Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Empathy and difficult choices
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 17/04/2017
» That skinny woman clad in a sari carrying an infant in her arms waited for me in front of the bus door. A few small children wearing dirty torn clothes gathered around my legs looking up at me. Like robots, they repeatedly uttered words "Sawasdee, Maharanee [meaning a queen]. Khob khun kha", begging me to give them money. These sights and sounds were common at all pilgrimage sites in India I visited recently. Initially, I felt pity for them until I asked the guide and friends if I should give them money. They warned me against more beggars' arrivals.
A place to treasure
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 04/08/2016
» Nestled behind trees on a 1,700m² plot of land near the congested Charoen Krung Road is the Bangkok Folk's Museum. Donated by biologist Assoc Prof Waraporn Suravadi to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) in 2003, this museum features three houses in a lush tropical garden with a pond.
Timeless elegance
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/02/2016
» Nestled in lush green ground in the Chidlom area, Nai Lert Park Heritage Home is a hidden treasure in the heart of the capital. Apart from the architectural beauty of the house, the 14 rai Nai Lert Park has historic importance as Bangkok's first Western-style park that existed even before Lumpini Park was initiated by King Rama VI in 1925. In his day this private property was open for the public to enjoy its tranquil atmosphere.
Her ribbons of love wind around your heart
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/08/2015
» To celebrate Mother's Day today, Life talks to three brave mums whose strength was the powerful driving force behind their children
The circus comes to town
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 04/12/2014
» During last month's Harmony World Puppet Carnival Bangkok Thailand 2014, audiences had the rare opportunity to experience the art of puppetry from 80 countries in one place — Rattanakosin Island, the old quarter of Bangkok. More than 100 stages and street shows were inspired by history, pop culture, social situations and used traditional forms of puppetry as well as influences of other performing arts such as circus. Many shows brought smiles, laughter and tears, and many were thought-provoking.
Seek New Year blessings
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 02/01/2014
» To seek blessings for the New Year, Buddhists are encouraged to visit temples located on and around Rattanakosin Island and the Chao Phraya River within one day anytime in the first month of the year.
Time to impose controls on hazardous e-waste
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 28/06/2013
» A few days ago, I read that the Thai Social Enterprise Office had to extend its deadline for accepting donations of old mobile phones from the general public due to the poor response to its appeal. The donated phones were to be given initially to a sample group of 100 needy disabled people under the One Stop Service for the Disabled Project organised in association with the 1479 Call Centre.
Food for thought
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 23/05/2013
» One evening last month, I went to a cinema on Sukhumvit Road to watch a Thai ghost movie. While waiting for the movie, I decided to have a quick dinner. Stepping into a fast-food restaurant and queuing up in front of a woman cashier, I was taken by surprise to see a young couple awkwardly using sign language with her. At first, I thought the couple was mute, but I was wrong.
Opening our eyes to the plight of the blind
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 15/03/2013
» Never before had I experienced and understood the difficulties faced by the blind until last week. My left eye became badly infected and had to be covered with a dressing for four days. Technically, I was temporarily half blind except when I sometimes felt so uncomfortable I tried to peek at things through the gap between the gauze and my cheek. To relieve some of the embarrassment about wearing a big gauze pad over my eye, I donned big sunglasses, even at night, during those four days.