泰国曼谷官方禁止售卖街边美食

 

Bangkok, Thailand, is known for having some of the best street food in the world. But officials have announced plans to ban food vendors² in an effort to clean up the city.

An assistant to Bangkok’s governor³ told The Nation newspaper the move is meant to improve the appearance, walkability and safety of city streets.

“The street vendors have seized the pavement space for too long and we already provide them space to sell food and other products legally in the market,” the assistant said. “So there will be no let-up in this operation - every street vendor¹ will have to move out.”

Bangkok was recently named the world’s finest street food location for the second year by Cable⁴ News Network (CNN).

Forbes magazine also rated Bangkok number one for its street food. The lifestyle website Thrillist placed it second, behind Singapore.

Even the Tourism Authority⁵ of Thailand put out a video in 2015 that advertised Bangkok’s famous street food.

CNN said it is “impossible to avoid street food in Bangkok.” It noted⁶ that vendors across the city change locations throughout the day to serve as many people as possible.

Vendors can be found in all of Bangkok’s busiest areas. They serve everyone from business people to tourists to local citizens. The chairs and tables are basic. Customers have to deal with Bangkok’s extreme heat and polluted air while they eat. But the tasty food keeps people coming back again and again.

Nont Nontskiul is a financial worker in Bangkok. He lives in a part of the city where street vendors will be some of the first to be removed. He told the Associated Press that, "even people who eat at pricey restaurants every day can't avoid street food. It's faster, tastes better, and costs less than half the price."

Observers⁷ say local officials in Thailand have been strengthened by the military government that has ruled the country since a 2014 coup⁸. It launched⁹ a campaign to “clean up society.” Efforts have included crackdowns on corrupt¹⁰ politicians, drugs and gambling¹¹.

Critics of the street food clean-up campaign say low-income people – including food vendors and their customers -- will be most affected¹² by the ban. They have called on the government to do more to help the vendors keep their businesses going in a legal way.

Ubolwattana Mingkwan is a coffee vendor in Bangkok. She charges 85 cents for a cup of coffee. She says she cannot afford the cost of rent required to do business in a government-approved area.

"I've asked city officials for help and understanding," she told the Associated Press. "All they say now is 'no, no, no.' They've already received their orders."

An opinion article in the Bangkok Post said the ban will hurt working-class people.

The writer of the article wrote, “While many seem worried that Bangkok ‘charm¹³’ will be wiped from the tourism map, I’m more worried about the disappearance¹⁴ of affordable¹⁵ food choices for average men and women, especially low-income earners.”

Words in This Story

vendor – n. person who sells something outside

walkability – adj. how easy something is for a person to walk through

pavement – n. the hard surface of a road

basic – adj. not including anything special or extra

crackdown – n. attempt to stop activities or punish people for doing something that is now allowed

gambling – n. to risk money while taking part in a game, race or competition

income – n. money a person earns from working

charm – n. a quality that makes something very likeable or attractive

affordable – adj. something with a price most people can pay

1 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

2 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 governor   

n.统治者，地方长官(如省长，州长，总督等)

参考例句：

• The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters.这位州长是搪塞新闻记者的能手。
• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。

4 cable   

n.缆绳，索；电缆；电报；vt.电汇，打电报

参考例句：

• Don't forget to cable us as soon as you arrive.别忘了一到就给我发个电报。
• The worker attached a cable.工人连接电缆。

5 authority   

n.当局，官方；权力，权威，威信；当权者

参考例句：

• He is recognized internationally as an authority in this field.国际上承认他是这方面的一个权威。
• Professor White is looked upon as an authority on mathematics.怀特教授被看成数学权威。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 observers   

n.观察者( observer的名词复数 )；遵守者；观测者；目击者

参考例句：

• According to observers, the plane exploded shortly after take-off. 据目击者说，飞机起飞后不久就爆炸了。
• Some military observers fear the US could get entangled in another war. 一些军事观察家担心美国会卷入另一场战争。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

9 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

10 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

11 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 charm   

vt.使着迷，使陶醉；n.招人喜欢之处，魅力

参考例句：

• With all imperfections the short play has a real charm.尽管有不少缺欠，这出小戏仍颇具魅力。
• He could resist her charm no longer.他再也抗拒不住她的魅力。

14 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

15 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。