yaowarat is the area of Chiness community and also there are a lot of Chainess culture happen there.

Chinatown is a colourful, exotic and busy area, packed with market stalls and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city. The Chinese community still continue their own traditions and religious practices, and the area is quite unlike the rest of Bangkok.

However, the Chinese community in Bangkok, descendants of early traders, have been living in Thailand for generations, and generally consider themselves very much as Thais; most can no longer speak any Chinese. The area has a somewhat seedy historical reputation for large numbers of opium dens, brothels, pawnshops and a fondness for gambling that used to prevail.

Today, gold shops and pawnshops are still very popular in Chinatown, and can be found almost anywhere and everywhere. Drug dealing, prostitution and gambling (all now illegal in Thailand) are also still thought to be widespread in this area - although they are not likely to be very noticeable to the average visitor. So don't expect to see any go-go bars in Chinatown!

Kimchi as a side dish.

During meat what kind of side dishes do you love? Chili, ginger, cucumber or fish sauce? In general most of Thai food also have side dishes for tasty of meat.

Korea also has one favorite side dishes as well. That is "Kimchi". Most peculiar about Korean cuisine is the way of pickling instead of cooking vegetables. Kimchi also means pickled vegetables and they only specify the preparation if it is other than pickled.

Koreans are likely to eat pickled vegetables every day, commonly for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In the cold Korean winter kimchi can last for many months. However, in the tropical Thai climate kimchi should be and is prepared only several days before consumption. The pickling process takes about 12 to 14 hours. Almost all available vegetables can be pickled but the most common in Korea are cabbage, turnip, and cucumber. The seasoning is chili, garlic, onion, ginger, oyster sauce, fish sauce, and salt.

Kimchi is most peculiar to Korean cuisine, it's rather the Korean habit of preparing meat as barbecue (in Korean: bulgogi) that has appealed to a large number of gourmets around the world.

Spaghetti for Thai people

Do you love spaghetti?

On last Saturday, I read a newspaper and saw one scoop about restaurant. That is Spaghetti House at Thonglor. As everyone knows spaghetti is the famous menu of Italian. If you don’t like to eat international menu, you may don’t like spaghetti menu.

Spaghetti House makes me wonders about its menu because each of menus was adjusted especially for Thai people who love to eat spicy dish. Moreover, Spaghetti House creates many fusion food menu and also mix with Thai ingredient such as Spaghetti with Crispy Fish, Spaghetti with Spicy Seafood, Spaghetti with Salted Fish, or Spaghetti Chili Sauce with Fried Baby Clams.

After I read this column I can notice that not only people who have to adapt themselves with culture but also impact on food as well. From this case, it shows that even Spaghetti House has Italian menu as a main dish like Spaghetti but they can apply their famous menu with Thai culture as well.

Post by^AomAme^

A new therapy....

A new therapy by using fish! A new way to make you relax!

At Cafe De Spa: Fish-inspired spa delivers relief for tired feet.

Say goodbye to dead skin

Cafe De Spa was launched in Thailand in December of years 2008, the branch of Cafe De Spa at Lat Phrao 71 has proven to be extremely popular and three more branches have since opened at Sukhumvit 23, Suan Lum Night Bazaar and the Mengjai Intersection.

Actually, the fish spa very popular in japan and japanese people like this new therapy.

Khun Jiramet, one of the owners of the business, was responsible for the idea, having first experienced it in Japan. After conducting a good deal of research, Cafe De Spa exposed that doctor fish would be the best fish for providing the nibbling. Sometimes the doctor fish was referred to as nibble fish, the Garra Rufa are a form of freshwater fish that can be found in a number of different habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, or streams. The species used at Cafe De Spa is native to the Middle East, particularly within the Tigris-Euphrates basin, as well as being found further north in rivers in Iran, Iraq, southern Turkey, Syria and even Pakistan.

However, this kind of spa to be able to bring relief to sufferers of a number of skin disorders, including psoriasis, neuro-dermatitis and eczema. The research discovered that the fish are now a far more common sight at spa and health centers across the globe, while Cafe De Spa has really established itself as the leading brand for this kind of treatment in Thailand.

Thus, if you don’t know where you will go on this weekend I recommend you to try a new kind of therapy such fish spa. Let’s try!!!!

AomAme^_^