Phaic Tăn
Phaic Tăn: Sunstroke on a Shoestring
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| Author | Tom Gleisner; Santo Cilauro; Rob Sitch |
|---|---|
| Country | Australian |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Fictional country |
| Genre | Travel; comedy |
| Publisher | Jetlag Travel |
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Publication date
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2004 |
| Pages | 256 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 60453721 |
| A827.4 22 | |
| LC Class | PN6231.T7 C57 2004 |
| Preceded by | Molvanîa |
| Followed by | San Sombrèro |
| Phaic Tăn | |
|---|---|
| Phaic Tăn: Sunstroke on a Shoestring location | |
| Other name(s) | Kingdom of Phaic Tăn |
| Created by | Tom Gleisner; Santo Cilauro; Rob Sitch |
| Genre | Parody |
| Type | Monarchy |
| Notable locations | Bumpattabumpah (capital) |
| Anthem | Rong Ki |
| Language(s) | Phaic Tănese |
| Currency | P'ting (100 P'tong) |
Phaic Tăn (subtitled Sunstroke on a Shoestring) is a parody travel guidebook examining imaginary country Phaic Tăn. The book was written by Australians Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro, and Rob Sitch. It is the effective sequel to Molvanîa, which was also published by Jetlag Travel and written by Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro, and Rob Sitch.
The Kingdom of Phaic Tăn is a composite creation of a number of stereotypes and clichés about Indochinese countries.
Phaic Tăn is said to be situated in Indochina. Place names in Phaic Tăn initially seem to be Vietnamese or Thai, but they form English language puns, hence the capital is called "Bumpattabumpah" ("bumper to bumper"). "Phaic Tăn" can be read as "Fake Tan". Also, the districts are the mountainous "Pha Phlung" ("far flung"), the infertile "Sukkondat" ("suck on that"), the hyper "Buhng Lunhg" ("bung lung"; Australian slang 'bung', meaning 'failed'), and the exotic "Thong On".
The country was formerly a colony of France, but was liberated in the early 20th century through student and Communist uprisings. A Marxist dictatorship under Chau Quoc continued until his death in 1947, which prompted the country to launch into a lengthy civil war. Eventually a CIA-backed coup ("Operation Freedom") made the country into a military dictatorship which it remains to this day. The country has a popular royal family, though the current king has been deposed no fewer than 25 times.
Like Molvanîa, the humour of the book comes from the guide's attempts to present Phaic Tăn as an attractive, enjoyable country when it is really little more than a squalid, third-world dump. The country is frequently plagued by monsoons and earthquakes and many armed militia groups still patrol the streets.
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