Showing 11 - 20 of 33
True costs only Bangkokians know
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 28/09/2018
» Have you noticed that somethings in life come with hidden costs -- monetary or otherwise -- that we may not be aware of until we experience it? And some of them are pretty unique to the Bangkok way of life. If you're not sure what I'm getting at, take a look at the examples below that may make you nod along (or hopefully laugh along). g
How Thai Chinese are you?
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 16/02/2018
» As the editor (and the Thai-Chinese token of this magazine), I would like to celebrate Chinese New Year with a fun test to gauge how Thai-Chinese you are. I mean, according to Theraphan Luangthomkun's Language, Nation And Development In Southeast Asia, it was estimated that there are about 26 million Thais of full or partial Chinese descent. So, Happy Chinese New Year to about 40% of the Thai population, I guess.
True or April Fool?
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 31/03/2017
» To celebrate April Fools' Day (Apr 1) and prepare you for the barrage of hoaxes and false news, I've come up with a quiz to help you practise your discerning between true or false. Here are seven either unbelievable-but-true or outright fake stories that have happened in Thailand.
10 Good Deeds You Can Do without (Almost) Killing a Turtle
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 10/03/2017
» A sea turtle, nicknamed Omsin (piggy bank), recently underwent a seven-hour surgery to remove 915 coins weighing about 5kg from her stomach. How did these coins find their way into Nong Omsin's stomach in the first place, I hear you ask? Well, apparently people dropped coins into the well this turtle lived in, believing they were "making merit" and would get lucky. This just shows how reckless people can be when it comes to what they perceive to be a "good deed". How on earth is practically feeding a turtle with indigestible pieces of metal considered to be a good or even sound action?
16 facts about being Thai Chinese
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 27/01/2017
» To mark Chinese New Year (Jan 28), let's take a look at the different sides of being Thai nationals of Chinese descent.
Doable New Year resolutions
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 30/12/2016
» Wanna achieve something in 2017 without setting yourself up for disappointment by not following through with your resolutions? Here are my humble suggestions of what laymen can do -- with little to no effort -- to make the next 12 months more positive for themselves and others.
Risky Roads
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 09/12/2016
» Recently, the Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center announced a campaign to ban children from riding motorcycles in order to save the lives of the youth of today. Mind you, it's illegal for anyone younger than 15 years old to ride a motorcycle in the first place, but we're talking Thailand -- The Land of Mai Pen Rai and Spotty Law Enforcement -- after all.
Dos and Don'ts: Bangkok Transport Edition
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 18/09/2015
» "Bangkok Car Free Day 2015" will take place on Sunday (Sep 20). "Car free days" are organised in different cities around the world to encourage people to get around without cars, and instead use mass transit, cycle or walk. To commemorate this year's car-free day, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration encourages you to join its bike rally and street fair near Sanam Luang, using public transport to get there. But we think you can do better than that. We present the dos and don'ts to help you use (or, in some cases, brave) various forms of Bangkok transportation like a pro.
Are you a bona fide Bangkokian?
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 17/07/2015
» It takes more than the ability to recite the full 65-syllable name of Bangkok or nimbly jaywalk at every opportunity to qualify as a true Bangkokian na. There are nuances (and nuisances) in everyday life that only a true Bangkokian can pick up on. Think you’re a Bangkok buff? Take our quiz to find out how local you are. Answers will be revealed at the end. No cheating!
Bangkok evolution
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 01/05/2015
» What can’t you do at 7-Eleven branches these days? Recently we learned you’re able to send parcels or get your clothes dry-cleaned at its outlets. We hope leaving a pet in a store’s care before going on vacation is next. That got us thinking about other everyday things in Bangkok that have evolved over time. After painstaking armchair research, we’ve dug up some trivia that should give you new appreciation of common sights — or at least be an edu-taining holiday read.