![Bangkok's Craft Brew Godfather: A Chat with Khun Chit [S7.E55] (Classic Recast)](https://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts112/v4/5e/b8/97/5eb8974d-bf7d-0ed0-7088-1a13a3b80a74/mza_16315175050243679621.jpg/250x250bb.jpg)
Folgen
-
Greg and Ed tackle a frustrating aspect of learning Thai - borrowed English words that are pronounced according to the rules normally applied to native Thai words. Ed makes clear they are not just talking about accent or âprosodyâ - the cadence of pronunciation - but actually specific changes to pronunciation that are part of the rules of the Thai language.
Examples are the best teacher so the guys jump right in. Ed begins with the all-time classic of âcheck bin,â based on the two English words âcheckâ and âbill.â The only problem is that in Thai, when a word ends in the Thai letter that sounds like âlâ (âLaw Lingâ), it is pronounced like an ân,â so by English rules, the pronunciation is completely different than the spelling. But welcome to the Thai language! Greg continues with âfoot bawn,â following the same rule, and Ed then discusses âof-fit,â from the English word âoffice,â which actually comes from the fact that Thais donât end words with a an âsâ or soft âcâ sound, but instead replace it with a ât.â
The guys continue, running through many more minefields and intricacies of the pronunciation of loan words, with the help of Gregâs wife, who gives a baseline example in Thai. To top it off, Greg and Ed bring on special guest Jon, an old friend of the podcast, with a classic story about the difficulties of correctly hearing English words in Thai.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
In this month's Classic Recast, Greg interviews Palm, a professional translator of English to Thai, but in a very specific context: subtitles for film and television. Palm begins by explaining that she literally learned English by being a couch potato and watching a lot of Western TV shows and movies, surviving by figuring out the subtitles word by word. This led naturally to an interest in doing it for a living, and lo and behold, her dream came to when she got a job translating for MTV Thailand. Eventually, this led to translating for a major video distribution company (which shall remain anonymous).
Greg quizzes Palm on the difficulties of her job and how she can possibly find Thai equivalents for all the weird expressions and slang in English. Palm notes that this in fact makes her job fun, as she often has to do research to first make sure she has the proper understanding in her own head before she can determine the best Thai equivalent. Unsurprisingly, curse words are quite difficult, and Greg and Palm discuss some rude expressions and how Palm approaches translating them.
They also discuss the difference between simply translating a word, and translating intentions, concepts, and context. Apply this to, say, hip-hop culture, or RuPaulâs show âDrag Raceâ, and you can see where it becomes difficult!
Palm concludes with some advice for wannabe subtitlers, so listen in for some excellent career guidance if you are so inclined.
As always, the podcast will continue to be 100% funded by listeners just like you who get some special swag from us. And weâll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share. -
Fehlende Folgen?
-
After his latest video dropped and generated a lot of buzz, Greg and Ed interview Stu Jay Raj, the podcastâs Thai language expert, but this time Stu explains his new video and website discussing the cost of international school in Thailand. As most people are aware, the Thai public school system is not particularly strong, especially for students looking for a solid education in English. Hence, there is a demand for education in English up to an international standard among both Thais and foreigners in Thailand. Hereâs the rub: the quality of international schools themselves varies a lot, and they can get VERY expensive.
But - Stu wanted to try a thought experiment - what if you were to take the exorbitant fees associated with international schools in Thailand and invest it instead?
Stu explains that he used his coding expertise to scrape the websites of dozens of international schools in Thailand for as much school fee information as he could find. With that information, he created an interactive web page where you can see the total costs over a number of years of sending your child to a particular school.
Of course, itâs not that easy to simply school your kid through other means and put a bunch of money away, but it poses an interesting question - would your kid be better off graduating from an international school, or being given several million dollars in their mid-20s? The guys discuss the various ramifications and a new way to look at the ROI of an education. The answer isnât always obvious as the guys discover.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Thai cuisine is remarkably good at adopting flavors and ingredients into its fold, but there are some that just have not made the cut. In a city where you can find almost any type of food from around the world, certain Western foods seem to get embraced by Thais, while others donât. For example, while not SUPER popular, both pizza and hamburgers are eaten regularly by the locals. But what things havenât made the cut?
First, Greg brings up cheese, especially of the stinky variety. Outside of pizza, Thais rarely eat cheese and havenât really incorporated it into their own cuisine. Although excellent cheese is available, especially in gourmet markets, itâs more of a passing fancy rather than the obsession it is in the West. Second, Ed mentions bread, which opens up a bit of debate among the guys. Ed contents Thais donât really eat sandwiches, hence sliced sandwich bread is not very popular. Further, âtableâ bread, Italian-style, is not very common. But Greg notes that his Thai wife does like to snack on bread, so perhaps bread plays more of a role in-between meals than the central role it plays back home.
The guys then run through six more very common Western foodstuffs that Thais eat but havenât fallen in love with.
PS - While at a water stop on a bike ride last week, Greg told his buddy Wim about this episode, mentioning cheese and bacon. Wim happened to look to next to him, and hold up a packet of macaroni cheese and bacon, highlighting the fact that the topic is never a cut-and-dry case. (pic below)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg interviews Phra Pandit about Buddhist monks and politics. Greg begins by framing the issue around the recent tumultuous nature of politics around the world. Could Buddhist calmness provide an answer? Well, Phra Pandit begins by making clear that under the rules of the Sangha as interpreted in Thailand, monks are definitely not permitted to become politicians or really work for the government in any capacity. In fact, Thai monks in general are not supposed to even express opinions about politics as monks are seen as above the worldly nature of politics.
Phra Pandit does note however that not every country is the same. In Sri Lanka, monks are notoriously political, forming their own parties, and participating in marches and protests. Phra Pandit explains that different cultures have resulted in the rules governing monks being interpreted in different ways. In Thailand, technically the King is the head of Thai Buddhism, and the King of course is above politics. Perhaps this role model helps to explain the Thai interpretation of the rules. Phra Pandit does explain, however, that famous politicians have become monks upon leaving politics, as a symbolic way of atoning for their sins.
The two continue with more examples of how monks interact with the government without getting directly involved in political affairs.
-
Bangkokâs a big city thatâs got her own rules. You can try to fight them, but in the end, in certain situations, no matter how much you beg and plead, Bangkok wins, and you lose.
Greg and Ed discuss ten ways Bangkok can own you: frustrating âgotchasâ that are devilishly difficult to avoid. Even veterans of the city with tons of experience still sometimes forget the nuance or fail to think about the what-ifs and end up standing there like a fool, muttering under their breath. This still definitely happens with Greg and Ed, so if you donât want to get burned on your next visit to Thailand, keep these in mind - learned from cold, hard experience.
From sidewalk squirts and freezing aircon to improper documentation and lack of change in a taxi, Greg and Ed recount multiple ways you can get âgotâ in the Land of Smiles. Sometimes you beat Bangkok, but sometimes the city owns YOU.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And weâll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.
-
Greg and Ed jump on the bandwagon and discuss the recent trend of images of âaction figuresâ generated by AI. ChatGPT especially seems quite good at creating semblances of plastic blister packs filled with dolls and accessories that might go along with them. Hence, the guys take a look at 9 different images based on Thai stereotypes before offering images of their own action figures, which AI helpfully created for them.
Figures include such classic stereotypes as a âPattaya Old Boy,â a Content Creator in Thailand, a Bar Girl, a Chiang Mai Expat, a White Guy in Pai, etc. The guys go through each image and discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and find a surprising amount of nuance and insight into Thai culture in a few of them.
The show ends with each discussing the otherâs action figure - while Gregâs looked like an actual doll (though a particularly ripped one) Edâs looked exactly like Ed - just shrinkwrapped. Listen in to hear what accessories each of their action figures came with. Enjoy! :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg and Ed discuss some interesting expats they have met over the years - both good and bad - and what lessons they have managed to glean from them. Thailand is a bit of a strange stew of expats; with many different types of people coming together in a foreign land, you are apt to meet and/or befriend people in Thailand that you never would back home. The results can be positive or negative, but either way, there can be lessons to be learned.
Greg begins with an anecdote heâs mentioned on the show before, about âVP,â a random character that took Greg to a party filled with U.N. people. Although the people there were âinterestingâ in the sense that they were educated and well-traveled, Greg felt their snobbery at his low status in Thailand intensely and had to bail. He learned that there is a bit of an unspoken âexpat strataâ in Bangkok and that people can - fairly or unfairly - place you within that strata no matter where you meet them. Ed counters with a story of a Swedish friend, who although being a great guy in Thailand, ended up being deported back to Sweden for old legal problems. Ed woke up to the fact that when you meet expats later in life, you have no idea what kind of baggage they have from earlier in life.
Greg then brings up an old coworker named Seth, who was fairly normal in the daytime, but who Greg realized was deeply embedded into the seedier side of Bangkokâs nightlife. The takeaway: not all foreigners just dip their toes into the redlight districts; some dive in and never get out, and if youâre not careful, you can be pulled along with them. Ed finishes with an unfortunate anecdote about an American friend who was prominent in the expat community in Thailand until he suffered a serious illness and had to return to the United States. The experience made Ed realize that nothing is permanent, and although your expat life might SEEM solid, some bad luck could cause you to be yanked back home.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg and Ed address the unavoidable topic du jour: the earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 that was felt all the way to Bangkok. Greg begins by pointing out that even though much ink and many words have already been spilled on the topic, listeners may be concerned about traveling to Bangkok now or the safety of Bangkokâs buildings in general. They guys decide to do their civic duty and chime in.
First, they relate their personal stories - Ed was at home first thought he was getting dizzy (and old) but after realizing it was an earthquake mainly went about his day as normal. Greg was in his office when it hit, and he and his colleagues calmly evacuated the building. Subsequently, they both experienced the insane traffic conditions - Ed took an hour and 45 minutes to get from Khao San to Thong Lor and Greg took almost three hours to get from his office in Hua Mak to his home in Thonburi. Ouch! Lesson: when the BTS and MRT shut down, stay off the roads as much as possible. đ
The guys then consider the governmentâs response to the event and the durability of Bangkokâs buildings. Ed notes that while a single building collapsing certainly is a tragedy, he is surprised many more didnât go down given how old some Bangkok neighborhoods are. Greg points out that Thai people in general are quite good at remaining calm in a crisis, given the number of floods, coups and riots they have been through. Last, at least for now, the Thai government seems to be taking very seriously the task of figuring out exactly why one building did collapse and determining who is to blame.
Both guys agree Bangkok appears to be as safe as ever. :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know. -
With the big holiday nearly here, Greg and Ed reminisce about their various Songkran experiences over the years. Ed notes that last year was a breakthrough year: he actually went out and âthrew waterâ for the first time in many years and had a blast. Greg points out that itâs pretty common for expats to love Songkran at first, but then quickly switch to avoiding the raucous celebrations for many years. Greg has found special Songkran celebrations specifically designed to be kid-friendly, which has allowed him to keep in touch with the experience without a lot of the craziness.
Ed recounts his very first Songkran experience in Chiang Mai, a pivotal moment in his early years in Thailand as it was an amazingly good time that included three full days of brutal water wars. Ever since then he has been âchasing the dragonâ of that first experience.
Greg then uses AI to do some insightful comparisons between Songkran of 2005 and Songkran of 2025. The AI does a fairly good job of noting the transition of the holiday from being primarily local to being now well-known around the world, and one in which the prior emphasis was on traditional family ritual while today the experience is much more professionalized and commercial. Also check out the photo of a very young Greg at his first Songkran, with his friend Amanda. Oh to be young and wrinkle-free again!
Regardles of how it has changed, Songkran remains a defining Thai experience not to be missed by tourists and expats. Just bring a good attitude and prepare to get soaked!
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
A fabulous re-cast episode from season 3!
Sooner or later, we all spend some time in the hospital, so Greg and Ed riff on their myriad experiences in Bangkok hospitals over the years. But before we get into that, we should note - due to Thailandâs strict defamation laws, some of the places we talk about will remain nameless.
But with that out of the way, we can say that Thailand in general has pretty good medical care, and it is standard advice for travelers in neighboring countries to get over the border into Thailand if they have any medical problems. But, as Ed notes, Thailand does not have very good legal protections against medical malpractice: if a doctor makes a mistake, donât expect significant financial compensation from the Thai justice system.
Greg and Ed then trade anecdotes about their own experiences in the Thai medical system, each with some good and bad things to say. Edâs life has been literally saved by competent doctors; Greg passed himself off as a Jedi in lieu of a real religion; both have been saved a ton of grief by getting a second opinion. Your mileage may vary, but both Greg and Ed agree, as a pure value proposition (i.e. what you get for the money), Thailand, though far from perfect, is a pretty good deal.
Listen in for some great advice on how to maximize your chances of getting a good experience at a Bangkok hospital.
-
Greg and Ed discuss the massive influx of Russians (and some Ukrainians) into Thailand, particularly the island of Phuket. Numerous stories have been written in the last year about the unusually high number of long-stay tourists and expats who appear to be escaping the conflict in Europe, some even calling the trend an âinvasionâ. No doubt the sunny climes, pleasant smiles, and great food of Thailand provide a tempting alternative for those who have the means to make the journey.
Ed begins by noting that the Tourism Authority of Thailand seems to be welcoming the growth in tourism that the wave from Russia represents. Concerns over rebuilding after COVID are largely over - Phuket in particular is largely swamped and certainly the economic benefits are welcome after the several years of privation due to the pandemic. But are there downsides? A recent article notes that the average cost of condos in Phuket has doubled in recent years and that in turn has affected the rental market. Simply put, if you are planning a trip to Phuket these days, expect a significantly more expensive venture than in years past.
Another problem according to the news is Russians building their own self-sustaining communities. While understandable, some have turned to work that violates Thai laws restricting certain professions to Thai citizens, such as working as tour guides and real estate agents. Greg notes that fast changes such as this are very likely to draw a response from the government, which appears to be forthcoming given the amount of press the issue is receiving. At the very least, Greg points out at least one listener of the podcast who had previously been planning a trip to Phuket but who has now reconsidered.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg interviews Tim Swainson and his team at creative agency Invisible Ink about their Thai-centric board game, âBangkok Pains.â The show begins with introductions from the creative team at Invisible Ink, and Tim then gets into explaining the game. The first rule of Bangkok Pains is that all players start in debt, mirroring the plight of many Bangkokians, both natives and foreigners. There are the standard board game pieces, in this case, everything from an iconic plastic chair to a bottle of fish sauce and a plate of Som Tum.
Each player then picks a âcareer cardâ to see their job and salary (Greg manages to be a professional gamer with a monthly salary of 30,000 baht, while other players score careers such as influencer, DJ, and plastic surgeon) as well as a property card, which determines where youâll live, and which track on the board game youâll follow on your way to work (car or BTS).
As the group plays, they discuss where the game idea came from, how it was developed, and the endless rounds of testing that went into finding the right balance of playability, benefits, and penalties. How did they manage to distill all of Bangkok into a board game? Listen in for details - or better yet, buy the game yourself, get some drinks, and invite a few friends to play!
Listen in for an endless supply of Thai and Bangkok nuggets of trivia and insight into how the game was developed.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Following a great suggestion from listener Kelly, Greg and Ed discuss the âexpat bubble,â the tendency for expats (and tourists) to primarily spend time with foreigners, rather than experience the same Bangkok that the majority of Thais are experiencing. Kelly noted that on her recent solo travels in Bangkok, she often found truly Thai markets that were very cheap with delicious food but also that she was the only Westerner there. Certain other cheap food courts, such as those in Big C, would have a more mixed customer base. What gives?
Greg and Ed do their best to untangle the mystery. Perhaps the âsuper-Thaiâ markets appeared too dirty to anyone but long-term expats, with tiny plastic chairs sitting among random detritus, food apparently kept sitting out too long, and the potential of random vermin running across your feet. Or could it be the expected lack of English and the social awkwardness of functioning among Thai who might not be used to tourists and foreigners? This certainly kept Greg from experiencing ârealâ Thailand during his first wasted half-year in Chiang Mai. The boys note that a lot of whatâs going on might just boil down to personality type. Some of us expats and tourists are just naturally more adventurous and willing to put up with some embarrassment in order to try something new. While others stick to the predictable path, if not Starbucks or McDonaldâs, then a âThaiâ food court in a clean, international mall.
In the end, Greg and Ed make the case for reminding yourself that perhaps 80% of Thais in Bangkok rarely interact with foreigners, and itâs their lives that actually constitute the ârealâ Thailand. So if you want to experience something really new and different and not just safe, itâs probably worth giving some of those crowded, hot and grimy markets a go. At the very least, youâll save money and eat well! :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
We recount the fascinating story of George DuPont, the only Thai person who fought in the American Civil War. The first record of George in the U.S. is in 1859, but almost nothing is known of how or why he ended up in the United States. We know that in 1862 he volunteered for a New Jersey regiment to fight for the North in the American Civil War. Shockingly, he fought in and survived the battles of Antietam, Chancellorville, and Gettysburg, three of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was eventually naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1869.
He subsequently returned to Thailand, or Siam as it was known, and worked a variety of jobs, from writer for an English language newspaper to a drillmaster to a timber dealer. He died at age 56, and you can still see his grave in the Bangkok Protestant Cemetery on Charoen Krung 72/5.
George DuPont represents a fascinating glimpse into the lives of early Thai immigrants to America. Greg and Ed surmise that there must have been immigrants before him, equally or more interesting! One way or another, weâll find them and tell their stories on the Bangkok Podcast. :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And weâll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.
-
Greg questions Ed about his main job - teaching âAmerican Studiesâ to Thai college students. Effectively, Edâs job and his side gig (the podcast) are opposites of each other, given that he is attempting to explain Thai society and culture to foreigners on the podcast.
Ed begins with America 101 - basic lessons about the U.S. that every Thai person should know, especially before traveling there. First, the U.S. is physically a VERY big country, but also quite diverse. The Northeast is quite different from the Midwest, which is in turn different from the South, which differs from the West Coast, etc. Hence, Ed notes that the U.S. is actually a difficult country to generalize about, and some of his students grapple with the concept. For instance, life in an urban city can be completely different from life in the suburbs or rural area, despite both being in the U.S. Second, the U.S. has a violent crime problem, and Thais should be very careful where and when they go somewhere, especially in cities. While the country overall is âsafeâ in the general sense, thatâs not true at all times and in all places. And last, health care in the U.S. is VERY expensive, and no one should travel there without health insurance. âNuff said.
Greg then asks Ed about cultural lessons, and Ed notes that often American culture is best explained as the reverse of Thai culture. The U.S. is individualistic, while Thailand is group-oriented. The U.S. is legalistic and âlow contextâ, while Thailand is âflexibleâ about the law and âhigh context.â And of course, Americans are more direct and engaging than Thais, who tend to be âshyâ and hang back, especially with strangers.
No culture is inherently âbetterâ or âworseâ than any other, but that doesnât mean they are all the same. :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg and Ed discuss various aspects of Bangkok that they believe are either overrated or underrated. The guys start with things that they believe get too many props. Greg mentions the Grand Palace and the Damnoen Saduak floating market that tend to be too touristy and overcrowded, but that there are unsung superior alternatives where tourists could better spend their time. Ed counters with Thai customer service, which he credits for being genuinely warm but which he believes is often unprofessional, at least outside of five-star hotels.
Greg then brazenly brings up Pad Thai, which has never floated his boat regardless of its reputation. For Ed, he thinks Thai temples are overrated in general, at least beyond the main ones that everyone should go to at least once.
Greg then goes deep with a critique of the emphasis Thais place on ârespect,â especially for older people out of course. Thatâs probably a good topic for a whole show.
For underrated, the guys cover things such as various museums, some financial management options (that a lot of foreigners donât know about), taxis, and Thailand outside of the main tourist areas. Listen in if you want all the inside info! :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Continuing the exploration of some of the unexpectedly progressive moves that Thailand makes from time to time, Greg interviews his friend Jacob, an American, and his husband Geng, a Thai, about their marriage in Thailand as two men and their efforts to build a family through surrogacy. The couple begins by relating how they met and began dating, and Jacob adds that even at that stage he was looking into becoming a single father through some type of surrogacy. Luckily Geng was on board, and they began researching different clinics worldwide. They settled on a clinic in Colombia that they felt was very professional and transparent.
With a baby (the genetic son of Jacob) on the way, they decided to make their relationship legal, but at that time, same-sex marriages were still unrecognized in Thailand. Hence, they chose an online marriage in the U.S. state of Nevada. Now legal, they were then able to take their Colombian-born son back to Thailand. While there were no problems actually entering Thailand, their son was only recognized as an American tourist, with no legal connection to Geng.
The guys then explain that they plan to repeat the process with a genetic child of Geng, so they eventually hope to have two children. The next step then will be having their marriage legalized in Thailand, and finally they hope to secure the legal status of their children.
Whew! Talk about pushing the boundaries of a âconservative Buddhistâ country.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
-
Greg interviews the fascinating Wichit Saiklao, godfather of craft beer in Thailand and founder of Chit Beer, with podcast friend Scott Coates sitting in for fun. Khun Chit relates how he first learned about homebrewing while living in the States, and after returning to Thailand and buying a small house on the river island of Ko Kret, he decided to give it a try with a kit he bought on Amazon. Just seven years later, he is a legend of Thai brewing, not just because of his own popular craft beers but also because of his brewing school which now has thousands of graduates.
Khun Chit explains his approach to Thai law, which in general prohibits small batch brewing: by focusing on staying under the radar while campaigning to change the law and spreading his love of brewing to his âarmyâ of brewers, he hopes to push Thai culture in the right direction. He estimates that there are already tens of thousands of Thai people brewing quietly at home, a number so large that eventually the Thai government will likely have to accept as a fact of life.
Greg, Scott and Khun Chit discuss the community of brewers that he has fostered and spread around the country, his ignoble first attempts at brewing, and what drives him forward.
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And weâll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.
-
Greg and Ed engage in a bit of fantasy as Ed imagines what he would do if he were the Prime Minister (or maybe more accurately, dictator) of Thailand. Ed begins with the caveat that he can only see the world through his own eyes, so his dream policies probably will not align with the average Thai person or maybe even most foreigners.
Ed presents a total of ten changes he would make to the country if he could, and Greg gives wise counsel for each proposal. In no particular order, Ed suggests building a modern prison system to buttress the rule of law, making significant investments in the riverfront, completing the Kra Canal Project, and eliminating dual pricing nationwide. He also emphasizes the need to modernize the laws that govern expats in Thailand, which seem to have been written in the Dark Ages. To top it off, Ed strongly prefers the old-school elephant flag to the current three-striped flag, and heâd rather the country be formally known as Siam due to the racist origins of the name âThailand.â
Greg is impressed with the depth of Edâs plans and vows to come up with his own suggestions. Some day. :)
Donât forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. We also sometimes post on Facebook, you can contact us on LINE and of course, head to our website (www.bangkokpodcast.com) to find out probably more info than you need to know.
- Mehr anzeigen
![Stolen English: A Few Words That Thai Has Fully Thai-ified [S7.E73]](https://is2-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts112/v4/5e/b8/97/5eb8974d-bf7d-0ed0-7088-1a13a3b80a74/mza_16315175050243679621.jpg/80x80bb.jpg)