My Ride, I Love You

  [41] Saengtai - Literally “Southern Lights.”

  [42] Sao Kruea Fah - (also often spelled Sao Krua Fah) is a Thai fictional story adapted from Madama Butterfly. It was made into many versions of stage plays and movies.

  [43] Roast Red Pork - Also called Chinese Roast Pork or Chinese Barbecue Pork, a pork recipe from Cantonese cuisine. In Thailand, it is a popular topping for rice or noodles.

  [44] Hia - A modern Chinese loanword in Thai, meaning “big bro,” an affix used to address or refer to an older individual who is Chinese or of Chinese descent. Can be used as a standalone pronoun.

  [45] Mek - means “cloud” while Mork means “fog.” In Thai, we sometimes put the two words together to form a compound word “mekmork” for idiomatic or rhyming purpose.

  [46] Phu Khao Thong Temple - (Golden Mountain Temple) The nickname of Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan (normally shortened to Wat Saket.)

  [47] Phra Mae Kongka - The Thai version of Ganga, Hindu goddess of water.

  [48] Some people believe floating a shared krathong is a symbolic gesture of a promise to stay together until death do them part or, for some people, a wish to be partners again in the next life even after death.

  [49] From Bangkok to Rangsit - Tawan’s personal metaphor. The actual road distance on the map ranges from 40 km (~25 miles) to 50 km (~30 miles) depending on where you start and the route you take.

  [50] Hoy Tord - Thai Crispy Pan Fried Mussels With Eggs, also known as Fried Mussel Omelette or Crispy Mussel Pancake. A dish made with mussels, batter, eggs, and bean sprouts, usually served with chilli sauce. Another famous variation uses oysters instead of mussels.

  [51] Phat Thai - Stir-Fried Rice Noodles With Tamarind Sauce. A dish made with rice noodles, firm tofu, eggs, tamarind sauce, bean sprouts, and shrimps or other variations of meat, usually served with a lime wedge and ground roasted peanuts.

  [52] Jaturong Kha Sannibat - (Fourfold Assembly) Refers to a specific set of Buddhism events on Makha Bucha Day (also spelled Magha Puja Day) which occurred in a happenstance.

  [53] Turtle Whiskers and Rabbit Horns - A Thai equivalent of turtle fur and rabbit horns (also written “rabbit horns and turtle fur.”) A Buddhism metaphor of things that don’t exist or beyond grasp. Often used in referring to an unreasonable or impossible expectation or request.

  [54] Isan - Northeastern region of Thailand.

  [55] Indra - A deity in Hinduism and Buddhism. Since he’s a deity who resides in heaven, “having an audience with Indra” is a widely used colloquial expression meaning dozing off (and seeing the deity in the dream).

  [56] Puu - (ปู่ /pùː/) Refers to a grandfather or a great uncle from the father side of one’s family.

  [57] Mae Ya - “แม่ย่า” Can be translated to “Granny Mama.” A mashed up word consisting of two Thai kinship terms, Mae (แม่ /mɛ̂ː/ mother) and Ya (ย่า /jâː/ paternal grandmother). Although in this story, Mork invents the word, it exists in Northern Thai dialect and means paternal grandmother or husband’s mother.

  [58] Mae Yai - “แม่ยาย” A Central Thai compound word, commonly used to refer to the mother of one’s wife. “Yai” (ยาย /jāːj/) means a maternal grandmother.

  [59] Metro - Metropolitan Rapid Transit, commonly called MRT, is Bangkok’s mass rapid transit system. Most of the stations and the rails are underground.

  [60] Mor - (หมอ /mɔ̌ː/) Doctor. Children sometimes address or refer to a person by using an honorific or a kinship term along with the person’s occupation. For example, P'Mor (big bro doctor), Loong Mor (uncle doctor), Pa Mor (aunty doctor), or Khun Mor (Mr./Ms. doctor, which is used by grownups as well).

  [61] NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

  [62] PICU - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

  [63] Phaeng Ma - A famous mountain which is a tourist attraction in Khao Yai National Park.

  [64] Pa - (ป้า /pâː/) Kinship term meaning mother’s or father’s older sister, or a person who’s older than one’s parent(s).

  [65] Cotton Fruit - (also called santol) Some people believe that cotton fruit will become sweeter and more delicious if it is kneaded or hit repeatedly before peeling or cutting up for eating.