MIA in 2013

Daige ho - Various things have kept me from updating this blog, but I suppose I felt a little nostalgic for Teochew things, so here is another assemblage of videos:

First two travel videos from Thailand. The first "Spirit of Asia" a 25 minute show (pretty high production value I might add!), brings us to Sua:tao where they visit a family with Teochew-Thai folks with relatives in Sua:tao. In Thai (ซัวเถา), the tao in Sua:tao seems to be pronounced with a rising tone. There are English subtitles starting around the 5 minute mark. The second is the narrator's introduction/reflection about the history of Teochews emigrating from Sua:tao to Thailand. His Thai is quite clear! (I'm learning Thai!)





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From Singapore is  the YouTube use "TeochewGaginang" who for a while now has been producing some decent videos about basic Teochew. She speaks in English and teaches the fundamentals from greetings to countings, and colors and what not. This particular video is about being sick.


And lastly a video from China. It's actually taken from a radio program about Teochew phrases. Pretty cool stuff, if not hard to understand because they speak in fast Teochew radio voices. Hope everyone enjoys all these new videos.

Journey to the West: A Comedy in Teochew!

We all know about Sai Iu Gi, aka, Journey to the West with the Monkey King, Sung Ngou Kong. But have you ever watched it in Teochew? I know what you're thinking: I like the story, but its bit boring. Fear not my friends, this version is a comedy! I just saw the first clip and it's hilarious. =) Enjoy, everyone!

Funky Teochew Song from Hong Kong

September - can't believe it's September already. This post is about another group of folks  who are preserving Teochew. This time, in Hianggàng (Hong Kong)! This Teochew language class put together a fun song about Teochew identity and culture. It may be out of tune, but hey, it's the content and spirit that counts right? They did it for New Years I believe, but this song is for any time of year!

Vietnamese learning Teochew

Yes, two blog posts in one day! Check out this set of videos from Youtube user caohydinh of Vietnamese people in Vietnam learning very basic Teochew. Sounds like this is an organized group of mostly young people who are excited about learning Teochew (and getting in touch with their roots if they are TC). Lots of videos of them meeting up, eating, learning Teochew, etc., check them out on caohydinh's youtube acccount!

Kowloon Walled City

I first heard about Kowloon Walled City from a friend who gave me an awesome photo book (City of Darkness) about it. Imagine a 6.5 acre urban jungle, with buildings for days, yet no streets, no cars, only lots of little lanes, footpaths, and alleyways. You could hardly see the sun on most days because this former fort was so jam packed.

The place was something like 70-80% Teochew! Apparently lots of new poor (illegal?) immigrants from Diosua: came to eke out a living in Hong Kong and spent their days in this super dense enclave. Eventually triads, drugs, and prostitution moved in in the 70s and 80s and HK had to demolish it. It must have been a sight to behold - and really dangerous.

Nowadays, it's a big city park - next time I'm in HK, I'd love to visit.

If anyone has any other info to share, I'd love to learn more about the "City of Darkness".