Showing 1 - 10 of 111
Last seen online
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 14/01/2022
» We are a few weeks into 2022 and I suspect many of us are still trying to grapple with the events of 2021. Heck, some of us may still be dealing with 2020! Time, however, waits for no one. We’re almost to the halfway mark of January (gasp) so we need to prepare ourselves for the rest of the months to come and if you don’t know where to start, Guru has you covered. From fun games that chillax you to getting the living daylights scared out of you to apps that could help your productivity, your health and even your love life, here are a few things to help you get on track.
Future forward
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 31/12/2021
» Today is the last day of 2021 and depending on when you’re reading this, you may only have a few more hours or even just minutes to say goodbye to the year that’s basically been a repetition of 2020. There have been a number of ups and downs as we went through another lockdown and reopening, but the good news is that we made it: we’re still here and still trudging along, though some of us would really like to get a breather from all the craziness.
Witching around
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 24/12/2021
» When Game Of Thrones ended, it left a bad taste in almost everyone's mouth but more importantly, it left a gory and busty fantasy medieval void in the world. Once a Netflix adaptation of The Witcher, a popular franchise consisting of novels and video games, was announced, everyone speculated that it would fill that void. While there are similarities, the Netflix show starring Henry Cavill quickly carved out a place and built a fanbase of its own. Guru speaks to showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich about season two, which was released last week, and the difference between what the Geralt audiences saw in the past to the one they'll see now.
Life imitating art
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 17/12/2021
» A pandemic puts the world at a standstill and turns the lives of everyone upside down. No, we're not talking about Covid. Station Eleven is a novel written by Emily St. John Mandel in 2014. Even then, it seemed to predict somewhat eerily and accurately just what the world was going to go through in the past two years. Now, HBO has brought the novel to life in a new miniseries. Despite the apocalyptic storyline, the show is unlike the drab and dark shows we've come to expect from an end-of-the-world TV series, but showcases humanity moving on from what they went through. Guru speaks with two stars of the series, Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel, about similarities with the pandemic and how important art is in keeping us going through difficult times.
Traditional tales
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 05/11/2021
» Anyone who lives in Asia knows that the countries are a treasure trove of supernatural beliefs that scared the living daylights out of us as kids -- and perhaps even now, as adults. With Folklore, iconic Singaporean director Eric Khoo takes the helm as showrunner as he gathers superstitions and myths from across Asia in an anthology series with each episode directed by different directors like Indonesia's Joko Anwar, the Philippines' Erik Matti and even first-time director Seiko Matsuda, who is known for her singing and acting career in Japan. The second season of the anthology series premieres on Nov 14 on HBO Go. Guru speaks with Khoo and Matsuda, who directed the second episode, about the series.
Camping cosmos
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 05/11/2021
» T hailand has officially entered the cold season -- well, at least it's cold for those of us who live in the Kingdom. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, the "winter" (quotations as Thai "winter" isn't really winter at all) began on Nov 2 with the coldest days occurring in the latter half of December all the way until the end of January. For city-dwellers, it's predicted that we'll be enjoying the "extreme" minimum temperatures of around 15C to 16C, though we'll believe it when we feel it. However, the cold season signals the perfect time to take a camping trip especially up North where temperatures are expected to go as low as 6C or 7C. Brrrh. So unearth those fur coats and start buying camping gear for a cool road trip. Pun intended. It's time to go camping and Guru's got spots picked out for you.
Coming full circle
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 22/10/2021
» Bangkok has finally sprung back to life! People are venturing outside, Asoke and Siam are once again centres of headache-inducing traffic jams and dining-out is an option again. But we also shouldn't forget about shopping and while it was technically possible even during semi-lockdown, it's different now that we can go outside with relative ease. However, as we ready our wallets -- or perhaps credit cards because cashless is the way ahead -- to go on a post-lockdown shopping spree, we can also consider buying from places that help the environment and reduce waste. Whether it's buying pre-loved items or selling or donating the stuff in our closet that we've barely used, there are many avenues in the city to do just that, like Ikea Bang Yai's brand new Circular Shop. Here are a few ways you can shop 'til you drop and at the same time help make the city a greener place.
Now showing
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 08/10/2021
» Cinemas are back! After another semi-lockdown that forced cinemas to close, we can finally enjoy a proper movie-going experience again. Sure, it might be capped at 50% capacity and you can only sit with one person beside you instead of the classic cinema experience of having your girlfriend on your left while a dude who munches popcorn loudly is on your right. Sigh, nostalgia! But we'll take what we can get for now. Though it's easy to simply go to the nearest mall to go to the cinema, we're spotlighting places that offer a different experience. These indie cinemas deserve as much love as any of the multiplexes do. After losing iconic places like Scala and Bangkok Screening Room, we should do what we can to keep these cinemas alive. Get the popcorn and settle in. It's time to go back to the movies.
Reality check
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 10/09/2021
» The malls are crowded again. The streets are lined with traffic. There seems to be more people (and motorcycles) on the sidewalk. Your eyes do not deceive you: the City of Angels has come back to life -- or at least slightly. Certain venues like fitness centres and theatres remain closed (sorry, Marvel fans hoping to watch Shang-Chi) but the city's ever-favoured shopping malls have returned and dining-in at restaurants is possible again, albeit in limited capacity. Does this bode well for Bangkokians? Should we expect the worst? Despite the relief we feel of finally being let out of our houses, are there still challenges? Guru speaks to people of different professions to gauge their opinions.
A fight on all fronts
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 13/08/2021
» It sucks that we are still in the throes of this pandemic, that people are suffering in all kinds of ways because of it, that incompetence rules the roost when it comes to handling the crisis and it sucks that we are still moaning about it. Though we at Guru have listed things to make lockdown bearable and listed how you could help those in need, it's time to hear from of some the city's professionals on how the state of things has affected their lives.