Showing 1 - 10 of 33
How to make transit truly for the masses
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/03/2016
» Monday is always the source of predicaments. Last Monday, especially, was chaos for many Bangkokians. No, we're not talking about Gen Prayut's birthday, even though it fell on the same day. What happened last Monday was the infamous Airport Rail Link (ARL) incident. And all the news and headlines have already informed you of how over 700 passengers were stuck inside a train for an hour due to electrical problems, leaving them practically suffocated under Bangkok's trapped heat.
School system still full of oppression
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 13/07/2020
» If a student's hair could talk, every single strand would probably ask: "Why are you so obsessed with me?" in its best Regina George impression.
Conforming to outrageous type
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 18/01/2016
» Queer men are fun. I think that's the general consensus many can agree on, no matter how stereotypical that claim may sound. Look at the rainbow glam, the pride marches and the fancy parades. They are often the stars of the party. They dance with passion. They bring a big, entertaining laugh to TV shows. That's how queer men are often portrayed, very stereotypically so by the Thai media.
This carefully plotted soap opera called life
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/12/2015
» During the last three-day weekend, many of us were stuck at home while half the country was out travelling. At least it wasn't too boring. We had Father's Day on Saturday and political corruption and TV dramas to occupy ourselves with during the brief no-work period.
When celebrities fall from the pedestal
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 29/10/2014
» When all you are exposed to is the glitz and glamour of celebrities' lives, you tend to forget that what you see is far from reality and behind the scenes, celebrities' lives, like anyone's, are full of secrets.
Love me or leave me
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 25/09/2014
» When you think of parental love, the word "unconditional" is usually attached to it somewhere in the context. Lately, I'm starting to wonder if that unconditional nature is being practiced in every family, especially for the ones with LGBT children.
Will we learn from the pandemic?
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 04/05/2020
» I don't think any of us could have anticipated that we would be where we are now. A year ago, or even months ago, nobody would have thought it possible for a modern society like ours to be hit by a pandemic on a level that seemed to exist only in the long-gone past and in movies. Panic buying. Toilet paper hoarding. Convenience stores no longer open 24/7. People ordering hair clippers online to cut their own hair. Face masks becoming a necessary entry pass for most public venues. They're now normal. A new normal, so to speak. Life has surely changed a lot.
Humanity vs nature
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/12/2019
» 'Let's go to Khao Yai," a friend recently suggested via text. Along with her invitation, she attached a picture of a woman sitting amid beautiful flowers, clouded with faded hipster filter. It was an online review saying a blossoming garden in a Khao Yai resort was now open to all visitors for free. The sight of the gorgeous winter flowers drew me in. I said yes.
Human cruelty for a false belief
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 07/10/2019
» Would you pay to set something free? A poor, small creature locked away in confinement perhaps? From behind bars, its eyes meet yours as if to say: "Save me." So delicate. So pitiful. And if you do nothing, who knows what's going to happen to it? You take your wallet out. Hand over a few bills to the seller, who has handful of cages on him. And soon you let it go. Be it bird, fish, turtle or other. Fly free. Swim free.
The eyes can lie
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 05/08/2019
» Thai people are considerably kind. We like making merit to help unfortunate souls. And especially in an era when everyone can easily connect through social media, the ways of merit-making have changed and expanded even further. From previously making physical donations at temples and charities, people now reach out to help individuals -- many times a stranger -- they see online. Pictures of sick dogs, cats, humans, or even a call for blood donations appear on our Facebook feeds often on a weekly basis. The plea for help -- coupled with touching stories and photos -- always tugs at our heartstrings. And it doesn't take long for many of us to lend a helping hand, mostly through making a swift donation to help with the cause.