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Examines the land, people, and history of Thailand and discusses its current state of affairs and place in the world today. ... Read more

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The conference from which this collection of essays grew was organized to address the importance of energy efficiency for Thailand's future economic growth. Like many developing countries, Thailand has been enjoying an impressive Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate in the last few years, prompting many to predict that it will soon "graduate" to join the ranks of the newly industrialized countries. However, these positive economic indicators have also been accompanied by a worrisome one: a dramatic increase in energy use. Between 1986 and 1987 energy use grew by over 15 percent-over twice the rate of GDP growth-and Thailand spent over $1.5 billion on imported energy sources. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the global imperatives for implementing energy efficiency measures in Thailand and other developing countries. Case-study examples are then given of the global experience in energy efficiency in industry, buildings, transportation, and electric power generation. Co-published with the International Institute for Energy Conservation. ... Read more

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This volume describes and discusses the skeletal evidence from the graves excavated at the site (the subject of a previous volume) in terms of the morphology, nutrition, dental and skeletal health, disease, demographics and funerary customs of the people that inhabited this site between c.2000-1500 BC. The excellent preservation of organic material including bone, food remains and coprolites allowed a detailed reconstruction of the changing lives of these individuals over a number of generations. Evidence is combined with data from the other volumes which detailed the excavation, biological remains and material culture of the site. ... Read more

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These books take a fresh look at Asian countries we often know little about. They provide a good general knowledge of the overall culture, history and climate and what distinguishes the country from its neighbours and the rest of the world. Written by authors experienced in the field, they are fully illustrated, with easily digested, up-to-date information including relevant Internet links and contacts. ... Read more

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Flowing through the heart of Thailand, the teeming waters of the Chao Phya River system yield much insight into the history and culture of the Thai people.The Chao Phya, with its four tributaries, has fostered a prosperous economy and stable political climate.More than any other river system in Asia, it has served as the source of life for a flourishing agricultural sector and served as a vital highway, while protecting Thai cities from enemy assault.Today, while more vital than ever, the river has been changing in ways detrimental to its future. This eye-opening, beautifully illustrated work offers a fascinating look at this famous lifeline of modern-day Thailand. ... Read more

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Alonzo Bunker, D.D.
Author of "Soo Thah"

An excerpt from the Chapter I - EXPLORATION OF THE LOIKAW MISSION"

"In the beginning of the year 1866 the writer, with his wife, landed in Burma for missionary work. He was designated to the Red Karens, or Karenni tribe, then a practically unknown people. Having acquired his missionary knowledge largely from Wayland's "Life of Dr. Judson," he settled down to a life work among the frontier tribes of Burma. Though ultimately changed to the Karens of Toungoo, our first love for the Red Karens was not forgotten. Through long years of labour for the Karen tribes about Toungoo, we never ceased to pray and plan for the good of our first love. So, late in the year 1868, an opportunity arising, Dr. Vinton, of the Rangoon Karen Mission, and myself planned a survey of the Red Karen country. This was the beginning of the work which finally took shape in the Loikaw Mission. The journey was, at the time, regarded as specially hazardous, since it was undertaken among unknown, wild, and savage tribes. The country was also reported to be in the throes of feudal warfare. It was, therefore, with some misgivings that we set out from Shwaygeen, with three elephants and a large company of followers (native pastors and servants), for this unknown land.

Our course for the first few days was directly eastward, toward the Salwen River, through dense forests and jungle, inhabited by wild tribes of Karens. Four days brought us to the town of Papoon, on the Yoonzalen River. Here were the headquarters of the district magistrate, under the English government. We found here, also, a few Karen Christians.

The remaining journey must be pursued through an absolutely unknown country, lying along the Salwen River, and extending hundreds of miles to the north. This region included the Karenni tribes, which we had undertaken to visit. Refitting our expedition at Papoon, we sought guides to conduct us through the country, but without success; for the people were in great fear of the savages, and naturally the most dreadful calamities were predicted, if we should persist in our purpose. For not only was the country unknown and poorly mapped, but it was peopled by numerous tribes of Karens which, although of one common stock, were at constant feudal warfare with one another, and especially suspicious of strangers. However, gathering all possible information of the country, we were able, with the aid of the rough maps we had secured, and some astronomical instruments, to set out hopefully. On the second day we saw signs of war in demolished houses, ruined villages, and obstructed roads. Though we were following a road which in times of peace was travelled by large companies of traders, yet for several days we met no one. A great fear seemed to reign over the whole land.

The third day we found our way obstructed with bamboo spikes, arranged to prevent travellers passing to and fro. These spikes were a cruel weapon, about a foot long, their points hardened in fire, and so planted as to be invisible. One of our bearers was badly injured by them..."

Contents:

INTRODUCTION
I. EXPLORATION OF LOIKAW MISSION
II. EXPLORATION CONTINUED
III. FOUNDING LOIKAW MISSION
IV. THE FIRST CHRISTMAS IN LOIKAW MISSION
V. STORIES OF KAREN CHILD-LIFE
VI. K'SURDO
VII. ENCOUNTERS WITH WILD BEASTS AND SERPENTS
VIII. STORY OF THE YAHDO CHAPEL
IX. THIRTEEN WITCHES
X. PERILS AND PLEASURES
XI. THE MIRACLE OF SENITE
XII. PROVIDENTIAL CARE
XIII. THE MAGIC DOUGHNUT
XIV. A NOTABLE MISSIONARY JOURNEY
XV. THE GOSPEL AND THE SAVAGE BRECS
XVI. HOW WE CAPTURED THE MYANGYOUNG PONGYI




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Product Description
For centuries, Bangkok, Thailand's capital, was a city of boats.To travel from one part of Bangkok to another, the Thai paddled along the Menam river and its' canals.But late in the 19th century, the people adopted Western habits and modernized the city, accordingly.The new city surrounded by high walls has been laid out around the royal palace and the encompassing parks.The modern aspect of Bangkok offers an eclectic contrast to the four hundred Buddhist temples, adorned with gilded spires and roofs of carved teakwood. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Substandard and irrelevant photography
I've got to admit that the reviews below are somewhat misleading. I really have to disagree with the author's husband that the book is "breathtakingly beautiful", and can't understand the other reviewers' comment about the photos being "gorgeous".

In fact, the photography is an utter disappointment, and nowhere close to being what I'd call professional quality.

Focus is weak in far too many photos, and most of them have no compelling centre of interest. This being the case, the reader has to rush to the caption to try to understand the relevance of the photo, and in far too many cases is left puzzled by how the photo is meant to match the description. A good example of this, taken at random, is Photo 110 where the centre of attention, and the only subject in focus, is a man's head poking about a street vendor's cart. In the foreground, a single out-of-focus young girl stands with her back to the camera. The caption, however, reads "Little girls dress up for a New Year's Eve party". I'm afraid that the quality of photography and lack of relevance of the captions are equally bad in the majority of the photos. They really are very disappointing photos.

The writing *is* generally "clear and lucid" (first reviewer), but not what I'd call "beautiful" (second reviewer). It also suffers occasionally from statements that betray the lack of detailed understanding of Thai history and culture ... but to be fair, only country specialists would pick up on most of these inaccuracies. The writing is not the problem with this book.

I would not recommend anyone to buy this book without having a chance to look through the photography and decide for themselves if it is worth the money. Personally, for me it was a great disappointment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Siam Mapped and Ajarn Thongchai
For anyone interested in Southeast Asia, Colonialismm, Nationalism, politics of geography, and Thailand this book is a must read. I only wish I would have been recommended before reading numerous websites slanted in Nationalist Discourses of which this text put back into realistic perspective. This text in fact was important in directing me into a specialization area in my field of Thai/Southeast Asian studies.

For me a Falang(foreigner) the most important thing is that it's written by a Thai scholar. The value of this is priceless in my opinion especially in a Thai context with the level or saturation of the National narrative in Thai society today. As I was once told "Only a Thai would understand" so for all readers but especially Thais this is groundbreaking work.

Original, innovating and refreshing
Thai historian Thongchai Winichakul's account of a critical period in Thai history pairs an originalap proach with thorough academic research. As the subtitle `a History of the Geo-Body of a Nation' already suggests, the book deals with the crucial episode of the formation of Thailand as a nation-state.

Inspired by Imagined Communities, Benedict Anderson's seminal work on nationalism, the author explains in his introduction that he intends to focus his analysis on a by historians much neglected aspect of the spatio-temporal category: geography.

Taking the traditional Buddhist worldview as a starting point, he describes how 19th Century Siam, as Thailand was then called, had to come to terms with the many alien concepts considered commonplace in the science of modern geography. Many of these concepts were to have important political implications.

Deriving its political system from the Buddhist `Mandala model', the Siamese initially had great difficulies coping with the elementary aspects of political geography. Boundaries and more in particular border demarcations were, if not unknown altogether, considered of minor or no importance in the political view of the traditional ruling class. The Siamese were perfectly at ease in dealing with often illdefined and fluid spheres of influence, frontiers and the `thick lines' of the boundary regions separating the indigenous political entities of Southeast Asia. Likewise they saw no contradiction in the double sovereignty under which the territories at the `margins' of the regional kingdoms often fell.

But the Siamese proved to be fast learners and Thonchai quickly dispels the myth that the Siamese were mere victims of or only innocent bystanders at the high political game that was played by the colonial powers in 19th Century Asia. Instead he contends that Siam was very conscious of what was at stake and was just as much a player as Britain or France.

`Siam Mapped' is an innovating, provocative and very refreshing account of a very important phase in the history of Thailand. Already exercising its influence on the further course of research into the development of the Thai national-state, this book is a must-read for anyone with a serious interest in the history of Thailand or nationalism in general. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a thematic contemporary human geography of the ASEAN countries and essentially has been written to fulfil two objectives. First, to present an up-to-date statement covering some of the changes that are currently affecting the countries of the area, and second, to provide an account that gives greater detailed discussion than would normally be found in a general, regional geography. It is for this reason that a thematic approach has been adpoted. In addition, and arising from the objectives that have been set and the approach selected, the book focuses only on the countries of ASEAN, namely Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines. ... Read more