Thai Culture (1)
Thai Culture (1) When I moved to Nakhon Ratchasima, in 2002, it stroked me that many older woman were carrying a basket. My first thought was that they are "poor" farmers and were carrying a basket instead of a purse. One day, I was invited at a "House Blessing" party, and there were a lot of granny's with their basket. I looked at the baskets, and they had almost all the same contents: Betel leaves; Areca nuts; Limestone paste; A small Mortar and Pestle; A cutter; and some plastic bags. The granny's were grouped together and mixing these ingredients to a paste. Passing some ingredients to each other to try something new. When finished, they wrapped the paste in a small leaf and started chewing on it. Looking at their faces, they enjoyed it. But when they opened their mouth, their teeth had become red. Just like their gums were bleeding. The next day, at my home, I saw the same basket as they day before in the room where the mother of my wife had been sl...