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Marina Abramović returns for a special talk on Jan 25
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 04/01/2023
» Thumbnail picture courtesy of the Marina Abramović Archives. “History Of Long Durational Work And MAI” is the title of an upcoming lecture to be conducted by performance and conceptual artist Marina Abramović. It's scheduled for Jan 25 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from 6-8.15pm, as part of the ongoing Bangkok Art Biennale, which runs until Feb 23.
Thailand in Pop Culture
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 15/07/2022
» Before the words "soft power" entered the Thai zeitgeist, you may not have been aware that Thailand received plenty of love in the world of pop culture, globally. Here are a few of the most memorable ones from films, video games, music videos and more.
Rethinking Election Posters
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 08/04/2022
» The English idiom goes "Don't judge a book by its cover" but I'll say "Let's judge candidates running for Bangkok governor by how they put up their posters". It's a mouthful but I think it's a legitimate point to ponder.
Thai-Style Xmas
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 24/12/2021
» Despite the fact that a majority of the Thai population claim to be Buddhists, they go all out to celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday every year. Even though they may not be aware that it's his birthday and Xmas isn't even an official holiday despite all the lights and Christmas trees that pop up across the country. I've gone down Bangkok Post's archive (Xmas pun intended) to present a few quirky and local twists on the worldwide holiday. While they may not be unique to Thailand, they are definitely memorable. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Taxi Timeline
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 11/06/2021
» Taxi service in Thailand is about to enter a new drive after the Cabinet recently approved a draft regulation to allow the use of private cars for transport apps. The draft by the Ministry of Transport is expected to be put to use this month or within July. When enacted, vehicles with up to seven seats that are registered as personal cars can double as taxis via the apps.
Heralding the next chapter
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 19/03/2021
» Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, which has long been a Hua Hin favourite for three decades, keeps up with the time with a big renovation plan. The spacious lobby is now modern and minimalist, compared to its grand but old-fashioned vibe in the past. The iconic floor-to-ceiling glass windows allow in ample natural light and afford guests a sense of arrival with a view of the swimming pool down to the horizon, befitting a beachfront property. Facilities and accommodations have also been refreshed while the garden and swimming pool area is up next for renovation.
How to Name Your Car Like You're One of the 0.1%
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 19/02/2021
» The 0.1% of Thais (not 1% 'cause Thailand has the highest wealth inequality in the world, you see) may rejoice at the recent news that soon you can pay an extra fee to give your vehicle a real name on a licence plate instead of the two-alphabets-and-numerals combo the 99.9% are familiar with. The new rules will allow a combination of more than two alphabets, vowels, tone marks and numbers in a vehicle registration plate for a personal car with no more than seven seats. In short, you can name your car after you or give it a person's name. For example, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha can name his "ประยุทธ์ 2 กรุงเทพมหานคร (Prayut 2 Bangkok)" to commemorate his second term. The plan is expected to be implemented around the middle of this year and you can bid for such a plate with starting price of B1 million. Money raised this way will be spent to improve road safety.
Thailand: The Land of...
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 06/11/2020
» I'm sure, I'm not the only one who has been rethinking Thailand's nickname The Land Of Smiles. According to Win Lyovarin, two-time S.E.A. Write winner and 2013 National Artist for Literature, Britisher David Lander, creative director at an ad agency, should be credited for coming up with the phrase. Lander came up with the slogan in a pitch for the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Fun fact: The Land Of Smiles is also the title of a German operetta, which premiered in 1929.
If Thai politics were good... part 2
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 04/09/2020
» #IfThaiPoliticsWereGood returned as a trending hashtag on Twitter earlier this week. The heavy rain may help give it a boost as people have taken to it to air grievances about the status quo, paint an ideal picture of Thailand and even made light of Thai politics. Here are a few memorable ones for your entertainment (and commiseration).
Predictions for 2020
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 03/01/2020
» We're less than 72 hours into 2020 and I would like to help you, dear readers, ease back into your routines. Here are a few of my somewhat educated guesstimates of what this year has in store for us.