The Tai Lues in Yunnan Also Say “Suasdei”

I was visiting on Lao forum this morning and accidentally found a Youtube video on Tai Lue new year. FYI, the “Tai Lues” are one of the Tai tribes in Yunnan, Southern China. They share very similarity to the Thais and Laotians, in terms of language, belief, system of writing, music, architecture, and the like.

What struck me in the video was that the Tai Lues also use “Suasdei,” the Cambodian word for “Hello,” in greetings. In many ways, their language seems to be a combination of Khmer and Thai/Lao together. For instance, they would say “Suasdei Pee Mai” to mean “Happy New Year,” instead of “Sawadee Pee Mai” or “Sabaidee Pee Mai” as in Thai or Lao respectively.

My question is whether “Suasdei” is a real Khmer word. If so, could the Tai Lues’ use of “Suasdei” be a result of Cambodia’s past cultural dominance over the area? If I’m not wrong, our boundary wasn’t that far north back in the days of the Angkorian Empire.

Please watch the following video clip to get a better sense of what I’m talking about. It’d be interesting to hear your comments on the issue. Cheers!

Shot of the Week: The Bean

This is the Bean or Cloud Gate, a famous public sculpture from Millennium Park in Downtown Chicago. I took this during my visit to the city in early January this year. I used selective color on this one, leaving only the color in the reflection.

Barang Singing Khmer National Anthem

ពីនេះពីនោះ From Royal Plowing Ceremony 2008

Anticipating a great photo op, I decided to tag along with Dad to the Royal Plowing Ceremony at Veal Preah Meru (វាលព្រះមេរុ) this morning. As a matter of fact, I used to see it only on TV before. It was really awesome to witness it live for the first time. Unbelievably colorful. I’m loving it! Yay!

Let’s see what I got from the day! Cheers!

Morning Procession. The ceremony started with a breathtaking procession from the Royal Palace to Veal Preah Meru – where the ceremony was held. Presiding over the ceremony were His Majesty the King and hundreds of officials, dignitaries, diplomatic corps and the public.

David Cook: The New American Idol

If you’ve been closely following this year’s American Idol this year, you should know who this dude is. Receiving 12 million votes, he is this year’s American Idol!

Honestly I’ve been a fan of his since the start of the season. He has a voice of a rock star! His voice is so versatile that it allows him to sing almost any types of rock. In fact listening to him reminds me of Chris Daughtry, another singer I like who was the fourth finalist from two seasons ago.

Way to go, David! I wish you all the best in your entertainment career! I have no doubt you’ll be the next BIG STAR!

David singing Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby.” Isn’t his voice great? I thought this version is way better that Mariah’s.

Cook’s version of Lionel Richie’s all-time favorite “Hello”

The American Idol Result Announcement. Exciting moment for David.

Shot of the Week: Hammock on Monivong

Cheung Ek Genocide Memorial

33 years have passed, yet sad memories remain. 

In Cambodia, today is the national “Day of Anger.” Held annually since the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, this Day is a reminder of Cambodia’s most recent tragic past – a past we try yet cannot really put behind. It marks the lost of millions of innocent souls to the bloody hands of Pol Pot and his cronies, whose rule did nothing but brought Cambodia into ruin.

Realizing the Day’s historical importance, today I decided to make my first pilgrimage to Cheung Ek Genocidal Museum, where the Day of Anger’s largest commemoration ceremony was held.

Located 15 km southwest of Phnom Penh, this is where the Khmer Rouge’s worst mass killings occurred. It is here where more than 17,000 civilians, most of whom prisoners from Tuol Sleng, were executed and buried alive in mass graves.

As stated on the Museum’s information board, back in the days the Khmer Rouge would bring two or three truckloads of prisoners here each month. When arrived, prisoners would be kept in a dark dungeon (no longer found today) for another 24 hours before they were killed by a blow on the head or a slit in the throat. The board also reported that there were separate graves for men, women and children. Interesting enough, former friends of Pol Pot who were executed here also had separate graves.