Someone’s shiny present from Santa is stirring some online outrage.
While this photo may not represent the typical street beggar, it certainly explains why some people hesitate to hand over their money.
Thousands of Thais retweeted a photo from user Assadang NuoM of a panhandler in the Pratunam area, captioned, “A Pratunam beggar plays on tablet to kill time. Outrageous?”
The photo was posted this morning, and we cannot be more happy to see some Christmas spirit in the city.
With a name like that, you’d better believe this dish is alive.
Dancing Shrimps or Goong Ten (กุ้งเต้น) is a crunchy mixed salad literally crawling with small little transparent shrimps attempting in vain to wiggle their way to freedom. The shrimps are served with very spicy, garlicky, and limy sauce, and is popular in Northeastern Thailand.
Northeastern Thais just love raw food so much, some food enthusiasts have opined that sushi, so identified with Japanese cuisine, might have originated from there (citation not included).
Food blogger, Mark Wiens, admits that a spoonful of the dancing critters is both entertaining and delicious. After taking a bite, the shrimp rupture with saltiness and climax with a pleasant crunch.
Although this may sound barbaric to some, the experience is actually surprisingly enlightening according to food blogger, Kasma Loha-unchit, who claimed that…
“We felt the shrimp become us – we were the vehicle through which their spirit would carry on in the world. We didn’t feel that we were eating them alive, taking away their life. Instead, we felt their life continuing on within us, that they happily became part of us. They danced in us and made us dance with life. I was reminded of the teaching that “energy never dies; it is only transformed,” and, because something must die (whether this be animal or vegetable) in order that we may live, may we be worthy to carry on the spirit that has sacrificed its life for our nourishment at every meal.”
Very enlightening indeed.
May those shrimps find their way to Nirvana with the help of Kasma Loha-unchit’s appetite.
Former Miss Germany International 2006, Katrin Felton and her husband moved to Phuket in 2011 to realise her life-long dream of becoming a mermaid – yes, you read that right. Now she runs a Mermaid Academy where she teaches others how to become real-life mermaids like herself.
What got you obsessed with mermaids?
It happened 20 years ago when I watched The Little Mermaid at the age of 5. I was so intrigued by the outfits and the way they moved underwater. Living in Germany, I wasn’t close to any body of water so it was hard for me. My father, who was a commander in the police, would never allow me to jump into a pool with a mermaid tail, so for a long time I couldn’t pursue my dream. After high school, I went into modelling then moved to Australia in 2010 and became a scuba instructor. I trained in free diving and practiced underwater modelling.
What makes you a mermaid?
I free dive in the ocean, and I’ve learned how to hold my breath under water for about 3 minutes. I am able to pose underwater and look attractive without a mask! It required a lot of practice but I can now open my eyes underwater without the salt water affecting me much. Once I could do that I got my first tail from the internet – and I knew I could be a real-life mermaid.
Do people think you’re crazy for opening a Mermaid Academy?
It’s silly. I get stupid looks from people. Even my husband; he supports me but even he says, “Honey you can’t become a mermaid.” I didn’t believe it either. I never thought 3 years ago I’d have my own academy or shop. But being an underwater model, it got people interested. They see my photos, videos or performances and contact me. The more people see me, the more people contact me saying, “I want to be a mermaid.” I’d like to share my skills and knowledge with girls from all over the world to make their dreams come true.
What makes a good mermaid?
You should be able to hold your breath underwater for a long period of time, look good underwater without a mask and also have rescue skills. I cannot emphasise that enough. Having your legs tied into a tail can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do in emergency situations. I train my girls to know the ocean. We are not just pretty girls who swim; we are ambassadors of the ocean. I teach them to be role models, to not use plastic bags or participate in shark finning or overfishing.
Run us through one of your workshops.
We have different workshops for children and adults. The Mini Mermaid Workshop is a fun presentation for kids, about the environment, the ocean and also playing in the pool. The Real Mermaid Workshop is a 2-day workshop for adults; I can only train those who can swim 200 meters without stopping. If you pass the qualifications, you can get a certificate and become either a bronze, silver or gold mermaid.
Do you have other mermaid friends?
Yes! There are other mermaids around the world. We know each other and keep in touch through Facebook. “Mermaiding” is growing. I attend a mermaid convention in Las Vegas and they even had an award for the best mermaid! I have an online shop where I sell tails and the bikini tops to a lot of people from different countries. I’m still waiting to meet a merman friend, though!
Pratunam beggar plays with tablet while waiting for coins…
Someone’s shiny present from Santa is stirring some online outrage.
While this photo may not represent the typical street beggar, it certainly explains why some people hesitate to hand over their money.
Thousands of Thais retweeted a photo from user Assadang NuoM of a panhandler in the Pratunam area, captioned, “A Pratunam beggar plays on tablet to kill time. Outrageous?”
The photo was posted this morning, and we cannot be more happy to see some Christmas spirit in the city.
Source – http://news.asiainterlaw.com/?p=7826
Dancing Shrimps – they can’t get any fresher than this…
With a name like that, you’d better believe this dish is alive.
Dancing Shrimps or Goong Ten (กุ้งเต้น) is a crunchy mixed salad literally crawling with small little transparent shrimps attempting in vain to wiggle their way to freedom. The shrimps are served with very spicy, garlicky, and limy sauce, and is popular in Northeastern Thailand.
Northeastern Thais just love raw food so much, some food enthusiasts have opined that sushi, so identified with Japanese cuisine, might have originated from there (citation not included).
Food blogger, Mark Wiens, admits that a spoonful of the dancing critters is both entertaining and delicious. After taking a bite, the shrimp rupture with saltiness and climax with a pleasant crunch.
Although this may sound barbaric to some, the experience is actually surprisingly enlightening according to food blogger, Kasma Loha-unchit, who claimed that…
“We felt the shrimp become us – we were the vehicle through which their spirit would carry on in the world. We didn’t feel that we were eating them alive, taking away their life. Instead, we felt their life continuing on within us, that they happily became part of us. They danced in us and made us dance with life. I was reminded of the teaching that “energy never dies; it is only transformed,” and, because something must die (whether this be animal or vegetable) in order that we may live, may we be worthy to carry on the spirit that has sacrificed its life for our nourishment at every meal.”
Very enlightening indeed.
May those shrimps find their way to Nirvana with the help of Kasma Loha-unchit’s appetite.
References:
http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/dsintro.html
http://www.eatingthaifood.com
Learn how to be a Mermaid in Thailand!
Former Miss Germany International 2006, Katrin Felton and her husband moved to Phuket in 2011 to realise her life-long dream of becoming a mermaid – yes, you read that right. Now she runs a Mermaid Academy where she teaches others how to become real-life mermaids like herself.
What got you obsessed with mermaids?
It happened 20 years ago when I watched The Little Mermaid at the age of 5. I was so intrigued by the outfits and the way they moved underwater. Living in Germany, I wasn’t close to any body of water so it was hard for me. My father, who was a commander in the police, would never allow me to jump into a pool with a mermaid tail, so for a long time I couldn’t pursue my dream. After high school, I went into modelling then moved to Australia in 2010 and became a scuba instructor. I trained in free diving and practiced underwater modelling.
What makes you a mermaid?
I free dive in the ocean, and I’ve learned how to hold my breath under water for about 3 minutes. I am able to pose underwater and look attractive without a mask! It required a lot of practice but I can now open my eyes underwater without the salt water affecting me much. Once I could do that I got my first tail from the internet – and I knew I could be a real-life mermaid.
Do people think you’re crazy for opening a Mermaid Academy?
It’s silly. I get stupid looks from people. Even my husband; he supports me but even he says, “Honey you can’t become a mermaid.” I didn’t believe it either. I never thought 3 years ago I’d have my own academy or shop. But being an underwater model, it got people interested. They see my photos, videos or performances and contact me. The more people see me, the more people contact me saying, “I want to be a mermaid.” I’d like to share my skills and knowledge with girls from all over the world to make their dreams come true.
What makes a good mermaid?
You should be able to hold your breath underwater for a long period of time, look good underwater without a mask and also have rescue skills. I cannot emphasise that enough. Having your legs tied into a tail can be dangerous if you don’t know what to do in emergency situations. I train my girls to know the ocean. We are not just pretty girls who swim; we are ambassadors of the ocean. I teach them to be role models, to not use plastic bags or participate in shark finning or overfishing.
Run us through one of your workshops.
We have different workshops for children and adults. The Mini Mermaid Workshop is a fun presentation for kids, about the environment, the ocean and also playing in the pool. The Real Mermaid Workshop is a 2-day workshop for adults; I can only train those who can swim 200 meters without stopping. If you pass the qualifications, you can get a certificate and become either a bronze, silver or gold mermaid.
Do you have other mermaid friends?
Yes! There are other mermaids around the world. We know each other and keep in touch through Facebook. “Mermaiding” is growing. I attend a mermaid convention in Las Vegas and they even had an award for the best mermaid! I have an online shop where I sell tails and the bikini tops to a lot of people from different countries. I’m still waiting to meet a merman friend, though!
Reference – http://underwatermodel.info