Thai riddle
 

Think you know Thailand, her customs and her people? Test your knowledge by solving the riddle below:

A king meets a peasant and asks what he does with his surplus. The peasant replies:

Your Majesty, all the money I am able to save, after paying the expenses of our frugal household, I divide into four parts. The first I bury in the ground; the second I use to pay my creditors, the third I fling into the river; and the fourth and last part I give to my enemy.

The king asks the peasant to explain his strange behaviour and is told:

What was the king told? Try to finish the story, using your knowledge about the life and customs of average Thai people. I give you a couple hints, and then post the rest of the story later.

Hint 1: Keep in mind that the peasant is a man.
Hint 2: Each answer should be a characteristic Thai behavior.
Hint 3: Don't take it too seriously! It is an old Thai riddle, and Thais like fun. http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...ons/tounge.gif

Good luck! http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...cons/smile.gif

Very cute, very Thai.

Wow, nice thinking Makiyo, you are so close na! ... http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...ons/tounge.gif

I'll post the rest of the story next week, so there is still some time for others to overcome shyness and post their own version.

What's the answer? http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...icons/rock.gif

The king asks the peasant to explain his strange behaviour and is told:

The money I bury in the ground is the money I spend on alms and making merit. The money I give to my creditors is what it costs me to keep my father and mother, to whom I owe everything I have. The money I fling into the river is the money I spend on gambling and drink and opium; and the money I give to my enemy is the money I give to my wife.

(Siamese Tales Old and New, A. le May's translation, London, 1930)

See Makiyo? So close...http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/imag...lies/smile.png

Parents, wife (wives?), vices and merit. Uniquely Thai. http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...ons/tounge.gif

Yeah, I know. See Hint 3 above. http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...ons/tounge.gif

Yeah http://www.thailandguidebook.com/iB_...ns/biggrin.gif I was pretty close... Should have seen the parents one though...slipped my mind.

First - Fertilizer, seeds?
Second - rent? allowance for the wife?
Third - religious offerings? buying liquor, drinking then puking into the river?
Fourth - Taxes?

So his wife is his enemy? that's not very nice.