The Bangkok Podcast22 Helmi 2022

Would a Bangkok by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet? [S5.E49]

Greg and Ed discuss the significance of the recent decision by the Thai parliament to accept a change to the official English name of Bangkok that was proposed by the Royal Society of Thailand. Initially, it was announced as a major change from 'Bangkok' to 'Krung Thep Maha Nakhon,' (that's กรุงเทพมหานคร for you Thai readers), but Greg clarifies that the change really was just a matter of punctuation.

Nevertheless, the announcement kicked off a huge debate on social media over what Thailand's capital should really be called, as it's an issue fraught with a surprising amount of subtext, as this great thread from Khun Phacha will show.

Ed notes initially that the word 'Bangkok' is not a word made up by Westerners, but an old word for a district of the old capital of Thonburi. Greg points out that Bangkok has been used for centuries and is extremely well known around the world so it's a bit strange for the change to be made now.

The guys also discuss proper pronunciation of places, as most countries have the 'international name' (ie, Germany, Thailand and Sweden) and the 'local name' (as in Deutschland, Meuang Thai, and Sverige). Read more about this interesting concept with the name of Laos in this great post by Tim.

In the end, the guys prefer to keep the podcast 'The Bangkok Podcast' instead of going through the trouble of renaming it 'The Krung Thep Maha Nakorn Podcast.' Lazy as always!

Don't forget that Patrons get the ad-free version of the show as well as swag and other perks. And we'll keep our Facebook, Twitter, and LINE accounts active so you can send us comments, questions, or whatever you want to share.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(583)

AI Helps Us Find Hidden Meaning in the Art of the Late, Great Khun Pichai [S8.E61]

Greg begins by discussing the late Bangkok street artist Khun Pichai, whose intricate and cryptic sidewalk scribbles across the capital attained a devoted cult following over the years, with sightings...

15 Syys 39min

Vic Levitin Talks About Starting From Scratch in Thailand [S8.E60]

Moving to Thailand can be a disorienting, discombobulating experience, even if you're on your own. Now imagine doing it with 9 hours to prepare. That's what Vic Levitin and his family did, but the unk...

8 Syys 48min

Bangkok's Roads: The History Behind the Names (S8.E59)

Greg begins by discussing a suggestion from their friend Scott to explore the origins of well-known street names in Bangkok. After briefly touching on familiar spots like Khaosan Road and Lumpini Park...

1 Syys 39min

Photographer Dax Ward on Capturing Bangkok's Abandoned Beauty [S8.E58] (Classic ReCast)

Greg interviews Dax Ward, an adventurous photographer best known for his beautiful photos of dilapidated buildings and abandoned places. Dax begins by explaining that he was a very late starter to pho...

25 Elo 51min

A Peek Into Bangkok's Thriving Bluegrass Music Scene [S8.E57]

In another example of a thriving subculture in Bangkok you wouldn't expect to see, Greg and Ed interview Sunny Sachdev, a Thai Indian banjo player who is part of the informal network of musicians that...

18 Elo 46min

The Devil's in the Details: Playing the Expat Insurance Game [S8.E56]

Inspired by recent discussion among friends, and Greg's switch to a new provider, the boys tackle the enduring issue of health insurance as an expat. There are many companies, many plans, and many pit...

11 Elo 37min

Weird Explorer's Jared Rydelek on Asia's Strangest Fruits [S8.E55]

Greg interviews Jared Rydelek, the creator of the Weird Explorer YouTube channel. Jared explains that his day job is a contortionist, but his lifelong vegetarianism sparked a deep fascination with rar...

4 Elo 49min

Saying Too Much: Dealing With Self-Censorship in Thailand [S8.E54] (Classic ReCast)

Greg and Ed tackle the uncomfortable topic of self-censorship in Thailand, especially as it pertains to the podcast itself, and the churning, roiling issue of what you can say, when, and how, which se...

28 Heinä 37min