Showing 1 - 10 of 14
On the run with Toon again
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 31/08/2018
» On Dec 25 last year, the entire nation cheered on Artiwara "Toon" Kongmalai as he crossed the finish line in Mae Sai, the northernmost district of the country. It was the completion of his much-celebrated, and much-debated, 55-day charity run to raise funds for 11 public hospitals. The "Kao Kon La Kao" project covered a distance of 2,215km, starting from the country's southern tip in Betong, Yala, and arriving up north in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. Over 1 billion baht was raised from the run.
Will Nepenthes suratensis make bail?
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 24/06/2015
» Kanchanadit district of Surat Thani province boasts a botanical uniqueness — it is a home to Nepenthes suratensis, a species of tropical pitcher plant endemic to the southern region of Thailand. An exotic, brightly coloured specimen, the plant is also a critically endangered one. Only a few hundred are currently growing in the wild in this area.
Raising the Pride flag
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 31/08/2020
» Alongside anti-government demonstrations, protesters are raising their voice for equality and LGBTI gender rights.
The message of the medium
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/08/2019
» When the chipmunks Chip and Dale sailed into the bustling floating market in the recent viral Disney short Our Floating Dreams, both the world and local people were fascinated by the images of Thai culture. Busy canals and pineapple fried rice brought about onscreen exoticism watched by millions around the world.
Coming to terms
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 20/11/2017
» A man with short hair -- wearing a sarong around his chest the way a woman would -- is seen frolicking alone happily on a crowded beach. Lost in his own world, he seems unfazed by the scrutiny and strange looks from children, women in hijab, and men in skullcap. In the background, the sound of Islamic prayers can be heard.
Screening LGBTI hope in China
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 06/04/2017
» Fan Popo handed out two postcards to those he talked to. One of them has a picture of two women -- both dressed in wedding gowns -- in each others loving embrace. The other was a group picture of drag queen performers.
From the ground up
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 16/05/2016
» A sufficiency economy is a concept very close to Thais' hearts. But, as widely known as it is, not many seem to realise its potential and possible application, especially in the world of business.
Lush life
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 21/09/2020
» As the night descended, we went out with binoculars in hand. Amid tall trees, flashes of light illuminated a pair of red eyes, which experts quickly identified as belonging to nang ai -- or Sunda slow loris -- a nocturnal primate native to southern Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. The animal, perching on a faraway branch, is currently listed as "endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
A zeal for New Zealand
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 07/06/2018
» The sky was gorgeous. That was the first thing I noticed about New Zealand after we left Auckland airport. Just the right shade of blue. The right amount of sunlight and cloud. Underneath the vast blue expanse, rolling green hills stretched as far as the eye could see. We were on our way to Rotorua, a city 230km southeast of Auckland, and luckily we were able to appreciate all the surrounding nature that led us to it. Plenty of sleep onboard Thai Airways' Royal Silk Class meant we landed feeling refreshed, ready to explore all the sights and adventures Rotorua has to offer.
A trip down South
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 13/09/2017
» The audiences looked on eagerly as throngs of classical musicians from the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO), all smartly dressed in black, slowly filed onto the stage of Yala Rajabhat University's auditorium. Once the men and women in black were seated, and the conductor flicked his baton, the first melody struck. The powerful sounds of Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No.5 soon engulfed the hall, filled with locals of Thailand's southernmost province.