Empty Mortar, Sagging Boobs, and How a Clean Heart Aids Fermentation

Some antiquated Thai superstitions would have been amusing had they not kept people from learning things

The Thai saying mai chuea ya lop lu (ไม่เชื่ออย่าลบหลู่), which translates to “(it’s fine if you) don’t believe; (just) don’t be disrespectful,” is used by many—most often in the context of spiritual, metaphysical, or superstitious matters—as a catchall response to inquiries about their beliefs. When someone says it to you, they mean: I choose to believ…