In Thailand the favourite meat is probably fish, closely followed by chicken (though Thai Chinese people tend to favour pork); many a meal is accompanied by a Thai-style omelette (usually studded with minced pork and deep fried), and a fried egg (or “star egg” as it’s known here) is an essential topping for chopped meat stir fried with handfuls of chillies and basil. However, chicken aren’t only appreciated for their eggs and meat. A few months ago I visited the home of former Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj. In the garden there were cages housing decorative chickens – more like bantams, really. Clearly there are people in Thailand who appreciate the prettiness of a nice cock.

Today, travelling to school on the subway, I noticed a man reading a magazine with photographs of beautiful cockerels seemingly in the peak of health. As he turned the pages more and more lovely birds were displayed. Clearly a cock-lover, thought I. Then I caught a headline: “School for Fighting Cockerels”. The beautiful birds featured may well have been ripped to shreds by now in some sordid and barbaric fight for the entertainment of some sick individuals. So sad.

Cock fighting is not against the law in Thailand, though the primary focus of the events isn’t so much the fight as the betting that surrounds it, which is illegal in Thailand (not, of course, that that stops its being widespread).

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To find an image to accompany this Postcard I Googled Google Images for “Thailand Cock” – not an experience I’d recommend. Please burn out my eyes with a red hot poker now.

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