• OPINION

  Adapting new handwashing solutions

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 18/05/2020

  » Considering its microscopic size, it's amazing how the novel coronavirus has easily kept us humans -- the species which rules the planet -- tamely at bay. Millions of people around the globe are now spending time confining themselves at home rather than venturing outside. As a result, various aspects of life, from finance to romance and so much in between, need to change. Some of these behavioural changes have already become or are predicted to become, the so-called new normal.

• OPINION

  Here's to a more beautiful Chiang Mai

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 29/10/2018

  » The other evening I had a meetup with friends. As some of us had never been to the izakaya where we planned to meet and thus had no idea where it is situated, the location of the Japanese pub/restaurant was then shared and everybody easily made their way to the meeting place. Yes, this is nothing new. Everybody does this nowadays. Exactly!

• OPINION

  A time for giving

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 07/01/2019

  » 'Please don't post them," I told my wife as I saw her taking pictures of me and my sister on New Year's Eve. It was a family activity and I have no time for social media drama. People's attitudes differ. Some might be supportive, others can be nasty.

• OPINION

  Now boarding: flights to pre-war zones

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 04/09/2014

  » Forget Ebola.

• OPINION

  What Thai youths do not know

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 08/04/2019

  » It's no secret that a large number of new-generation Thais have poor attitudes toward their homeland. Scornful posts and non-constructive comments are rampant on the internet. The causes of their resentment are numerous: politics, traffic, laws, the economy, culture, social values, cost of living -- you name it.

• OPINION

  The greatest of Thai patriots 

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 22/10/2015

  » Independence Day doesn't exist on the Thai calendar, thanks to the countless number of patriots in the past who devoted their lives to protect their homeland from foreign rule. One of the heroes we should not forget is the great King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), who is remembered through an annual national holiday on Oct 23.

• OPINION

  Wake up Westerners! Make your voices heard

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 12/11/2015

  » The other day I received a forwarded clip via Line, of a silent film by Charlie Chaplin.

• OPINION

  You can't stand under my umbrella

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 17/09/2015

  » Love it or hate it, the monsoon is a part of life in Thailand. Bangkok is located in the tropics and there's nothing much you can do about it. For an unknown reason, we Thai men never carry an umbrella. So every time I leave my apartment I take with me the next best thing, a hat. And that is usually good enough as protection to keep me going, rain or shine. But the other night it rained so heavily I had to give in.

• OPINION

  Brotherhood of the Asean bikers

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 31/07/2014

  » It’s not unknown that there is a special bond between cyclists. In Thailand, for example, it’s common for a rider to greet other bikers on the street, even if they are complete strangers — a practice that is non-existent among any other group of road users.

• OPINION

  Supporting the coup, boycotting brands

  Life, Pongpet Mekloy, Published on 26/06/2014

  » It wasn’t long enough ago that I could have forgotten. For half-a-year before the coup, so many Thais, the number reaching millions on certain days, left the comfort of their homes and took to Bangkok’s streets in peaceful protests against the highly corrupted previous government. Almost on a daily basis, they were attacked by armed men. Dozens had been killed, children included, while many more were injured and have to live the rest of their lives with physical disabilities. The police never arrested any of the murderers. At the time, the United States and the European Union never showed any concern. Understandably, it was purely Thailand’s internal affairs and none of their business.

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