• LIFE

  A land steeped in history

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 24/05/2018

  » Ketsurang, an archaeologist, miraculously travels back in time from the present day to the reign of the Ayutthaya Kingdom's King Narai the Great (1656-1688). She enjoys the traditional way of life and the beauty of many places in Ayutthaya and Lop Buri.

• LIFE

  Absurd Thailand, displayed in Germany

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 31/08/2018

  » Hope, desperation and celebration guide the logic of this paradise. "Absurdity In Paradise" is the title of the first Thai contemporary art exhibition to be displayed at Museum Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany, from today until Oct 28.

• BUSINESS

  Dramatic love for heritage

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 29/03/2018

  » Ketsurang, a plump archaeologist, inadvertently travels back in time from the present day to the reign of the Ayutthaya Kingdom's King Narai the Great (1656-1688) over 300 years ago. Her soul resides in the body of a gorgeous yet mean woman, Karaket, whose soul left her body for hell due to her severe sins. While in the Ayutthaya Kingdom, she is mesmerised by the traditional way of life and the stunning beauty of palaces, temples, rivers, markets and forts. The novel-turned-TV series Bupphesanniwat (Love Destiny) is very popular nationwide and tens of thousands fans flock to Ayutthaya to visit the ancient sites.

• OPINION

  Debunking myth, retelling history

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/10/2015

  » History or patriotic myth? When I first heard of a new book, The Thai History, I thought of nothing but another government effort to build a sense of nationalism among Thais. The 208-page book was written by the Fine Arts Department and launched last Thursday at the National Book Fair.

• TRAVEL

  Home of the Iron Man of Laos

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 05/03/2015

  » When tourists go to the Unesco World Heritage site of Luang Prabang in Laos, many immediately think of the Buddhist temples and simple, yet beautiful way of life. This city also has some beautiful examples of French colonial and Lao vernacular architecture, like the Royal Palace Museum and old palaces like Villa Santi and Xiengkeo Palace.

• OPINION

  A matter of land and rights

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 08/08/2014

  » Last month, I received a letter from a representative of more than 700 residents of five villages in Non Dindaeng district, Buri Ram province, complaining about being evicted from their homes without compensation. According to the letter, the villagers have been living on degraded forestland of Dong Yai Forest for more than four decades and have an official document permitting them to stay on it. They say a number of state officials have been trying to evict them, destroying their crops, cutting their rubber trees and threatening to destroy their rice plants and demolish their houses. The group later petitioned for royal assistance and is awaiting a response.

• TRAVEL

  Dutch treat in Ayutthaya

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 03/07/2014

  » Nestled on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the ruins of the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, next to Wat Phananchoeng and the remains of the old Japanese quarter, is a building of red and white bricks erected in memory of the Dutch settlement which had its headquarters here from the early 17th to the mid-18th century. Opened to the general public last year, Baan Hollanda now serves as an information centre on early Thai-Dutch relations.

• TRAVEL

  Paper tigers

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 24/04/2014

  » Housed in the building of the Press Association of Thailand on Ratchasima Road in Dusit district, the Thai Press Museum is not all that well known among Thais, even journalists. Established more than two decades ago, the Thai Press Museum is a great place to discover the evolution of journalism in Thailand and changes to the publishing industry in Thailand. Also on-site are old newspapers, old printing equipment and tools.

• OPINION

  Age is more than a number

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 02/05/2014

  » Many say that age is just a number. Yet, such numbers can hurt you if your physical and psychological health has become poor and does not allow you to live as happily as before. My deteriorating memory, my excuses about being “a senior” and my referring to the young generation as “people these days” are among the signs of ageing. These “ageing indicators” and my increasingly grey hair make me admit I am already old and must by now prepare myself to ensure my well-being after retirement.

• LIFE

  The write message

  Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/01/2013

  » Recently crowned a National Artist and once voted Thailand's favourite novelist, Tomyantee is a recognisable name even to those who don't read novels. The recognition from the Ministry of Culture came with cheers but probably without surprise; it was only a matter of time before Tomyantee, a grand dame of letters who's been in poor health lately, was awarded the country's most prestigious artistic honour.

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