Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Unseen Thailand
Guru, Suthivas Tanphaibul, Published on 04/02/2022
» Have you ever wondered why having your hair cut on Wednesday is considered a bad omen in Thai culture? What if Thais embraced their honey complexions instead of whitening it? How did the lottery become a national pastime? We've collected untold stories from Thai history that may make you go "huh!".
Pawns in a hellish blame game
Life, Published on 02/02/2021
» Two decades ago, Sar left her bleak rural village in Myanmar's Mon State for Thailand. In those days, she was taught by her mother to do chores only. She cooked and cleaned day in and day out. Her mother did not allow her to go outside alone. She discouraged her daughter from going to the cinema with friends out of fear she would "stray from the course".
Footpath warrior, phone drama, dumped workers rejoice
News, Mae Moo, Published on 17/01/2021
» Motorcyclist meets her match
Down Mexico way
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 17/01/2020
» Brit turned American Lee Child is perhaps the most respected author in the crime-thriller genre. His 6-5, 250-pound literary creation Jack Reacher is the most popular of heroes. No small part of the reason is that he's played on the screen by -- rather shorter -- star Tom Cruise. On his own, the behemoth is likeable.
The plight of the stateless
Life, Published on 14/08/2018
» Thanom's ancestors lived in what was Siamese territory, near Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan, over a century ago. Back then Burma, to the west, was a British colony and people who lived along the border crossed back and forth without much difficulty. When state boundaries were redrawn during the reign of King Rama V, his family was stuck on the other side. As a young man Thanom was a cattle herder, and he travelled around Karen villages to buy cattle and buffaloes and crossed over to sell them on the Thai side. When he started this job, a cow was just 20 baht and a buffalo was 50 baht.
Hope for the Future
Life, Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Published on 20/03/2018
» Migrant workers, like other kinds of workers, struggle to advance in the hierarchy of the job market. But for them, the endeavour is particularly daunting, with lack of opportunities, financial means and connections.
Long way home
Life, Yvonne Bohwongprasert, Published on 20/06/2017
» Twelve year old Ali*, a Syrian refugee of Palestinian descent, has resided with his family of eight in Thailand for five years. The preteen speaks Thai fluently and to his Thai football mates, he is very much Thai despite his Middle Eastern looks.
National jobs, international workers
Life, Published on 06/09/2016
» Last week activist Srisuwan Janya filed a petition with the Office of the Ombudsman claiming that Thailand's new tallest building, MahaNakhon Tower, breached Thai laws by hiring a foreign architect to design it. He also complained that several foreign workers also run or own shops in markets around the country, a practice that is against the law.
An empathetic view
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 26/07/2016
» Imagine a room full of red-lace bras, packs of condoms and a dancing pole -- did we just wander into an illicit, red-light district somewhere? No, these items are brazenly displayed at perhaps one of the most unusual museums in the country: This Is Us -- Empower Foundation's Museum of Sex Works in Thai Society.
Nowhere to go
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 18/03/2014
» His melancholy expression and dark, brooding eyes immediately draw one’s attention to the photo. What a face! The deep wrinkles furrowing his forehead and prominent veins standing out at his temples make his visage resemble a topographic map of some particularly rough terrain. The old man’s face is memorable and photogenic, but not in the way we normally use that adjective.