Andrew Walker’s groundbreaking book The Legend of the Golden Boat has made a significant contribution to the study of border trade regulation in the upper Mekong area for more than a decade now. It is not my intention here to do provide a book review, but rather to keep the readers of New Mandala up to date with what has happened since the Golden Boat was published. There are several points that need to be revisited and updated. Of course, the firm establishment of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) has been a crucial factor in altering trading conditions. I will spend the next few weeks (under the “Golden Boat Update” heading) posting on several selected issues revolving around Mekong border trade. I will focus on the trade route between Chiang Khong in Thailand, and Houaysai and Luang Prabang in Laos. Also the lives and work of the Lao long-distance river traders will be brought into light. It is another revised and updated chapter that is needed to bring “the legend of the Golden Boat” to the present day. Please stay tuned.
Golden Boat update 1
November 27th, 2006 by Jakkrit Sangkhamanee, Guest Contributor · 4 Comments
Tags: Focus on Laos · Laos · Publications · Thailand
4 responses so far ↓
1 New Mandala » Golden Boat update 2: The “legend” of Wat Luang Port in Chiang Khong // Nov 29, 2006 at 9:14 am
[...] (Go to Golden Boat update 1.) [...]
2 Matt Wheeler // Nov 29, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I look forward to reading your posts on this fascinating area and keeping current with the issues raised in Dr Walker’s excellent book.
3 New Mandala » Golden Boat update 4: the rise of the customs brokers // Dec 17, 2006 at 11:47 am
[...] Go to Golden Boat update 1, update 2 and update 3. [...]
4 New Mandala » The Golden Boat update 5: shopkeeping on the borderline // Dec 21, 2006 at 9:03 am
[...] Go to Golden Boat update 1, update 2, update 3 and update 4. [...]
Leave a Comment
Please note: New Mandala encourages vigorous debate. However, for the moment we will only be publishing high-quality comments that make original contributions to discussion. There will, of course, still be space for pithy, humorous, eccentric and cheeky input. Short and sweet will usually trump long and involved. Repetitive ranting, unimaginative point-scoring and idle abuse will not be entertained. Comments which carry a real name are also more likely to be approved. Thank you for your ongoing interest and contributions.