Planking comes to Thailand | Bangkok Post: learning

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Celebriity plankers gain the most attention here in Thailand, but anyone can take part as long as they do it safely.

One of the celebrity plankers featured in a video promoting democracy.

Click button to listen to Planking and rightclick to download

Planking comes to Thailand

Patcharapa 'Aum' Chaichuea and Nawat 'Pong' Kulrattanarak

It didn’t take long before the latest fad known as planking came to Thailand.

It has become so popular so quickly partly because it is so easy, but mostly because of the internet.

If you don’t know already, planking participants lie flat with their face down in unusual locations, especially in public, with their hands at their sides.  There, they are photographed and the pictures are posted on the internet.

Not surprisingly, this is something celebrities love to get involved in. Of course, one of the first to post a planking photo here was politician Chuwit Kamolvisit who demonstrated his skills while he was electioneering in Si Racha, Chon Buri.

Patty-list candidate Chuwit Komolvist was quick to post this planking photo on his Facebook spate

Not far behind was actress Patcharapa ‘‘Aum’’ Chaichuea, who was pictured in Thai Rath suspended board-like in the arms of actor Nawat ‘‘Pong’’ Kulrattanarak.

Soon, an internet forum had gathered images of up to a dozen local stars planking in unusual places, including the top of a bus, a seat in front of a 7-Eleven, and a patio table.

Within a day half a dozen media outlets had picked up on the story, publishing images of ordinary Thais planking in the middle of a busy street, on a public stairwell, at a mass aerobics session, on top of a pavement sign, outside a bank and on a Skytrain platform.

Video: Celebrity plankers promote democracy

Teenagers are the most avid plankers and that has upset culture watchdog Ladda Tangsupachai.

She says teens are likely to choose ever stranger and more unusual places for their planking exploits, which could put their safety at risk.

Don’t get carried away as you plank, said Ms Ladda. ‘‘You might see your idols planking, but don’t rush to imitate them, she warned.

I don’t want tragedies to take place because of some fad.’’

Adapted from various stories in the Bangkok Post..

celebrity – a famous person, especially in entertainment or sports ผู้มีชื่อเสียง, ผู้โด่งดัง
fad – something that is popular or fashionable only for a short time กระแสนิยม แฟชั่นสมัยนิยม
popular – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people เป็นที่นิยม, เป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
participant – someone who takes part in something ผู้เข้าร่วม
location – where someone or something is ที่ตั้ง,ทำเล
involved – taking part or having a role in something เกี่ยวข้อง
demonstrate – to show something or explain how it works สาธิต
skill – the ability to do something well, usually as a result of experience and training ฝีมือ
electioneering– the activity of making speeches and visiting people to try to persuade them to vote for a particular politician or political party กิจกรรมหาเสียงของพรรคการเมือง
suspend – to hang something from something else ห้อย   
board – a long thin piece of strong hard material, especially wood, used, for example, for making floors, building walls and roofs and making boats กระดาน
image – a photograph, painting, or other work of art that represents a person or thing รูปภาพ
patio – a flat hard area outside, and usually behind, a house where people can sit  นอกชาน ลานบ้าน
media outlets – newspaper, television, radio companies, etc.
ordinary – not unusual or different in any way ธรรมดา, ปกติ
stairwell – the area containing the sets of stairs in a building form the bottom to the top level ปล่องบันได
mass – large numbers จำนวนมาก
aerobics – physical exercises intended to make the heart and lungs stronger, often done in classes, with music  แอโรบิก, การออกกำลังที่ช่วยให้หายใจเอาออกซิเจนเข้าสู่ร่างกายได้มากขึ้น
session – a period of time that is spent doing a particular activity
pavement – a path with a hard surface beside a road. The American word is sidewalk ทางเดิน, ฟุตบาท
platform – an area next to a railway track where passengers get onto and off trains ชานชาลา
party list – a system that gives each party in an election a number of seats in relation to the number of votes its candidates receive ระบบสัดส่วน, ระบบปาร์ตี้ลิสต์
candidate – a person who is trying to be elected ผู้สมัครรับเลือกตั้ง
avid - extremely eager or interested  กระตือรือร้น
upset – to cause to be very worried, angry or sad about something   ทำให้วิตกกังวล ทำให้หงุดหงิด
watchdog – an organisation or person that works to stop people from doing dangerous or illegal things ผู้จ้องจับผิด
exploit – a brave, exciting or interesting act การกระทำที่กล้าหาญ
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
carried away – to get very excited or lose control of your feelings ว่าวติดลม
idol – a person or thing that is loved and admired very much  คนหรือสิ่งที่ได้รับความชื่นชมหรือคลั่งไคล้อย่างมาก
rush – to move or do something very quickly รีบเร่ง, วิ่ง
imitate – to copy something เลียนแบบ
tragedy – a very sad event that causes people to suffer or die โศกนาฏกรรม

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