Showing 1 - 10 of 15
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 crisis for workers
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 01/05/2020
» Venue closure, curfew and state policies enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19 are affecting the labour force severely. Workers experience the impact in different magnitudes, with some getting less pay and seeing their working hours reduced. Others manage to work from home. Some lose their jobs entirely.
Ice cream trucks at your door
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 24/04/2020
» Being stuck at home for the summer is no joke. There is no beach, no water-splashing wars and no air-conditioned malls (for the most part) that can cool us down during this 30C-plus weather. Though we can always order ice cream to our doorstep to cool us down.
Taste in transit
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 10/04/2020
» Even when Covid-19 leaves us stranded within our own home, one thing we still don't have to worry about much is food shortage. An abundance of food is still being offered by many restaurants, eateries and hotels as they have progressed online and into the delivery scene to make sure we have something scrumptious to dine on during our isolation. From street food to Michelin's award-winning restaurants, the choices seem limitless. At least, that mostly applies if you live right inside Bangkok.
Something in the water
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 04/03/2019
» Rows of small glass containers fill multiple shelves along the wall. Inside them, swimming leisurely and living separately in their tiny, private space are colourful Siamese fighting fish, popular among various crowds. Some keep them as pets for their pure eye-candy pleasure, or get them on a fish spar to make quick cash, or selectively breed them for commercial purposes.
Unshackling gentle giants
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 07/05/2018
» After trading our sneakers for knee-length boots, we trotted down to the riverbank where a boat was waiting for us. It was a short crossing to the other side of Nam Khan River to meet the elephants that happily approached us for bananas and sugar cane. They had no chains around their ankles. The mahouts stood nearby, keeping watch with no hooks in their hands. Later, they guided the gentle giants to walk along with the humans trailing nearby on muddy ground. The atmosphere was very friendly and calm, with a picturesque landscape of jungle, river and sky surrounding us.
Preserving history
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 05/02/2018
» Wearing a long-sleeve shirt and wide-brim hat, both hands clutching various digging tools, several men stooped down on the dry red dirt. With their feet planted firmly and under the supervision of archaeologists, they began digging in order to uncover the history of their homeland.
How an art form survives into old age
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 04/07/2017
» When the wooden sticks were struck together, forming a slowly building rhythm, a male performer in vivid costume emerged onto the stage, his face white with black and bright-red stripes -- in true kumadori (kabuki stage make-up) fashion -- to suit his role as a hero. On his head was an elaborate wig; in his hand, a katana (samurai sword), ready to strike.
Doing it for the children
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 12/01/2017
» To oblige Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's Children's Day slogan "Thai children strive to study for national stability", we have listed educational places for children to visit this Saturday. Each institution is providing free entrance for children, a special treat for this annual national day for kids.
Glimpses of the past and present
Muse, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 05/12/2015
» British author John Hoskin is back with another book on the history and culture of the Land of Smiles (or should we say the Land of Coup d’état?). On this occasion, he reaches back in time to the origin of the country — back when we weren’t “Thai”, and were known as the Siamese.