Showing 1 - 10 of 14
Couch surfing
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 30/07/2021
» Most of us dream of walking down the aisle -- the airplane one -- and the awkwardness that comes with trying to find your seat while avoiding people putting their bags in the overhead bins.
Skips & sounds
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 18/12/2020
» Sennheiser is known for delivering high-quality audio products, so upon the release of its latest bluetooth earphones, the Sennheiser CX400 BT True Wireless, I had pretty high expectations. While it does deliver superbly on some fronts, I experienced a major drawback that disappointed me.
Winter wonderlands
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 20/11/2020
» If you haven't noticed, there's only a little over a month left for 2020 to end. This also means cooler weather all over the country and along with that comes a slew of festivals making good use of the cool breeze that makes walking outside more delightful and less of a workout. A number of these events take place outside the city, which means even cooler temperatures and breezes accompanied by fantastic views of nature. These events are a great way to enjoy the "winter season" and serve as a reminder that we've made it through 2020 so we've all earned ourselves a bit of time to enjoy what these festivals have to offer.
Ready, set, game
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 11/09/2020
» Streaming and e-sports are big nowadays but gaming has been around for years. You've got boardgames, which evolved into something a little more complicated like Dungeons & Dragons. You've got your arcades, which then became consoles and handhelds. Now we have PC gaming that's continuously being pushed to the limit. Like that time Polish hardware retailer x-kom made Doom Eternal run at 1,000 fps by pouring liquid nitrogen into the computer. Even if you just play on your phone during your commute, that pretty much makes you a gamer of sorts. Whether you're just a casual gamer or you live and breathe games, these places in and around the city are gaming havens that are worth a visit. You've got your classic arcade place, which is rare to find in Bangkok, a shop that sells classic games and consoles, and a legit e-sports studio to hone your skills by yourself or with your e-sports team. Buckle up, it's time to game.
The new normal
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 22/05/2020
» The curfew has been shortened. The booze ban has been lifted. Malls have reopened and so have restaurants. Bangkok is going back to normal! Or is it? As citywide measures start to ease up, Guru checks out what has changed in this city of ours. Welcome to Bangkok's new normal.
Secret services
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 28/02/2020
» Bangkok is rapidly becoming a city with innovations that make life much easier. Yes, we at Guru have complained a lot about the city's many negative aspects but we also can't deny that the city has improved. Is there room for improvement? Oh, definitely. But there are many things that we use right now that we simply cannot imagine life without. What would life be without the services of GrabFood to deliver meals to your door or Shopee and Lazada to do your shopping from the comfort of your home? How about the Lock Box storage facilities we see in many BTS and MRT stations that help tourists roam without having to drag their luggage with them? Can we forget about the lifesaving GrabTaxi and GrabBike services? There are more services on the rise that you may not know about and that's what we're here to spotlight this week.
Welcoming a new decade!
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 03/01/2020
» For those of you who may have missed it, we are in a new decade. Yes, you read that right. No, you are not hallucinating. Yes, we are all old. Welcome to the beginning of the 2020s where films like Back To The Future and Blade Runner are not just classics but the future worlds depicted in them are now effectively in the past; where years like 2050 and 2060 no longer sound ridiculous like they did back in the early 2000s and where those born in 2000 are 20 years old. It's a lot to take in, that's for sure. With every new year also comes the declarations of "New year, new me" posted all over social media and vocally announced at dinner tables everywhere. Resolutions are made and kept for a good two weeks or so before being thrown out the window. So instead of trying to expect things to happen that we aren't even sure will happen, let's take a look at the stuff that we're fairly certain will happen this year. Here's a couple of things to look forward to this 2020.
Lend a hand
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 15/03/2019
» In a world where everything seems bleak, we try our best to find some sort of escape. Whether or not this is simply denial of reality is something we won't delve into (we're Guru, we don't do existential crises). But with the stress of the real world and our quest to discover things that would temporary alleviate what we feel, we seldom ask the question, "What can I do to make the world a little better?." It may seem cliché but there are a number of little things you can do and it's not all about volunteering in a dense forests where you have to sleep in rickety tents with no toilets (shudder) all for the sake of saving Mother Earth. There are simple things like buying something online, adopting a doggo or even go shopping that can help a cause. This week, we've got some causes that you can get behind.
Fill 'em Up
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 11/01/2019
» The war on plastic has been waged in Thailand with plans to do away with single-use plastics by 2022 and single-use plastic bottles and straws by 2025. It's been a long time coming and is a little way away, but we're hoping this change sticks. A few days ago, I bought stuff from a Tesco Lotus Express and they used a paper bag -- change is afoot, people. Instead of being cynical and wondering why they couldn't ban plastic sooner, we can choose to be part of the solution now. The concept of refill stations or refilleries is growing in Europe and North America. It's basically a grocery store where you take your own containers to fill them up, which drastically lowers plastic waste. Think of all the plastic you throw away after using detergents and soaps. Fortunately, a number of refill stations have also been popping up around the Kingdom, providing us an opportunity to cut plastic use. Even better, these places are spread out all over Bangkok and two are in Chiang Mai so there's no excuse not to avail of their environmental-friendly services. Get your containers ready -- Guru's about to get eco-friendly up in here.
Of teas and bubbles
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 04/01/2019
» The bubble tea craze resurfaced last year with an entire slew of shops popping up all over the city. Whether in malls or at BTS stations, bubble tea shops are everywhere, and if the trend keeps growing, we may see bubble tea shops the way we see 7-Elevens -- at every corner.