Cultural identity relies on tradition. If we lose,
or ignore our traditions, we lose our identity.
‘Morlam’ is an expression of Isan cultural identity.
Isan is the NE region of Thailand.
LAOS SOUP
Morlam is a celebration
Of cultural preservation
A musical presentation
Of Isan lifestyle themes
Passed down as an education
Through every generation
The history of the nation
The hopes, the fears, the dreams
Songs release us from our strife
Fundamental trials of life
Songs release us from our strife
Face each day with a smile
Hardship, poverty and toil
Hardship, poverty and toil
Reap the harvest of the soil
Face each day with a smile
Arom dee – a cheerful mood
Adjustment of our attitude
‘Eat to live; don’t live for food’
Simple fare sustains us
Soup Laos, normai, plar, larb moo
Het fang, somtam, prik khee noo
Kin khap khao-nieow, plar lar, ping noo
Simple fare sustains us
Serb lai derr; aroi mark mark
Serb lai derr; aroi mark mark
Ta wow Laos dai, ko arb park
Te bor wow ‘Bor sanuk’
Ta wow Laos dai, ko arb park
Te bor wow ‘Bor sanuk’
Te bor wow ‘Bor sanuk’
Te bor wow ‘Bor sanuk’
SOUP LAOS
Soup made from leaf and root vegetables,
and seasoned with various herbs and spices.
(served with sticky rice)
NORMAI
Bamboo shoots (served with sticky rice)
PLAR
Fish (served with sticky rice)
LARB MOO
Chopped and seasoned pork – cooked lightly (often eaten raw)
and served with blood and intestinal fluid (and sticky rice)
HET FANG
Mushrooms that grow on the decomposing root and stalk debris,
resulting from the rice harvest (served with sticky rice)
SOMTAM
or PAPAYA POK-POK – The hot, sour and bitter salad,
made from shredded, unripened papaya, seasoned with
fresh lime juice, fish sauce and copious amounts of chillies
(Served with sticky rice)
PRIK KHEE NOO
Small and extremely hot chillies
Literal translation ‘mouse-shit chillies’
KIN KHAP KHAO-NIEOW
‘Eat with sticky rice’
PLAR LAR
or PLAR DEK – A pungent fish sauce, made from the
fermented carcasses of fish, which abound in the rainy season
PING NOO
Barbecued rat (served with sticky rice)
SERB LAI DERR
Isan dialect for ‘very delicious’
AROI MARK MARK
Thai for ‘very delicious’
TA WOW LAOS DAI, KO ARB PARK
‘If you can speak Laos (Isan dialect), then open your mouth’
TE BOR WOW ‘BOR SANUK’
‘But don’t say you’re not happy’
Cultural identity is so precious! It is the heartland of where we have been and the foundation of where we are going. remove it and we remove the spirit of who we are!
ReplyDeleteGreat write!
Britain is suffering a crisis of cultural identity. We're told we shouldn't have one.
ReplyDeleteAnd Britain is losing its soul.
The relationship between cultural identity and food is certainly a thought provoking one. I will enjoy pondering on this. A great piece of writing.
ReplyDeleteProvocative and enlightening. Great piece!
ReplyDeleteThanks to:
ReplyDeletegreyscale territory; We have to know who we are, and if we have unique characteristics, we must preserve them.
anthony north; I guess Britain has been responsible for replacing the cultural idenity of many places worldwide, without offering a suitable alternative. what was it that the sun never set on?
maekitso; we are what we eat, and even our eating habits, enforced or oterwise, identify our origins.
tumblewords;A simple philosophy - live life to the full - wear a smile, and don't complain. It all boils down to self respect and respect for others.
oh this was fun... loved the poem,, and was thrilled to have all the explanations in the footnote... i would have been clueless without it......
ReplyDeleteculture and food, closely intertwined and both vitally important. Britain has been responsible for so much destruction of culture both locally and internationally. We used to have recognisably local foods, much less so nowadays...
ReplyDeleteThanks to:
ReplyDeletepaisley; Typical themes of 'Morlam'. They (local Isan's) were quite surprised I took an interest and wrote it.
crafty green poet; So much to answer for...you're right. as a Brit, I openly acknowledge it, though the damage is already done.
Encouraging to witness tradition and culture in action.
You taught me about a new culture. I am gonna check it out more.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Thanks gautami tripathy;
ReplyDeleteIt's all around me, and I'm, still learning. Hope your research is fruitful.