check it out: http://lakbai.com/2010/01/21/mint-singapores-toy-museum/
Stacey´s last blog ..The Open Caged Monkey Forest of Ubud in Bali Indonesia

I’m often ignorant… but I hope I’m not stupid… too often anyway… hah!

(This comes from commenting after only getting 3 hours of sleep last night and an average of 4 hours all week)

I really should not have detailed the lack of qualities at all.

What I was trying to say is that I feel people should taken at face value, not as a race or nationality.

And I realise that it is difficult sometimes because there are elements that you can pin on a percentage and be ballpark correct.

Like… Engineers being tidy, compared to Geologists who are not…

Ok, I’m going to take a nap now…
Catherine´s last blog ..Learn Thai on the Paknam Web Network

When I first saw the black figures, I had the same mindset you did. I thought they were copying the negroids of North America as they were so similar to the gollywogs that are now… illegal (?). Certainly they are not considered ‘politically correct’.

A wee rant…

I left the west before all this ‘politically correct’ cacca came into being. It started first in the US. Then, about ten years after, it took over the UK too.

And it has not make a lick of differnce in anyones way of thinking, either. Those who hold hate towards others will always hate.

I am not a prejudice person. Those that are lazy, ignorant, sloppy, etc… are found in all nationalities. So if I am prejudice at all, you could say it is against those lacking redeeming qualities.

And this is partly because I was not raised in a prejudice household. My father lost two strips because he kicked a guy out of his car in 30° below weather when the guy made derogatory comments against a black colleague.

‘I’d like to grab me a gun and shoot a Xxx every day. It’d be just like huntin rabbits’.

My father’s act was deemed ‘endangering a life’. I thought he was taking a needed, moral stand, so I applauded him for it.

But I don’t go for all this tip-toeing around. Actions such as taking Aunt Jemima off the syrup bottles have me shaking my head with the silliness of it all.

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Company_Mascots

Mini rant over…

And that’s why the Thai version had me smiling as well as little bit of eyebrow raising. And of course, I wanted to know more

If you ask some Thais about the black figures, they will say that they don’t know, or that the figures are for good luck. If you are very lucky, you will be told that the figures are the ‘Original People’ of Thailand.

Without the name ‘Original People’, you will not have much to go on.

On a side note… I realise that not eveyone enjoys the ThaiVisa forum, but if you have questions such as this, it is a total goldmine of information. With what you can find there, you can branch out to find more. But getting the right keywords is an important start.
Catherine´s last blog ..Learn Thai on the Paknam Web Network

Excuse the pun but on a darker note I have seen some Pattaya bar girls shout rude obscenities at black males who have passed by their bars. The girls probably didn’t see it as racism but to a westerner it certainly was. I love the top photo, if the smile was a grimace then it would look just like Wilai’s mother.
Martyn´s last blog ..Thailands Flights – 10 Ways to Beat the Long Haul

I had never heard of the Mani before and would love to see what you gathered.

The black people depicted in the photos (especially the second from the bottom) are called by many names.

Ngoh Pah, Mani, Sekai, and the ‘Original People’. They are the Black people of Thailand, so yes, they are negroid.

Hopefully Talen can dig out my previous comment…
Catherine´s last blog ..Learn Thai on the Paknam Web Network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mani_people

http://www.phuketmagazine.com/html/PM%20Issues/Vol.10.4/The_Mani.htm

If you look at the Mon people in Thailand, you will see similar facial features.

If you really want to blow your mind, take a serious look at the Cambodian Buddhas…

It goes on further, much further. I did intend to write a post on WLT, but as it is a controversial theory, I did not feel confident writing about the subject.

The Thais of today use the black figures for good luck. They are often put in places of worship just like other items (I have photos here).

I spent several days throwing research into one file, so if anyone wants a copy, I’ll send it via email.
Catherine´s last blog ..Learn Thai on the Paknam Web Network

I’ve heard many things in regards to English teachers in Thailand. Everything I’ve heard and read suggests that they prefer white native English speakers and give every one else a hard time except for female Filipino English teachers.

I could be very wrong but it seems the English teaching profession in Thailand is very guarded and even the white teachers seem to have a prejudice against them at times.

I only know what I’ve seen and heard from Thai’s regarding people of color and it’s always been positive towards western black people but very negative against some other cultures. There is always the chance that I’ve gotten it wrong and have only seen what Thai’s have wanted me to see.

Finally just one small point regarding the Thai attitude to black people. I am sure many of your black countrymen who have tried to get a teaching job here in LOS might not agree with you about Thais not being racist to “black men” from overseas since I have read several accounts on teaching English boards about this problem.
Mike´s last blog ..Katheoy, Kathoeys or Third Gender -What Happened to the Iron Ladies?