Showing 1 - 10 of 16
A new look at old Hong Kong
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 17/08/2017
» As many more Thais opt to travel to South Korea and Japan due to the K-pop craze and Japan's visa exemption policies, Hong Kong, an all-time shopping and food paradise, is trying to regain its popularity by highlighting its heritage, delicacies, art and culture in the old district of Central.
Journey into antiquity
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 22/06/2017
» Not many people know that Phaya Mangrai, a great warrior king, had founded a few other cities before establishing Nopburi Sri Nakhon Ping (the present-day Chiang Mai) as the centre of the Lanna Empire. Evidence is clear in the cases of the Chiang Saen and Wiang Kum Kam ancient cities in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai respectively. Traces of another ancient city, Fang, have been found in the forms of city walls, pottery and an inscription. The new discovery holds historical significance and is hoped to attract cultural tourists.
Cultural melting pot
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 15/06/2017
» Bangkok is populated by many Thais of foreign descent, a majority being Chinese. Yaowarat and Talat Noi are among the city's oldest Chinese communities. The area once boasted major ports and trading hubs, which also accommodated places of worship for Christians and Muslims in addition to temples and shrines for Buddhists of different sects.
Rediscovering roots
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 02/05/2017
» On the Thon Buri side of Chao Phraya River, Klong San is an old school community, a trading district since the early Bangkok period. It was the home of one of Siam's most powerful clans, the Bunnag family, and is the birthplace of the Princess Mother of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The two-coloured rivers city
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 21/01/2016
» Widely known as Pak Nam Pho, Nakhon Sawan is a gateway to the North of Thailand. It holds significance in terms of history and culture aside from also being a hub of transportation and trade in the past. Besides its famous Chinese New Year celebrations, this province has hidden treasures, including local museums, a river island and the small town of Chum Saeng for visitors to explore.
Vegetarian Festival
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 15/10/2015
» The Vegetarian Festival originated in China, and is based on a Chinese belief that seven Lord Buddhas and two bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) annually visit the world in the form of nine deities. They stay for nine days and nine nights in the ninth lunar month. In Southeast Asia, the Vegetarian Festival has become a tradition in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. This traditional observation of vegetarian diet is for people of Chinese descent to do spiritual cleansing and merit-making. This year, the festival in Thailand is being celebrated until Oct 21.
Relentlessly ambitious Dubai
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 02/04/2015
» Over the past five decades, Dubai has rapidly grown from a small fishing village into a multicultural metropolis full of skyscrapers, shopping malls, restaurants and tourist attractions. This major port city in the United Arab Emirates, situated by the sea and desert, is halfway between Asia and Europe. It is the home of some 200 nationalities, and where old and modern cultures blend in harmony.
Weaving together Laos' cultural mix
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 12/02/2015
» When culture vultures head to the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, they don't miss the opportunity to visit the temple Phra That Phou Si and the National Museum. However, not many visitors are aware of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre (TAEC), which offers a fascinating insight into Laos' diverse ethnic cultural mix.
Dutch treat in Ayutthaya
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 03/07/2014
» Nestled on the east bank of the Chao Phraya River in the ruins of the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, next to Wat Phananchoeng and the remains of the old Japanese quarter, is a building of red and white bricks erected in memory of the Dutch settlement which had its headquarters here from the early 17th to the mid-18th century. Opened to the general public last year, Baan Hollanda now serves as an information centre on early Thai-Dutch relations.
Rainforest Retreat
Life, Pichaya Svasti, Published on 07/11/2013
» Hugging the shores of the Andaman Sea, Phangnga is best known for the stunning dive sites around the Surin and Similan islands and the immaculate strands of Khao Lak. But it has much more to offer. Inland are beautiful mountains carpeted with lush vegetation, tranquil streams and waterfalls bound to impress amateur explorers, a diversity of cultures and a rich history of human settlement dating back more than a thousand years.