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Banned Book List: Bangkok Inside and Out

Posted by Stuart at 08:53 PM on February 09, 2007

According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the official name of Bangkok is the longest place name in the world. In Thai language, it is something like: Krungthep Mahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilokphop Noppharatratchathani Burirom-udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiya Witsanu Kamprasit.

Or, in English: "The city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam."

(We'll save the discussion about why the name of the capital of a Buddhist country invokes Hindu gods for another time.)

A year or so ago, an excellent book about Bangkok was published, called Bangkok Inside and Out and then was promptly banned in Thailand. Apparently, someone at the Ministry of Culture was offended by parts of the book. But as far as I can tell, the only crime that the book commits is that it is too honest.

It's a cleverly designed book, with one short essay and one big glossy artistic photo on each of 60 different topics that describe real life in the City of Angels. Real life, as everyone knows, is usually not very pretty, and this book shows it for what it is, dirty soi dogs and dirtier khlongs included.

A list of the best topics make for an accurate description of Bangkok: Amulets, Beauty Pagents, Buses, Chao Isaan, Chatuchak, Chinatown, DIY Dining, Durian, Farang, Fortune Tellers, Gambling, Gay, Hawkers, Hi-So/Lo-So, Karaoke, Kathoey, Khaosan Road, Khlong, Khlong Toey, Krating Daeng, Land of Smiles, Lottery, Lumphini, Luuk Kreung, Massage, MBK, Mobile Phones, Monarchy, Motosai, Muay Thai, Nana, Patpong, Pharmacies, Pollution, Sanuk, 7-Eleven, Sky Train, Soi Dogs, Street Food, Tabloids, Taxis, Thonburi, Touts & Gem Scams, Traffic, Uniforms, Urban Elephants, Whisky Coke & Ice, and Yaa Baa.

Yup, that pretty much sums it up!