Thai White Elephant

Many Asian cultures have regarded fatness as a sign of wealth, however with the advent of 7/11 consumerism obesity is fast becoming a health issue for the region. The Thais like to joke about fat people, whom they call 'chang-nois' or little elephants and have yet to make the connection between mega-supermarkets, 7/11, fast food and obesity.

"Why are farangs so fat?" Many Thais ask me.

"Pepsi. KFC. Lotus." I never mention beer, but refer to the sacred white elephants of the king, "Fat farangs same as chang noi si khao."

"Same?"

"Yes, Thai lady have fat farang and she has good luck." The tradition of white elephants date back to the birth of Siddhartha whose mother dreams about a white elephant giving her a lotus flower symbolizing purity.

"Chang si khao good luck and bad luck." My father-in-law has an uncommon perception for traditions which his wife blames of drinking lao-khao or rice whiskey. "Not have many white elephant. But white elephant can not work. Only can eat. Same as farang."

"Farangs work." I've been working since I was 12.

"Never see farang work rice paddy." Den consider farming the only honorable work left to a man. "And white elephant not white. More pink."

"Where you see one?"

"Friend have one. He have to give king. No money. Bad luck more." Den has no need for money. He lives in the rice paddies protecting his cattle from rustlers. A package of tobacco, a little rice whiskey, and he was a happy man. "But good luck for king. He have many white elephants and Thai ladies have many chang-nois. Everyone happy."

"Even chang-noi?"

"Even chang noi."

As I said before, Den is a happy man so he knows happy.