Showing 1 - 10 of 14
The 2021 Guru awards
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 24/12/2021
» As the year comes to a close and we're all looking back at the past 12 months with introspection, at Guru we will stick to time-honoured tradition of being reflectively snarky. Like any other year, 2021 had no shortage of cringe-worthy and WTF moments. So before we head into the new year with resolutions we'll give up on halfway through the first month of 2022, let's roll out the metaphorical red carpet as we award moments from the eventful year. It's time for this year's edition of the Guru Awards.
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.
Life in the time of Rona
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 07/05/2021
» It's no mystery that the Covid-19 pandemic has upended the lives of people from all walks of life, all over the world. From children who were looking forward to their first day of school to people in retirement, there's not a single person who hasn't felt the effects of the coronavirus, even if they weren't necessarily infected.
Read all about it
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 23/04/2021
» A blogger a number of years ago cited an alleged Unesco statistic stating that Thais only read eight lines per year compared to the five books a year Singaporeans and Vietnamese read. I couldn't find the statistic anywhere but a former editor for Guru also wrote in one of her past editor's note that the National Statistic Office reported in 2005 that Thais read an average of just seven lines a year. However, the Unesco site which you can check out has traced that illiteracy has begun declining in 2015 so perhaps the seven-lines-per-year has improved. But why in the world am I talking about Thailand's literacy rates when we usually talk about food or Uncle Tu's latest blunders in this magazine? Well, today is actually World Book Day, and we're listing out a few things you can do to celebrate the occasion -- and perhaps also keep that upward trajectory on the Unesco stat going. So choose a cozy spot and get ready to bury your nose in a few pages as we celebrate World Book Day 2021.
Stranger things
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 09/10/2020
» Everyone loves a good conspiracy. There's a reason why Netflix has a bunch of them ready for you to binge like Unsolved Mysteries, which will rock you to your core at just how completely plausible they are and how they could easily happen to any of us.
Helping the mind
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 27/03/2020
» Mental health is something that we aren't generally discussed in Thailand. It's a global issue and something that Thailand isn't spared from, but there seems to be a lack of awareness about it. Dr Kanpassorn Suriyasangpetch is set to change that.
Welcome to Jap-Am
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 06/03/2020
» Tokiojo's location over at the student-hub of Samyan Mitrtown is a "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" situation. It may not be too big, but at the risk of sounding provocative, size doesn't matter when the place gives off some cool, urban Tokyo street-side vibes.
The florality of man
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 28/02/2020
» Fuanglada Verdillon is a Thai artist who founded Janfive Studio, which has released a number of simple yet gorgeously patterned artwork and a collection of accessories, as well.
Around the clock
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 04/10/2019
» Imagine this scenario: it's late at night -- really late at night. It's so late that even the street food vendors have gone to bed. You're not sleepy. In fact, you actually don't want to sleep.
The Thailand Files
Guru, Eric E Surbano, Published on 02/08/2019
» Everyone loves a good conspiracy. There's something deliciously entertaining about the possibility that something could be true and we could spend hours and hours just reading and watching documentaries about the numerous conspiracies out there. Of course, there are others who are at the far, far end of the spectrum, who believe all conspiracies and consider themselves "truthers". Get stuck in a room or a car with these guys and they'll go on and on about how mobile phones are brainwashing you, the CIA knows your every move and how the Illuminati controls the world. Of course, there are also those simply want to have harmless fun like, you know, the nearly 2 million people, as of the writing of this article, who want to storm a certain top secret US government facility on Sept 20, as well as the lesser popular plan to storm Bangkok's Democracy Monument, which would have passed by the time this is published and will most likely involve less aliens. Nevertheless, don't think for one second that Thailand is spared from conspiracies! We've got a few right here. Remember, as a great TV show once said, "The truth is out there".